| Do you live in an older home? Do you have an | | | | natural expanding and contracting of the |
| interior door that gets harder to open and | | | | header can throw the door completely out of |
| close as the seasons pass? You are not alone | | | | alignment. There are other installation |
| if you do. Home that are exposed to extreme | | | | errors as well, but the end result is always |
| temperature and humidity changes tend to | | | | the same. Someday the door isn't going to |
| expand and contract. This is not normally a | | | | open and close properly. It isn't always the |
| problem. Homes are supposed to move a little. | | | | contractors fault. Homes, just like people, |
| The problem arises when homes move too much. | | | | tend to get a little out of alignment with |
| | | | age. |
| It isn't necessary to call in a general | | | | |
| contractor to fix a sticky door. With just a | | | | The solution is simple and will take less |
| few minutes of your own time, a hammer, 16d | | | | time to fix than it did for you to read this |
| finish nail or two, a nail set, and your own | | | | article. Doors stick because the door casing |
| skills, you can repair it. Doing it yourself | | | | has moved out of being square. Over time the |
| will save you the hassle of having to find a | | | | opening becomes more trapezoidal. To fix the |
| contractor. It will also save you money. Most | | | | problem, you don't try to make the door |
| house calls, from reputable building | | | | square again. This takes too long and |
| professionals, will average over $50.00 just | | | | involves removing the door and trim to get to |
| to have them walk through your door. The fix | | | | the root problem. Just look at the door and |
| for this problem is so easy. Let me tell you | | | | casing. Find the surfaces that are touching. |
| how to do it. | | | | (They will be easy to find.) They will be the |
| | | | ones where the paint or stain has been rubbed |
| It is important to know how a door is | | | | off. |
| installed. When your home was originally | | | | |
| built the, first the framing went up. Then | | | | Once you have found the rubbing surfaces, |
| the electrical, plumbing, and insulation were | | | | take a 16d nail and gently drive it through |
| put in place. Once these utilities were | | | | the casing where the rubbing occurs. Try to |
| finished, the framing of the interior walls | | | | place the nail as close to the center of the |
| were covered with lath and plaster or | | | | door frame as possible to keep the wood from |
| drywall. Last, the interior doors were | | | | splitting. Drive the nail until it is almost |
| installed. | | | | seated. Then use the nail set to set the |
| | | | nail. You will want to use light blows. As |
| When the door was installed, or hung, the | | | | you drive the nail into the framing, it will |
| hinge side of the door casing was placed | | | | apply force to the door casing and cause it |
| directly against the framing or stud. With | | | | to move away from the door. Strike the nail |
| the hinge side of the casing against a stud, | | | | with the hammer and nail set then check the |
| nails were driven through it to secure it in | | | | door. It may take a few strikes, but |
| place. Once in place, the latch side of the | | | | eventually, the casing will be pulled far |
| casing was made level and plumb and secured | | | | enough away from the door to stop the two |
| to the framing as well. Shims would have been | | | | from rubbing together. |
| used to make up any gaps and keep the door | | | | |
| casing in proper place. The door could now be | | | | When you are done, all you will have is a |
| attached to the casing using the hinges | | | | single hole to fill with wood putty! |
| provided. If all was done correctly, the door | | | | |
| would be plumb (perpendicular to the plane of | | | | In summary, to fix a squeaky door you must |
| the earth) and an even gap, or reveal, could | | | | first locate where the door and the door |
| be seen all the way around the door. | | | | casing are rubbing together. Using a finish |
| | | | nail, drive the casing away from the door |
| Problems arise when contractors hurry the | | | | until the two stop rubbing together. When |
| installation of a door or do it improperly. | | | | finished, depending on how good you are with |
| Problems can start when the door casing is | | | | your hammer, you will only have a single nail |
| not secured to the framing solidly. If the | | | | hole to patch. This is a very simple solution |
| door casing was nailed to the header, the | | | | to a very common problem. |