How to Fix an Interior Door That Rubs on the Door Stop

One problem with wood doors that swell because of humidity is binding, or rubbing. The door often rubs against the door stop when you open and shut it. Trim an interior door to fix a binding problem. The basic trick to getting this repair right is to know when you've removed enough wood, which might take several passes to get right. Be careful, and don't remove too much of the wood.

Pencil
Hammer
Flat screwdriver
2 sawhorses
Block plane
60-grit sandpaper
120-grit sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Position two sawhorses on the floor, spread out far enough to support the door when you place it on top of them.
- 2
  Draw light lines on the door to mark where the door touches the door stop. Use a pencil to draw lines on both faces of the door.
- 3
  Position the edge of a flat screwdriver underneath the head of the door hinge pins. Tap the screwdriver with a hammer to slide the pin up out of the hinge. Start with the bottom door hinge, and work up to the top hinge.
- 4
  Lay the door on top of the two sawhorses. Sand the door edge, using 60-grit sandpaper, if there is not much wood to remove. Follow up by rubbing 120-grit sandpaper along the door edge.
- 5
  Reinstall the door, and see if it continues to rub. If the door still rubs on the stop, remove the hinge pins and the door again. Place the door on the sawhorses.
- 6
  Turn the adjustment knob on a block plane to make sure the blade cuts the thinnest amount possible. Run the block plane along the door edge, working from the end toward the middle, to remove just a little wood at a time. Stop just short of the pencil lines.
- 7
  Sand the door edge, using 120-grit sandpaper.
- 8
  Reinstall the door, and check to see if it still rubs. Continue shaving the door edge with the block plane and reinstalling it until it no longer rubs on the door stop.

How to Install an AHI Single Deadbolt

How to Install Hydraulic Door Closures

Window & Door Repair