How-To

Why Your Door Won't Close (and 5 Fixes a Handyman Uses)

By Richard · Published March 12, 2026

A door that won’t close is one of those small irritations that becomes a daily one. The good news: 90% of the time, the fix is fast — once you know what’s actually wrong. Here’s how I diagnose every door problem, and the five fixes that handle most cases.

Step 1: Diagnose Before You Fix

Most failed door fixes happen because someone tried to plane a door that was actually a hinge problem, or replaced a hinge that was actually a strike plate problem. Diagnose first.

Open the door and look at where it’s catching:

• Top of the door catching the frame on the latch side? Hinge sag (usually upper hinge).
• Bottom of the door dragging on the floor? Hinge sag, or door has swelled, or floor has settled.
• Door closes but doesn’t latch? Strike plate alignment or hinge sag.
• Door swings open by itself? Hinges out of plumb (frame may have shifted).
• Door catches uniformly all around? Door has swelled (humidity), or frame has shifted.

Each of these has a different fix.

Fix 1: Tighten Loose Hinge Screws

The single most common door problem. Years of opening and closing slowly strips the wood around hinge screws. The hinge stays put, but the door starts to sag because the screws can’t hold tension anymore.

The fix:

1. Open the door and put a wedge under it to support its weight.
2. Remove the top hinge screws one at a time.
3. Look at the holes — if they’re stripped, fill with wood toothpicks and glue (or use longer screws).
4. Re-drive the screws with the wood now compressed.

Often this is the entire fix.

Fix 2: Replace Short Hinge Screws with Longer Ones

If toothpicks don’t hold, swap one screw on each upper hinge for a 3-inch screw that drives through the hinge mortise into the framing behind. This pulls the door back into proper alignment in many cases — no planing needed.

Fix 3: Adjust the Strike Plate

If the door closes but doesn’t latch, the latch is not lining up with the strike plate. Three options:

1. Slight misalignment: file the strike plate opening to widen it slightly.
2. Bigger misalignment: unscrew the strike plate, move it, drill new pilot holes, reattach.
3. Major misalignment: remove the strike plate entirely, chisel the mortise to the new location, drill, reattach.

Most strike plate adjustments are 5–10 minutes.

Fix 4: Plane the Door Edge

If the door has swelled or the frame has shifted, sometimes you have to remove material from the door itself.

1. Mark exactly where the door is catching (close it slowly and watch).
2. Remove the door from the hinges.
3. Plane carefully — a few passes at a time — until the catch clears.
4. Sand the planed edge smooth.
5. Touch up paint or stain on the planed area (planed wood absorbs differently).
6. Rehang.

This is the “if all else fails” fix — and it’s irreversible. Don’t plane unless you’ve ruled out hinge issues first.

Fix 5: Replace Weatherstripping

If your exterior door closes but feels drafty or hard to seal, the issue is weatherstripping, not the door. Most weatherstripping fails within 5–10 years. Replace:

1. Pry out the old weatherstripping.
2. Clean the surface where new will sit.
3. Cut new weatherstripping to length.
4. Press into place (most modern weatherstripping is self-adhesive).
5. Adjust the threshold sweep at the bottom if drafty there.

A whole-door weatherstripping job is usually 30 minutes per door. The energy savings pay for it fast.

When to Call a Pro

• The frame itself is out of square (you’ll see gaps that vary widely top to bottom)
• The door is exterior and security is involved (lock alignment is hard to DIY)
• You’ve got a fancy door (solid wood, art glass) you don’t want to risk planing
• You’ve tried the basics and the door still doesn’t close right

What I Charge

Most door fixes are quick — $80–$200 depending on what’s needed. Lock changes, weatherstripping replacement, and pet door installs run more. More on my door repair service here.

If you’ve got a door problem you’d rather not learn on, send me a quick description or call (408) 623-0971.

#door repair#how-to#diy

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