We have all dealt with that one annoying door. You try to close it, but it rubs against the frame, sticks at the top, or refuses to latch without a fight. While it feels like a minor nuisance, a misaligned door hinge can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your trim or floor, and eventually, a door may fall off its hinges.
At Wiemann Home Inspection, we see these “stubborn doors” during almost every home inspection. Usually, the culprit isn’t the house settling—it is a loose hinge.
The Root Cause: The Loose Hinge
In our latest video, our inspector, Tim, demonstrates a common issue: a door rubbing against the side of the jamb and how to fix it. When you push on the top of the door and see the hinge plate move, you have found your problem. The screws have lost their grip, and the weight of the door is pulling it out of alignment.
Here are three ways to fix a rubbing door and get it swinging smoothly again:
1. The Quick Tighten
Start with the most obvious solution. Take your drill or screwdriver and try to tighten the existing screws. Sometimes, vibration and heavy use simply back the screws out over time. If the screw grabs and stays tight, you’re finished! However, if the screw spins endlessly, the wood inside is “stripped,” and you need to try option two or three.
2. The Long-Screw Trick
If the original short screws won’t hold, replace one or two of them with a longer screw. Typically, 1.5 – 2-inch wood screws will work best.
Why it works: These longer screws bypass the thin door jamb and bite directly into the 2×4 wall studs behind it.
Pro Tip: This method actually pulls the entire hinge tighter toward the wall, which creates more clearance on the opposite side. Just be careful not to overtighten, or you might pull the door too far and cause it to bind elsewhere!
3. The “Golf Tee” Hack
If you don’t have long screws or want to reuse the decorative ones that came with your hardware, you can use a golf tee to create a fresh “bite” for your hardware.
Apply a small amount of glue to the tip of the golf tee.
Drive the tee into the stripped screw hole with a hammer.
Snap or cut the tee off so it sits flush with the hinge.
Drive your original screw directly into the center of the golf tee.
The dense wood of the tee expands and creates a brand-new, tight “anchor” for your screw to grab onto.
Master Your Home Maintenance
Small DIY fixes like these keep your home running smoothly and prevent minor annoyances from turning into costly repairs. During a professional home inspection, we check the doors to ensure the structure is sound and the hardware is functioning as intended. We believe a well-informed homeowner is a confident one. We take pride in helping you spot these details before they become problems, ensuring your property remains in peak condition for years to come. Inspecting your home like one of our own!