Stuck door-hard to open and close - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

sky_driver · 06-29-2003, 09:50 AM

Recently our front door has gotten hard to open and close. I am almost positive it is from the heat/humitity which I think is causing the wood in the door frame to expand, thus rubbing against the door. It is only happening in the bottom 6 inches of the door, which is also mystifying me. This is the only thing I can think of, since the actual door is metal. I do not really want to plane the area of the door frame that is making contact with the door, because I am afraid I will then have a gap if the wood shrinks. Am I thinking right, or am I off base? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Ashton · 06-29-2003, 02:30 PM

More than likely it is the door frame. I suppose you could check the hinges.... sometimes the screws will loosen up and cause the door to rub.

phredgreen · 06-29-2003, 03:41 PM

definitely check the hinges... if you have a metal door it's quite possible they've been puleld from the wood some and are sagging.... make sure they're properly anchored and that your door isn't sagging down.

smithrussell · 06-30-2003, 09:41 AM

instead of using the standard screws that come with the hinges (they are only long enough to screw into the door jamb), use some 3" screws. the 3'' screws will pull the door jamb(and door) towards the hinge side of the hole. say your door scapes on the bottom of the handle side...put one or two 3'' screws in the top hinge. done lots of carpentry and this is often the easiest and most effective fix

r

clavus · 06-30-2003, 11:55 AM

my only advice is to listen to smithrussell's advice.

vermin · 06-30-2003, 08:33 PM

I sprayed WD-40 on the door frame which helped drive the water out of the wood (the WD stands for water displacer) which then shrunk and the door closes fine ever since. Couldn't hurt to try.

sky_driver · 07-01-2003, 06:32 PM

Thanks everyone, I will try several of the methods listed and let you know how it came out.

zero2 · 07-08-2003, 06:22 PM

check the hinges, the screws may need tightening, otherwise check the door jam, make sure it is flush w/ the door frame. It could also be water damage to the wood which would make the wood expand.

deverell · 07-17-2003, 03:20 PM

candle wax?

BenChuy · 07-21-2003, 10:15 AM

I'd recommend treating the wood, checking the hinges, using longer screws AND, because it is a metal door, putting in some match stick ends to fill out the hole. always worked for me, and allows for further swelling problems to not actually effect you in this way. Planing a tad would not hurt tho.

devil_121 · 03-30-2007, 02:30 AM

My friend As I know your house gradually settles over time, small changes in the alignment of door jambs can cause doors to stick. Other things, such as loose hinges or new thick carpet can make it difficult to open or close a door. Fixing each of the things that causes a door to stick is easy, though, and requires at most a hand plane or circular saw.

06-29-2003, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
sky_driver Insane	Stuck door-hard to open and close Recently our front door has gotten hard to open and close. I am almost positive it is from the heat/humitity which I think is causing the wood in the door frame to expand, thus rubbing against the door. It is only happening in the bottom 6 inches of the door, which is also mystifying me. This is the only thing I can think of, since the actual door is metal. I do not really want to plane the area of the door frame that is making contact with the door, because I am afraid I will then have a gap if the wood shrinks. Am I thinking right, or am I off base? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

06-29-2003, 03:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
phredgreen who? Location: the phoenix metro	definitely check the hinges... if you have a metal door it's quite possible they've been puleld from the wood some and are sagging.... make sure they're properly anchored and that your door isn't sagging down. __________________ My country is the world, and my religion is to do good. - Thomas Paine

06-30-2003, 09:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
smithrussell Upright	screws... instead of using the standard screws that come with the hinges (they are only long enough to screw into the door jamb), use some 3" screws. the 3'' screws will pull the door jamb(and door) towards the hinge side of the hole. say your door scapes on the bottom of the handle side...put one or two 3'' screws in the top hinge. done lots of carpentry and this is often the easiest and most effective fix r

06-30-2003, 11:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	my only advice is to listen to smithrussell's advice. __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

06-30-2003, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
vermin Indifferent to anti-matter Location: Tucson, AZ	I sprayed WD-40 on the door frame which helped drive the water out of the wood (the WD stands for water displacer) which then shrunk and the door closes fine ever since. Couldn't hurt to try. __________________ If puns were sausages, this would be the wurst.

06-29-2003, 02:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	More than likely it is the door frame. I suppose you could check the hinges.... sometimes the screws will loosen up and cause the door to rub.

07-01-2003, 06:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
sky_driver Insane	Thanks everyone, I will try several of the methods listed and let you know how it came out.

07-08-2003, 06:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
zero2 Junkie	check the hinges, the screws may need tightening, otherwise check the door jam, make sure it is flush w/ the door frame. It could also be water damage to the wood which would make the wood expand.

07-17-2003, 03:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
deverell Upright	candle wax?

07-21-2003, 10:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
BenChuy Insane Location: About 70 pixals above this...	I'd recommend treating the wood, checking the hinges, using longer screws AND, because it is a metal door, putting in some match stick ends to fill out the hole. always worked for me, and allows for further swelling problems to not actually effect you in this way. Planing a tad would not hurt tho.

03-30-2007, 02:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
devil_121 Upright	My friend As I know your house gradually settles over time, small changes in the alignment of door jambs can cause doors to stick. Other things, such as loose hinges or new thick carpet can make it difficult to open or close a door. Fixing each of the things that causes a door to stick is easy, though, and requires at most a hand plane or circular saw.