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Door Problems and Solutions
Problem: Door Binds Along Entire Edge
If the door is binding along the entire length of the latch-side edge, and you’ve tried the first two solutions, the door has probably swollen from high seasonal humidity. First check to make sure all the edges are either painted or varnished.
When a door isn’t sealed on all four edges, moisture can enter and swell it as much as 1/4 in. so it will no longer close. If your door isn’t well sealed, wait for the dry season to see if it will shrink back to a good fit. Then seal it with a good primer/paint or stain/varnish combo.
If you want immediate results, you’ll have to remove the door from its hinges and plane or sand down the latch side, removing just enough material so that it can shut smoothly once again. Remove as little as possible to ensure a tight fit, then seal unfinished edges with paint or varnish.
CAUTION: If your home was built before 1978, the paint may contain lead, a hazardous material. Either have it tested (contact your local health department for testing labs) or follow safe scraping and sanding techniques. Dispose of the waste according to local regulations.
To support the work, we used a clamping-style workbench to hold the door on end and adhered masking tape to the rubbing edge as a guide for the belt sander. You can substitute a hand or power planer for the belt sander, but the sander gives you better control over the amount of waste you remove. Once you rehang the door and are happy with the fit, reseal the sanded edge to keep out moisture.
Problem: Door Doesn’t Latch: Misaligned Strike Plate
If a door doesn’t latch, either the door or the frame has shifted, resulting in the misalignment of the strike plate and strike, or bolt. The quickest and easiest solution is to file the strike plate.
An easy way to tell where the problem lies is to apply lipstick to the protruding bolt, then shut the door. The lipstick will mark the strike position onto the strike plate and show where it needs to be filed.
Once you reposition the strike plate, you may have to remove some wood behind it to allow the bolt to penetrate the jamb freely. If the misalignment is more than 1/8 in., shift the position of the strike plate in the jamb, rather than filing it.
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