In a newer home, if you’ve noticed that one corner of your entry door is sticking out and leaving a noticeable gap, it could be due to a twist in the door, humidity changes, or an issue with the frame itself. What steps can I take to accurately diagnose whether I need to adjust the hinge mortise, add shims, sand down the door, or install new weatherstripping to resolve this problem?
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Tighten or adjust hinge screws, shim behind a hinge to pull the corner in, or plane/sand the sticking edge for a flush fit.
Close the door and check gaps with a straightedge to spot frame misalignment. Inspect and tighten hinge screws, and check mortises for uneven depth—shim if needed.
Use a level to see if the door is twisted; sand only if swollen. If the frame is square but the gap remains, adjust the strike plate or replace/add weatherstripping.
- Adjust the Hinges: Check if the hinges are loose or misaligned. Tighten any loose screws, and adjust the hinges to ensure the door is properly aligned.
- Plane the Door: If the door is warped or uneven, you might need to plane it to smooth out the surface. However, this can be a complex process, and it’s recommended to consult a professional if you’re unsure.
- Add Shims: If the door frame is the issue, you can try adding shims between the frame and the wall to level it out.
- Check the Door’s Fit: Ensure the door is properly fitted in the frame. If the door is too large or too small, it may not fit properly, leading to gaps or unevenness.
So, if your door corner is sticking out, it usually means the door or frame has moved, the hinges are loose, or the wood is bent.
Here’s what you can do:
- Check the hinge screws first—the top hinge is often loose, making the door sag. Tighten them, and if the hole is too big, use longer screws.
- Change the hinges—put something thin behind one hinge or sink another to move the door back where it should be.
- Look at the frame—if it happened after the weather changed, the wood might be bent or the house might have settled. You can sand the edge a bit, but do this last.
If it’s not that bad and only happens sometimes, you could wait to see if it gets better. Fixing small stuff can sometimes make things worse.
Tighten the hinge closest to the sticking-out corner, or slightly recess its opposite hinge, so the door twists back flush
Minor gaps can also be eased by adjusting strike plate depth or lightly sanding the binding edge.
Check for frame warp or hinge misalignment first. Adjust hinge screws or add shims, then test fit. If needed, sand edges or replace weatherstripping to seal the gap.
Tighten or shim hinges first; if still sticking, plane the door edge or adjust the frame to fix the gap.