A door that rubs at the top can be more than just a nuisance; it can also lead to long-term damage if left unaddressed. Over time, doors may begin to sag or shift due to changes in humidity, regular use, or issues with the door frame. Fixing this problem can be straightforward if you follow these steps and have the right tools and materials on hand.
Steps:
- Open and close the door slowly to determine where it rubs against the frame.
- Mark the problem spot with a pencil. In most cases, the door will catch at the top corner near the handle side.
- Sometimes, a door rubs because the screws in the hinges have loosened over time. Use a Phillips screwdriver to tighten all the hinge screws, focusing particularly on the upper hinge. If the screws spin without tightening, they may have stripped the wood. In this case, insert a wooden shim or toothpick coated with wood glue into the screw hole, then drive the screw back in.
- If tightening the screws doesn’t solve the issue, you might need to adjust the hinge positioning slightly. Place a wood shim or piece of cardboard behind the bottom hinge to tilt the door slightly upward. Unscrew the hinge from the frame, place the shim behind it, and then reattach the hinge.
- If adjusting the hinges doesn’t completely resolve the problem, you may need to remove a small amount of material from the top of the door. Use sandpaper or a block plane to shave down the area where the door rubs. Be careful not to remove too much wood at once; start with light passes and check the fit frequently.
- Using a carpenter’s square, check the alignment of the door frame. If the frame is out of square, this could be the root of the problem. While minor adjustments can be made by shimming the hinges, more significant misalignments might require professional attention.
- If you had to plane or sand the door, you might expose unfinished wood. To protect it, apply paint or stain to match the rest of the door.
- Finally, open and close the door to ensure it no longer rubs. If the issue persists, you may need to repeat the steps or consider more in-depth repairs.