Fix a door that sticks or won't latch
About 20 minutes
Nine times out of ten it is a loose hinge screw, not a warped door. Start with the cheapest fix.
Printable steps & toolsWatch it done
How to Tightly Fit a Door · Ask This Old House
Watch it done → Practice now
Do these 3 things next
- Tighten every hinge screw with a hand screwdriver, top hinge first.
- Close the door slowly and mark with a pencil where it drags.
- Only if it still sticks, plan the shim — don't reach for a plane yet.
Say it while you work: bena — door
Steps
- Close the door slowly and watch where it rubs — top corner, latch side, or bottom.
- Tighten every hinge screw. If a screw spins, replace it with a 3-inch screw that reaches the framing.
- Still rubbing on the latch side? Loosen the strike plate, shift it 1/16 inch toward the rub, and re-tighten.
- Only if the door still binds: mark the rub line in pencil and plane or sand a hair at a time, checking after each pass.
When to call a professional
Any job
Nothing here says you can't do it. These are simply the moments where a professional is the cheaper answer.
- The same problem comes back after a correct repair.
- The next step needs a tool or permit you don't have.
- You'd be working alone on something that could pin or fall.
- You've lost confidence — that feeling is information, not failure.
General guidance only. Local codes and conditions vary. If work involves electrical, gas, structural, HVAC or plumbing systems — or if anything feels beyond your comfort — stop and hire a licensed professional.
Bumada Bridge
Want to learn this in Garifuna?
bena — door
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