Sticking doors, windows, and warped hallways are all telltale signs of an upheaving foundation. If you check your crawl space, you may notice large cracks along the walls and floor of the foundation. Talk with a foundation specialist to learn more.
There are several reasons a door may stick in the doorframe, including loose hardware, a sagging frame, or seized hinges. Humidity is another common cause of sticking doors: The high level of moisture in the air can seep into wood, resulting in a swollen door that does not open or close properly.
Doorways are built plumb. When a foundation settles, the door frame falls out of plumb which can cause the frame to twist and the door to stick. There are no lasting superficial fixes to this problem. The Fix: Home foundation repair is the solution to your door frame woes.
"Just simply take the door off the frame with the hinges still attached to the door. Then, shave the bottom part of the door using a trimming plane or an electric hand planer." (You could also tackle this with sandpaper, but it will take you awhile.)
Why does my door stick at the top of the frame? A door may stick at the top of the frame for five main reasons, including loose hinges, door construction relaxing, expansion of wood due to humidity, a settling house foundation that's causing the frame to fall out of square, and thick paint.
Yes, a swollen door will go back to normal.
The swelling is caused by humidity and temperature changes, which cause the wood to expand and contract. Over time, the door will adjust to the new conditions and return to its original shape.
Tighten the screws that go into the door and the screws that go into the door frame. Do not over-tighten the screws or you may strip/break them. In most cases, the problem is now fixed. If not, tighten the screws in the other hinges.
You can start by cleaning the sticky area with soap and water. Sometimes a little dirt gets in the way and creates a sticky door. Next, try tightening all the hinges and screws. A loose screw can cause the door to sag and therefore, not line up with its frame properly.
If there is no cracking or out of square framing, the culprit is most likely a loose door hinge, or a door hinge that is misaligned. There are a few tricks that can help to shift the door in a way that allows it to close without binding on the jamb. If it is a loose hinge, re-installing the hinge screws could help.
Entry doors sag because of loose screws or hinges. The root of the problem can also be caused by the door frame not being shimmed or plumb or, in the worst case, a foundation defect like a shifted wall.
This is called 'settling', and the resulting cracks aren't something to worry too much about. They're not just common and perfectly normal, but they should even be expected at some point. Hairline cracks caused by settling often occur above doors and windows because it's one of the weakest parts of the wall.
A: Gary Katz, owner of Katz Road Show, editor of ThisIsCarpentry, and a presenter at JLC Live, responds: When a door swings open or closes by itself, most carpenters refer to it as a “ghost” door. The cause for the phenomenon is simple: The door jamb is out of plumb.
The most likely cause is that the latch isn't engaging properly with the strike plate – the two crucial parts that need to interact in order for the door to stay closed. You'll generally be able to tell by the absence of any clicks or snaps when you push the door closed.
In the assembly process, panels (or glass) are held in place by a decorative molding on both sides called “sticking”. Over time, sticking profiles have become more elaborate and significantly enhance the panel depth and improve overall aesthetics of the door.
If upper binding is severe or the binding is on the bottom of the door, it will need to be removed from the hinges and placed on a table or a sawhorse. Use a door rasp first to correct any binding issue. If the binding remains, you will need to cut the door down.
Try closing the door with your hands on the bottom, the side, and the top. This will allow you to feel where there is the most resistance as you close it. Listen to the hinges. If the hinges are squeaking, that could be the cause for the door to stick.
Repair wood with polyester filler: Apply wood hardener and filler. To repair rotted door frame, first remove rotted wood with a 5-in-1 or other sharp tool. Then coat the rotted door frame area with wood hardener as shown. Mix polyester wood filler or Bondo wood filler and press it into the recess with a putty knife.
Humidity caused by seasonal changes
It's quite common in the summer for doors to swell and start sticking as the humidity levels increase outside. As wood is a natural substance, it can absorb this excess moisture in the air and this causes the door to scrape along the floor or at other points in the frame.
$50 to $100
The majority of DIY-able and small professionally repaired door fixes will fall in this range. Most small dents and dings will run at or under $50 and calling in a professional will add their hourly, pushing the costs a bit higher.
The hinge screws may need tightening, otherwise check the door jam; make sure it is flush with the door frame. It could also be water damage to the wood, which would make the wood expand. You may need to adjust the size of the door to fit the entryway.
Using WD-40's Multi-Use Original Product on its rollers, door hinges, locks, and pivot points, you can: Displace extra moisture. Lubricate and loosen stuck parts. Remove oil, dirt, and grease.
It's quite common in the summer for doors to swell and start sticking as the humidity levels increase outside. As wood is a natural substance, it can absorb this excess moisture in the air and this causes the door to scrape along the floor or at other points in the frame.
Painting all sides minimizes shrinking and swelling of a door as weather changes and helps prevent water damage to the door if it's splashed by wind-driven rain.