How to Fix Interior Doors That Do Not Close

An interior door might stop closing because of weather, humidity, a shift in the house or hinges that loosen over time. Extreme hot or cold temperatures can make a door stick. In addition, high humidity causes wood doors to swell and makes them stick in their frames. New houses sometimes settle or shift as time goes on, which can make a door fit improperly.

Screwdrivers
Metal file
Chisel
Wood filler
Thin cardboard
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Tighten all the screws on the door's hinges. Work with a partner to hold the door level and tighten the screws, or use something to hold the door at the normal working angle before you tighten them.
- 2
  Check the position of the the latch when it hits the strike plate. If it is hitting too low or too high, that is the reason the door isn't closing. If it only is missing slightly, file down the hole of the strike plate until the door closes. If it is missing by a larger margin, move the strike plate so the latch lines up with the hole. To move the plate, chisel out the gap for the plate in the door so you can move it, and fill in the remainder of the old gap with wood filler.
- 3
  Examine the closed door from the side where the hinge pins are located. If the door isn't square in the frame, the sagging may be causing it to jam somewhere. Spenard Builders Supply recommends shoving a thin cardboard shim between the jamb and hinges to straighten out the door.
- 4
  Carefully look around the edge of the door to see if you can notice where it is sticking. If the door is as level as possible in the frame but still catching, sand down the area where it is sticking. This remedy usually is the answer if a door has swollen because of moisture and is not closing properly as a result.

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