How to Repair Door Hinges: Quick Fixes and More

A home comprising of the many material things we need is bound to have a few squeaky hinges and doors. This quick guide will allow you to fix all sorts of problems that you may experience in your home. Simple to follow and execute, these tips can help save the day and your door, maybe even keep your wallet from losing some weight.

• Problem :

  Every time you open a door, does it squeak, reminiscent of old horror movies? If yes, then squirting some oil at the problem might not be the smartest decision. Read on to know why.

• Easy Solution:

  As a quick fix, you can spray some oil on all the hinges. This will make the squeaking noise stop temporarily. However, the noise will return invariably. The long-term solution is to remove the hinge pin by gently tapping the hinge. Coat the pin with white lithium grease and tap it back in place. Now, lubricate the top and bottom hinges. This should make the squeaking noise stop permanently.

  

• Problem:

  The door sticks every time it is opened or closed. However, the trouble spots are difficult to find. Hence, rectification becomes difficult.

• Easy Solution:

  The first step to solving the problem is identification of problem areas. It is important to identify the exact location of the problem. This can be done by taping the sides of the door with carbon paper. Then, open and close the door a few times. The parts that are scraping the doorframe will be marked in blue. This will allow you to sand the part of the door that is scraping the frame. The problem of a door sticking can be rectified in this way.

• Problem:

  The door binds on one side of the frame compromising on the privacy of the person inside the room.

• Easy Solution:

  On closing the door, inspect the space between the door and its frame. Make sure that the door is properly aligned in its frame. Ensure that the depth of the hinge mortises is the same. In case the depth is not the same, install a thin cardboard shim under the hinge. You can also use a playing card in case a thin cardboard shim is unavailable. Continue to add cardboard shims or playing cards until the depth of the hinge mortises is the same. All of this will help in making sure that the door swings freely.

• Problem:

  The sliding glass door keeps popping out of its track.

• Easy Solution:

  A sliding door falling out of its track poses a safety and security threat. There could be many reasons for the occurrence of the problem. For one, the door could have adjustable rollers that need to be adjusted according to the track and the movement required. The metal guides of the tracks can get bent and cause restriction in the movement of the sliding door. It can also cause damage to the door and the track. This can be corrected by restoring the original shape of the metal guide. Fit a piece of wood in the tracks, along the horizontal length of the metal guide. This will serve as a guidance for the straightening action. Using a mallet, beat the metal guide in place, making sure that it is completely straight and aligned with the sliding door.

• Problem:

  The door drifts open and doesn’t stay shut.

• Easy Solution:

  Using a makeshift doorstopper like a log might work for some time. However, in the long run, it can be a hurdle (quite literally). So, you can add some resistance to the door to keep it from staying open. To do this, remove one of the hinge pins. Using a hammer, lightly bend the hinge pin. Now, tap the hinge back in place. With the additional resistance, the door will stay put and not keep drifting shut.

For the upkeep of your door and its hinges, it is important to squirt some oil on the hinges regularly. This will make them last longer and improve their functionality. Most problems have simple solutions that can be resolved easily. You don’t need to call in the repairman every time the door is jammed or any such problem. This guide can help you in solving all our door-related problems with ease.