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