Need Help with Door Re-Install

House Repair Talk

Help Support House Repair Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Max Schaefer

Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2020
Messages
6
Reaction score
2
Location
MIddletown NY
I recently removed an interior door to paint it by removing the hinges from the jamb and the door. Upon re-installing it, it no longer closes tight but stops about 6 inches from fully closed. The hinges aren't bent and the hinges are flush with the mortises. Even though the door does not close, it hangs perfectly plumb with no movement no matter where I place it in the swing from fully open to closed. The only thing I can think of is that the hinges are not in alignment but I didn't mess with the door frame other than to paint it.
 
Welcome.
It sounds as if the door is binding against the door stops, and you can tell by watching the stops on the hinge side as you close the door.

If that is the situation there are two ways to correct this, 1 is to move the stops, which will require some paint touch up, or 2, which is to remove the hinge screws from either the door or the jamb, fill the hole with glued tooth picks or a glued golf tee, and reinsert the hinge screws in the back side of the filled jamb screw hole, or the front side of the door screw hole, after using a chisel or utility knife to widen the hinge space on the door, both of which will move the door away from the stop, and should not require any paint touch up.
 
Welcome.
It sounds as if the door is binding against the door stops, and you can tell by watching the stops on the hinge side as you close the door.

If that is the situation there are two ways to correct this, 1 is to move the stops, which will require some paint touch up, or 2, which is to remove the hinge screws from either the door or the jamb, fill the hole with glued tooth picks or a glued golf tee, and reinsert the hinge screws in the back side of the filled jamb screw hole, or the front side of the door screw hole, after using a chisel or utility knife to widen the hinge space on the door, both of which will move the door away from the stop, and should not require any paint touch up.
Thanks for the reply. The door stops before it contacts the stop on the hinge side and about 6 inches away from the stop on the latch side.
 
It is then binding somewhere.

Without seeing it, I can only guess based upon experience.
 
Yes, either hinges are backwards, or screws into the jamb are much tighter than before, and now the door is hinge bound.

Look up that term on google.
 
I suspect that the problem was tight screws or unevenly tight screws. I took the door off again and started from the beginning but removed the pin from the top hinge and worked from the bottom up-then closed the door and replaced the top pin When the door was closed. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Back
Top