How to Align a Door in a Jamb

Shim the Hinge

• 1

  Determine which side of the door is skewed and which hinge must be shimmed to align the door properly in the jamb. Remove the hinge with the screwdriver.

• 2

  Create a shim for the hinge from the cardboard. Place the hinge on the cardboard. Trace the shape around the hinge, and cut out the pattern. Make a few shims in case you need more.

• 3

  Set the cardboard shim into the hinge mortise in the jamb. Place the hinge on top of the cardboard shim. Screw one side of the hinge into the shim and the other side into the door.

• 4

  Test the door for alignment with the jamb. Add more cardboard shims if necessary.

Tighten Hinge Screws

• 5

  Tighten the screws in the hinges with the screwdriver. If the screws spin in their sockets, you need to refill the holes with wood material. Remove the screw.

• 6

  Dip a wooden matchstick or sliver of scrap wood into some wood glue.

• 7

  Insert the wood into the screw hole; use the hammer to punch it into the hole, if necessary. Allow the glue to dry.

• 8

  Reinsert the screw. Repeat with the other hinge screws, if necessary.