How to Fix a Door That Won't Close Properly

Most doors that won't close properly have alignment issues caused by loose hinges, warped frames, or swollen wood that can be fixed by adjusting hinges, planing edges, or shimming the frame.

1. Tighten and inspect hinges. Start by examining all three hinges for loose screws. Tighten any loose screws with a screwdriver. If screws keep coming loose or won't tighten, the screw holes may be stripped. Remove the screw, stuff the hole with wooden toothpicks or matchsticks, then reinstall the screw.
2. Find where it binds. Close the door slowly and watch where it binds or catches. Look at the gap around the door frame - it should be even on all sides, about the width of a nickel. If the gap is uneven or the door hits one side before the other, you have an alignment problem.
3. Lift the sagging door. If the door sags and hits the bottom of the frame, you need to lift the door. Remove the middle hinge pin by tapping it out with a hammer and nail set. Place a thin cardboard shim behind the bottom part of the middle hinge on the door frame, then reinstall the pin.
4. Clear the top binding. For doors that bind at the top, place shims behind the top part of the bottom hinge. This will tilt the door slightly and create clearance at the top. Start with one thin shim and add more if needed.
5. Sand swollen edges smooth. If the door edge is swollen or warped and hitting the frame, mark the problem area with chalk. Remove the door by lifting out the hinge pins. Use a hand plane or belt sander to remove material from the marked area. Work slowly and test-fit frequently - you can always remove more wood, but you can't put it back.
6. Align the latch strike. If the door closes but the latch doesn't catch properly, the strike plate may need adjustment. Check if the latch bolt aligns with the strike plate hole. If it's slightly off, you can file the strike plate hole larger, or unscrew the plate and move it up, down, or sideways as needed.
7. Account for weather changes. Wood doors swell in humid weather and shrink when dry. If the problem is recent and weather-related, the door may return to normal as humidity changes. For persistent swelling, remove a thin layer from the door edge with sandpaper or a plane.