Messages and Online Forum Q&A

Re: Fixing your door

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Windows and Doors
Date: 16 Jul 2000
Time: 16:41:51
Remote Name: 63.198.181.43

Comments

Dear Craig:

Doors don't close on their own unless they are out of plumb. If the door to your bedroom is closing shut after it's been opened, this indicates that either the wall is out of plumb or the door frame or hinges are off slightly. Take a 4 or 6 foot carpenter's level and measure at a few points along the vertical edge of the door at different opening angles. A properly installed door should be perfectly plumb regardless of door position. I think you'll find that the top edge of the door is leaning relative to the bottom of the door. If the wall itself is exactly plumb, then it may be that the door jamb was carelessly installed. A carpenter can repair this for you by pulling off the trim moulding and re-plumbing the door frame. If the frame is square and plumb, then it's possible that the hinges were installed improperly. Again, it might be possible to make some minor adjustments to the position on the hinges on the jamb or the door itself. Since this can be tricky to get right, unless you're an accomplished do-it-yourselfer, hire a competent finish carpenter to get this taken care of. Depending on the extent of the problem, there may need to be some finish carpentry repairs to your moulding as well as repainting. So before you do anything, make sure you have (or can get) some matching touch up paint and extra trim materials just in case anything gets damaged. Sometimes a thin shim (such as cardboard or metal) can be placed under a hinge flange to give the required adjustment.

Finally, if your home is only two years old, you might check with the original builder or contractor and get them to fix it for you as part of a new home warranty. If you recently purchased the home from the original owners, the real estate agent that sold it to you may fix it as part of a "new home warranty" program that's increasingly common. At least, your agent might be able to refer someone to you who can handle this repair with minimal expense.

You deserve to have your door stay open and this is likely an original workmanship issue that was overlooked by the original builder.

Let us know what you find after you make some measurements with a quality level.

Builders Websource

Article Tools

Builders Websource® is a corporate member of ASTM International—a non-profit engineering body dedicated in part to the standardization of building materials specifications, products, systems, and test methods for improved health, safety, and reliability of residential and commercial structures.

Copyright © 1999 - 2018 Builders Websource®, a BUILDERA™ company. All rights reserved.