How to Fix a Sticking and Sagging Door

A sticking or sagging door can be troublesome, but it’s not an impossible task to address. It’s actually quite simple to turn it back into a trouble-free door. Handyman Connection of Matthews discusses how to properly go about this.

What You Need

You will need a few tools to do this project. Your basic tool kit should include a hammer, a cordless drill, and a 4-in-1 screwdriver. It’s also a good thing to have a belt sander, a sanding block, and safety goggles for more problematic doors.

Hinge and Screws

For the first step, you’ll want to take a look at the hinge of the door. Sticking and sagging issues usually originate from loose screws, and they typically loosen over the years. Avoid using a drill when you’re tightening the screws. Use your 4-in-1 screwdriver for better control and to avoid stripping the screw holes. Tightening the hinge usually corrects the door’s sticking problem.

Adjust the Hinge

For sagging doors, you’ll want to adjust the hinge itself. While door hinges aren’t actually adjustable, you can achieve the same effect by driving a longer screw through the jamb and into the wall framing using a drill. What you want to do is replace the screw closest to the doorstep with a 3-in one. Make sure you close the door before installing the new screw so that you can tell where exactly it rubs against the jamb.

Planing the Door

For doors that are still sticking even with tighter screws, you may have to plane the door with a belt sander. Since this solution involves removing the door, we highly recommend you have our team do the planing for you. It’s easy to sand the door too deeply and create latches that protrude.

When you work with us, you can count on us to professionally address your sticking and sagging door. Fill out our form or give us a call at (704) 246-4411 for an estimate on our services.