3 Effective Ways to Fix a Sticking or Sagging Door

A door that sags and sticks is annoying to use and hard to open and close. In addition, it can also be less secure than a properly functioning door. Fortunately, there are several methods to fix this common problem. You can try planing the door, drawing in the jamb or adjusting the door’s hinge screws. Handyman Connection® of Boise explains more:

Tightening the Door Hinge – This is an alternative to planing the door. Examine the door’s screws, and check if they are loose. Tighten the loose screws in the jamb and in the door. Make sure to use a screwdriver and not a drill. A drill can strip the screw holes. In case one of the holes is stripped, replace the stripped-jamb screws with three-inch screws instead.

Drawing the Jamb In – You can draw in the jamb by driving a long screw through the “latch” side of the jamb. Pre-drill a one-eighth inch hole, and then use a countersink bit to make a recess for the screw head. Then, use a three-inch screw, and drive it into the wall framing. Tighten the screw, and this should draw in the jamb. To make the screw heads unnoticeable, cover the screw heads with wood filler, sand it, and then paint the area to match the rest of the door.

Planing the Door – Try this if you’re confident about planing the door. Scribe the door by setting a compass point and pencil tip one-eighth of an inch apart, and then run the compass point along the door jamb. You can use masking tape to make the pencil line easier to see. Remove the door, and then use a belt sander to remove the excess wood. Be careful to sand right up to the line, but not into it. Check your work regularly to make sure that you’re not making a beveled edge. Seal the newly made edge by staining or painting, and then return the door to its position.

Contact us if you need professional assistance with your door. As the top home maintenance expert in the area, Handyman Connection of Boise can handle all of your door problems. We have many years of experience, and we work with some of the most skilled, professional and friendly handymen in the industry. We can also help you with your flooring, painting, decking, home remodeling and other maintenance projects. Contact us here to learn more about fixing a sagging door. You can also request an estimate.