How to Fix a Wood Door That Swings Open Freely

Examine the latching mechanism in your wooden door. Make sure the latch opens and closes cleanly. Apply a coating of lubricant if the mechanism appears to be stiff.

Test the handles fitted to your wooden door. Loosen the screws attaching them to your door if they seem stiff.

Tighten the screws that secure the latch and locking mechanism into your wooden door. If your door still swings open, tighten the screws securing the strike plate to your door's frame.

Inspect your wooden door to ensure your latch and scratch plate close properly once they've been tightened into place. Tighten the hinges securing the door to the other side of your frame if your door appears to be sagging.

Remove your scratch plate with a screwdriver and file away part of the frame to change its position if your door still doesn't latch into place. Use a small piece of wood to raise the scratch plate up if necessary. Apply a wood filling agent to the screw holes that secure the scratch place to your door before drilling new ones if you're only making small alterations. If your latch cannot reach your scratch plate due to wood shrinkage, place a small piece of wood behind your scratch plate to bring it forward slightly before screwing it back into place.