Interior and Exterior Door Repair, by Pattie Hughes

Over time, wood doors may not perform as well as they did when they were new. Older doors may stick and become difficult to close. When this happens, you will need to return your doors to their original working condition. There are several causes of doors becoming hard to close. The first step is determining the cause of the problem.

Too much paint

A common cause of doors being difficult to close is having too many layers of paint. New coats of paint year after year result in a very thick layer between the wood and the door frame. This can cause the door to stick when closing. The excess paint will need to be removed from the door as well as the door frame. The paint does not necessarily need to be stripped down to the bare wood, but the less paint the better to prevent the door from not closing properly.

Humidity can cause sticky doors

Humid weather results in expanding wood doors. This expansion causes the door to stick and be difficult to close. If this becomes a problem, the door will need to be planed. This should be done during the most humid time of the year to determine the maximum amount of planing that's needed. A handyman can handle the removal of the door, planning and replacing it in the frame.

Has the house settled?

Settling of the home can result in doors that are difficult to close. If this is the cause, you will notice gaps at the top or bottom of the door. If the gap is at the top, the door can sometimes be planed to repair the problem. In more severe cases of settling, the doorway will need to be re-framed. This depends on the size of the gap. If the gap is at the bottom of the door, you will need to re-frame the door.

Check the hinges

Hinges are another common problem resulting in doors that are difficult to close. Door hinges become loose over time and may need to be tightened. Try to tighten the screws first. If the screws are stripped, they will need to be removed and replaced with longer screws. The new screws will reach deeper into the wood and help keep the hinges tight. Be sure the new screws will fit flush in the holes for the door to work properly.

Inspect the hinges on the door. If they are bent, you will need replacement door hinges. Brand new hinges are not very expensive and come with new screws. Make sure the replacement hinges are a comparable size to the existing hinges and will fit well with the existing door and frame. Once the old hinges are replaced with the new set, the door will open and close like new.

Replace glass for energy efficiency

Glass is often used in exterior doors and may need to be replaced at some time. This is a chance to make your door more energy efficient. The R value of the glass describes the amount of heat loss through the glass in your door. By increasing the R value, you can increase the energy efficiency and this can result in savings in energy costs for your home. There are a variety of choices in more energy efficient glass for doors.

There are several causes of doors becoming hard to close. The first step is determining the cause of the problem.

Some glass has a nearly invisible metallic coating. This coating is energy efficient and will help protect your furniture and floors from fading in the sun. Other glass is tinted for ultraviolet ray protection. This helps prevent damage and keeps out the heat, resulting in lower cooling bills for your home. UV glass is good for hot and sunny climates. Argon gas-filled windows are great for increasing energy efficiency and keeping out the cold. These consist of two panes of glass with argon gas filling the space between the panes.

However you need to repair or renew your doors, you'll be making your life easier and adding to the beauty and efficiency of your home.