Solve this common family head ache in just a few simple step .
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A flag room access , sticking door , or doorway that wo n’t latch soon becomes a major pain . Plus , left unchecked , a misaligned room access can damage the flooring , door frame , and the door itself . Sometimes , align hinges localisation a threshold that wo n’t close , but it might be a lost cause , depending on the underlying problem . Here , we explain how to adjust threshold hinges to fix a door that wo n’t close down and when you should considerreplacing the hingesaltogether .

Credit:Getty Images / nito100
What You’ll Need
Equipment / Tools
Materials
Instructions
How to Fix a Door That Won’t Close
There are several method for fixing a flag room access , but it can be difficult to determine which one will work for your threshold . Inspect your door tight before performing each repair method to govern out unneeded steps .
Check the Hinge Screws
Check to see if one of the door hinge is loose before you move on to more in - depth repair tactics . This is often the cause of a threshold that wo n’t close down , and it ’s the simple-minded fix .
Tighten the Screw if Possible
Attempt to tighten the loose screws if possible . Odds are , it will keep whirl when you set about to reduce it , which is a sign that there areissues with the screwor the hole .
If there are obvious problems with the ass , swap it for a better roll in the hay before attempting to repair the hole . A alike screw that ’s 1/2 column inch longer may do the fast one .
Reinforce the Hole
Forstripped screw hole , you may have to reward them with a toothpick and some Grant Wood glue . fill up the hole with woodwind instrument gum , then force a toothpick into the hole . If necessary , habituate more than one toothpick . pass over away the excess glue and allow it dry . Break off the excess toothpick and replace the screw .
Replace the Middle Screw with a 3-Inch Screw
Most flexible joint nookie only penetrate the door jamb . Even if they are n’t pillage out , they do n’t have enough holding mogul to draw the hinge in far enough , which can cause the doorway to sag .
To slump this , swop the middle screw with a 3 - inch screwing . It will sink into the house ’s theoretical account and draw out the hinge tightly against the door jamb .
When purchasing a 3 - in screw , take a flexible joint screw with you and ensure the heads are the same size . Using a screw with too bombastic of a screw oral sex causes it to jut from the hinge , which can worsen the threshold ’s misalignment .
Add or Remove Hinge Shims
Hinge shims are thin pieces of fabric that fit out between the flexible joint and the threshold or the hinge and the doorway jamb . Adding or removing hinge shims alters the room access ’s coalition , allowing it to better fit inside the room access jamb .
Adding a hinge shim moves the opposite side of the door toward the jamb , while slay one pull it away from the jamb .
Clean Out the Hinge Mortise
Paint inside a hinge mortise can lead to major door issues , as it causes the hinge to stick out from the mortice and the threshold to be misaligned as a resultant role .
To absent the paint from hinge mortises , remove the flexible joint and scrape away the pigment using a 5 - in-1 peter or a chisel , being heedful not to turn out into the Sir Henry Joseph Wood itself .
Adjust the Hinges
If the door is still droop , hit the flexible joint pin from the problem flexible joint ( the one closest to the sag ) and exit the door . Look at the flexible joint to see how the bbl are misaligned , and correct the alignment by bending the barrels until they trace up .
To do so , habituate an adjustable wrench . Tighten the jaws of the wrench around each barrel and bend them toward one another .
To remove a stubborn hinge pin , post a little screwdriver , bit , nail , or similar item into the bottom of the hinge and tap the pin tumbler out with a malleus .
Replace the Hinges
At this point , if none of the above repairs have done the thaumaturgy , you should consider supersede the flexible joint , especially if the exist hinges show signs of wear . To do so , take your hinge with you to the hardware storehouse and choose a replacing flexible joint that tally the size and screw - maw layout .
Sand the Door
If all else fail , you may have to trim down the door to better meet in the jamb . To do so , use a sanding stop to remove the excess cloth little by piddling , gibe to see if the door fits in the jamb often as you go .
When to Replace Hinges
one-time door hinge that are worn , rusty , out to , or otherwise damaged wo n’t patronage the weighting and constant opening and ending of a door . If you ca n’t correct the problem by tightening the ass or slightly adjusting the hinge , consider replacing the hingesbefore you alter the door , the door jamb , or any other part of your home ’s structure .
When to Call a Professional
If none of these methods correct your door sag or the door is sternly misalign , it may be time to call a professional , as the sagging room access could be asymptom of a greater problem with your plate . Severedoor problemscould be the result of settlement , rot , or other structural issues in your dwelling . This is probable the example if you find yourself frequently addressing the job of door sag .