How to Fix a Front Door That Will Not Shut All the Way

A door that doesn't shut properly allows insects, water and cold air to seep in your home. Pets can escape and young children may open the door and walk out without you knowing. In the winter, the cold air enters and in the summer the cool air leaves, adding to your utility bills. Repair a door that doesn't shut completely to save money on heating and cooling costs and prevent intruders from coming in uninvited.

Screwdriver
Shims
Screws
Door handle
Wood finish

Instructions

- 1
  Open the door completely and wiggle the door to see if the hinges move at all. They should be tight against the frame. If the hinges are loose, the door will hang lower on the side with the latch.
- 2
  Lift the door until it is even. Prop it up with wooden shims, which are thin slivers of wood, to lift the door up higher than it sitting naturally. Tighten the screws in the hinges. Insert a new screw to replace any that are missing.
- 3
  Examine the door latch and keeper where the latch clicks into place. Both should be free from dings or bends. If the latch is too high or low, unscrew the keeper from the inside of the door frame and move it accordingly until the door shuts properly. If you need to adjust the keeper significantly, it may be necessary to redo the hole as well.
- 4
  Replace the door handle or lock entirely if it is too damaged to repair. A proper handle clicks into place without force and doesn't require you to lift it up for the keep and latch to meet.
- 5
  Remove the door from the hinges by unscrewing them completely if the door is warped. Apply a finish along the top and bottom to prevent it from getting any worse. For larger gaps or warps, cut a wooden shim and nail it into place to fill the door in. Severe gaps may not be repairable and require you to replace the door completely.

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