Shaving down part of the door
If your door hits the frame every time it opens or closes, you may have to shave down a part of the door. To do this, measure the gap between the jamb and the door. It should be about an eighth of an inch. Thecant, the door is out of square if the gap is greater or loose. This is caused by poor installation or settling of the house.
The best tool to use for this job is an electric planer. However, you can use a hand plane if you do not have a planer. A hand plane isn’t as versatile as a power sander, but it can work well for this task. Make several lights passes with the planer or sander. Be sure to use a medium-grit sanding belt to avoid removing too much material.
Checking for loose screws
If your door is hitting the frame, you should start by checking for loose screws on the hinges. If the screws are not tight enough, the door may spring open. Then, you can use a longer screw to hold the door fast. If the screws are too short, you will need to replace them.
If you cannot tighten the screws manually, you can use a screw gun to install them. If you cannot find a screwdriver, you can also use a screw anchor.
Adjusting the bottom hinge
Adjusting the bottom hinge on a door that hits the frame is easy to make it swing straighter and prevent it from hitting the frame. The hinges of a door are usually made of metal, and some are made to hold a pin that can be adjusted by a few millimetres. First, remove the screws that hold the hinge in place to adjust the bottom hinge of a door. Next, loosen the screws with an Allen key.
There are many reasons why the hinges on a door can become bent, but three of the most common are a stone lodged in the frame, wind banging the door’s leaf, and running an electric cable out the hinge side the door. Once you’ve removed the screws that hold the hinge, check that the door is level. You might need to tighten the compression screws if it’s still wavy.
