As the adage goes, when one door closes another opens. But what happens if your door sticks? 😉 Seriously though, issues with the doors in your home can be a headache. Here are some of the most common problems homeowners face, as well as some tips on how to remedy them.
A Sticking Door – No, we’re not talking about the grandkids getting their popsicle juice all over the doorknob. What we’re referring to is a door that doesn’t open easily. So, what exactly causes a door to stick? Typically, it’s expansion and contraction of the door slab, often caused by humidity or other environmental factors. Usually when this happens the door will eventually return to normal operation with the seasonal changes in temperature.
However, sometimes the you may need to remove the door slab and trim it on the hinge side or bottom—or sometimes both. If you trim the hinge side, the hinges will have to be re-mortised so they’ll sit flush in the new spot. If the bottom is trimmed, you’ll need to either replace the door sweep or reinstall the existing one. Needless to say this kind of intricate work—especially on an entry door—is best left done to a professional.
A Drafty Door – Can you feel air coming in around the edge of your door? This is caused by a bad seal. Weather stripping can get torn, smashed or broken over time. A warped door will also cause it not to seal. If the door is not warped, then just replacing the weather stripping might fix the issue. However, if the door is warped, additional weather stripping might be needed or you could try adjusting the hinges so the door fits more evenly within the frame.
A Sticking Lock – When your lock is sticking, it can be either the door or the lock that’s the issue. It’s possible that the strike plates in the frame are not aligned with the locks, due to the door settling or sagging. A way to resolve this issue is to move the strike plates so they are again aligned with the locks. A simpler reason a lock might stick is it needs lubrication. You can squirt a small amount of dry lubricant or graphite powder inside the slot where the key goes, insert the key, then lock and unlock the door a few times to ensure the entire locking mechanism is lubricated.
