Common Door Repairs

One of the most common, and most bothersome, small problems around the house is having a malfunctioning door. If it squeaks, sticks, or has other problems opening or closing, it is often an issue several times a day for anyone who lives in the house. Door repair is not always a straightforward task, but in most cases, it is not incredibly involved, either. If you’re tired of dealing with an offending door, here are a few tips about repair that might come in handy.

Door Repairs for Sticking or Swelling

Changes in temperature and humidity can cause swelling, and subsequently sticking, of a door. Repair for this situation will involve sanding down the portion of the door that sticks and causes friction. To identify where you need to sand, you can slip a piece of carbon paper in the area where friction is suspected and close the door; when you open it back up, the area that needs to be sanded will be marked with ink. Once you sand the area smooth, make sure to seal it up with varnish, or you’re likely to have even more moisture problems in the future.

Door Repair: Sagging

A door will occasionally sag under its own weight and bind in the doorframe. If the situation isn’t corrected, it will worsen over time until it’s virtually impossible to open or close the door. Sanding the upper door edge is only a temporary fix because the door will continue to sag.

Instead, remove the screws from the upper hinge leaf that’s attached to the doorjamb and replace them with three-inch decking screws. The screws will pass through the jamb and reach deep into the trimmer studs of the rough opening. Tighten the screws just enough to pull back the door a little bit. Be careful not to over tighten them or you’ll bow the jamb and distort the swing of the door.

Drafty Entry Door Repairs

Especially in colder climates, a drafty entry door can make a room that would be perfectly comfortable into a far less pleasant place. Two very common solutions to this problem are adding weather stripping or installing a storm door. Weather stripping comes in a few different varieties, and can be installed in a couple different ways. When done properly, it is a sure fix for drafts that is cost-effective and quick. Installing a storm door can make a huge difference when it comes to blocking drafts, and when the weather gets warmer, a storm door fitted with a screen can allow a great deal of air circulation without letting in bugs.

How To Fix a Door That Wont Latch

Hiring a Handyman for Door Repair

Door repair is a project that generally doesn’t take too much time, especially for an experienced professional. If you’re not the do-it-yourself type, you may want to hire a handyman to come and do the job for you. Even folks with some experience in fixing things around the house might want to call a handyman service for door repair and group it together with a few other odd projects. Make sure to let the service know when you contact them about each individual project you need done, as this will allow them to come to your home prepared.

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