Tightening Sagging Door Frames & Sticking Doors

Doors that don't hang properly in the frame tend to stick, and this problem worsens if you don't remedy the situation. A sticking door can be difficult to open or close. This means you have to push firmly on the door to lock it properly. This type of situation also makes homeowners fearful that they won't be able to escape if the door sticks stubbornly during a fire or other disaster. Humidity causes a door and frame to swell over time. Frequent use is another cause, since this results in the hinges and screws loosening. Repairing these doors takes little time and results in the doors opening and closing in the proper manner.

Things You'll Need

Screwdriver
Long screws (3 inches or longer)
Hammer

Nails (2 or 3 inches long)
Sanding block
Medium-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Tighten the screws that exist on the hinges in the doors and jambs with a screwdriver. The jamb is the area that comprises the door frame. This often solves the problem on fiberglass and metal doors.
- 2
  Fix stripped screw holes by removing the old screws and using ones that are longer -- at least 3 inches -- in the hole. This tightens the frame and door so that it works well.
- 3
  Adjust the door frame by hammering 2-to-3-inch nails in the sections where you notice the door sticking. Do this on the side of the door frame where the door locks, instead of the side with the hinges. If the door still sticks in a few places, hammer additional nails along the frame every 6 to 12 inches.
- 4
  Inspect the problem areas where the door sticks and draw pencil marks on them. Hold the door steady while you sand down the areas with a sanding block until the pencil marks are no longer visible. Use a medium-grit sandpaper. Open and close the door to determine if it still sticks. If so, make more pencil marks and sand the areas again.

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