Door Not Closing Properly? Why Does This Happen and What to do About It

Locksmiths get called out if there is a problem locking a door. However, it is common for a door not closing properly to be caused by a misaligned door rather than the lock itself. Consequently, locksmith’s have become proficient at resolving issues related to doors that are out of alignment. This article is written by Lock Guy, a professional locksmith based in Essex and here he discusses all about door alignment problems and what to do about it.

What Causes a Door Not to Shut?

Firstly, it is important to distinguish between two broad categories of door:

Wooden Doors

These doors are susceptible to adverse weather conditions in that wood swells when it becomes damp. Over time, wet weather can get into the wood and then the door absorbs the water and increases in size causing the door not to fit in the frame. Wooden doors are attached to the frame of the door by a fixed hinge. These types of hinges generally do not allow movement, but they can become slightly detached causing the door to drop.

Composite / uPVC Doors

These doors are normally fixed to the door frame with some kind of adjustable hinge. These doors can be very heavy and the hinges can drop/sag over time depending on the weight of the door and the amount of use and abuse it has received.

Other potential and general causes of alignment issues may relate to:

The structure itself. Due to movement in the house for example maybe because it is settling or possibly because of some kind of subsidence in the area. Extreme cases like this may need the services of a builder to rectify the issue, but often small movements can be overcome with some door realignment work.
Poor workmanship. If the door was not fitted very well. Initially the door may work after installation, but if it was fitted right on the tolerance of acceptable, then even a tiny movement can cause problems. If you have recently had a structure or door fitted, then always go back to the installer to see if it is covered under the guarantee.
Damage. If the door has suffered a heavy impact causing some damage either accidentally or through vandalism or a burglary attempt.

What To Do If You Are Having Trouble Closing Your Door

Most people think to contact a door company when their door is not closing properly. This may be OK as long as they offer a servicing or repair service. Otherwise, door companies tend not to be too interested or will encourage you to go down the route of a completely new door as it is more money for them.

But needing a new door is actually very rare in reality as the vast majority of issues can be repaired through adjustments.

As mentioned, locksmith’s have a lot of experience in realigning doors, so it is worth requesting a visit/quote from a reputable local locksmith.

How to Realign a Wooden Door

For a wooden door that is difficult to close, the first thing to check is that there is nothing physically blocking the door. Check for and remove any debris like stones for example. Next, check the hinges. Make sure that they are securely screwed in and try to replace the screws with longer screws well tightened.

You can use a sander or planer to shave off the sections of the door that are hitting the door frame.

Or you can chisel away or insert some packing (e.g. cardboard) behind the hinge to alter the angle of the door to enable it to close freely.

How to Realign a uPVC/Composite Door

There are many different types of hinges from many different manufacturers all with slightly different ways of adjusting them. In fact there are too many hinges to describe in this article. Find out the generic type you have (e.g. flag hinge, butt hinge and rebate hinges). Most of these hinges can be adjusted with a 4/5mm allen key. Normally there is a cover that needs to be removed by removing a screw on the inside of the hinge or by removing a rubber or plastic cap on the hinge. Draw a line with a pencil to mark the current position of the door. Make quarter of a turn movements and check the new position of the door each time.

Avoid introducing stress into the door by forcing hinges to go in opposite directions. Hint: If you make 3 turns on the top hinge, then you should make 1.5 turns on the middle hinge.

If in doubt – contact a professional.

The other thing to mention is that there is a weather strip on the outside of the door to deflect the rain. This strip can sometimes slip to the side causing an obstruction. Always check that this is not the issue with the door.

Maintenance

As always, prevention is better than trying to resolve the issue.

For wooden doors, make sure the wood is treated to prevent bare edges being exposed to the elements and try to keep the weather off the door if possible (e.g. fit a door canopy).

Treat the doors with care and avoid slamming the doors or hanging heavy things on them.

If you’re reading this because you’re experiencing an issue with a door not closing properly, hopefully this article has proved helpful. Good luck with your door that is difficult to close!

If you need any advice or further information, or if you have a door that is causing problems in Witham, Maldon or across Essex, then contact Lock Guy.

Got a question about a lock issue you may have? Why not have a look at the FAQ page or one of the helpful advice videos on the Media page.