LFTHQ

How to Fix a Sticking or Squeaky Door

For adults · About 4 minute read · By Laith Sad

A hand using a screwdriver on a brass door hinge on a wooden door.

A squeak or a door that sticks can make a house feel worn out. Most of these problems come down to a dry hinge, a loose screw, or a spot where the door rubs the frame, and each of them has a quick fix.

Fix a squeaky door

  1. Find the noisy hinge. Open and close the door slowly and listen.
  2. Lubricate it. Spray a small amount of silicone lubricant or put a drop of light machine oil on the hinge pin, and work the door back and forth. Lay a cloth under the hinge to catch drips.
  3. If it keeps squeaking, support the door, tap the hinge pin up with a nail and hammer, wipe off dirt and rust, apply lubricant, and tap the pin back in.
  4. Wipe off the extra so it does not stain the door or floor.

Tighten loose hinges

Loose screws let the door sag, which causes both squeaks and sticking. Tighten every hinge screw with a screwdriver. If a screw just spins, the hole is stripped. You can:

  • Dip a wooden toothpick or matchstick in wood glue, push it into the hole, let it dry, trim it flush, and put the screw back in.
  • Or replace the top hinge screw with a longer one, about 2½ to 3 inches, so it bites into the wall framing behind the door frame. This pulls the door back into position.

Fix a sticking door

  1. Tighten the hinges first. Sometimes that is all it takes.
  2. Find where the door rubs. Look for shiny spots, scuffs, or paint marks on the edge of the door or the frame. Slide a piece of paper around the gap to find tight spots.
  3. Weather matters. Doors swell in humid weather and often loosen again when the air dries. If the problem only shows up in humid months, waiting may solve it.
  4. If the door still rubs, remove a small amount of material from the rubbing edge with medium sandpaper or a block plane. Go slowly and take off a little at a time.
  5. Seal the bare wood with paint or finish so it does not absorb moisture and swell again.

If the latch will not catch

If the door closes but the latch does not click, the latch bolt is probably missing the hole in the strike plate (the metal plate on the frame). Look at the scuff marks to see which way the latch is off. You can sometimes bend the strike plate tab slightly, or loosen its screws and move it by a small amount. If it needs a larger change, a pro can enlarge the opening.

When to call a pro

  • The door frame is cracked, out of square, or has large uneven gaps.
  • The door still sticks after the hinges are tight and you have removed a small amount of material.
  • It is an exterior door with a lock or deadbolt problem. Call a locksmith so security is not weakened.
  • It is a fire-rated door, which should not be cut or modified.

A note for renters

Lubricating a hinge or tightening a screw is usually fine. For planing, cutting, or changing the frame or lock, ask your landlord first.

This article is general home-maintenance information, not professional advice. Rules, codes, and conditions vary, so follow the instructions that come with your parts and tools, and use your judgment about your own skills. If you are not sure it is safe, stop and call a qualified professional.