How do I prevent an internal door sticking in the frame? - its got worse since the weather got colder?

Question

I've tried sanding the top corner (where the problem is) and knocking the frame upwards with a hammer - no improvement...

Answer 1

The door is probably swollen, replace the door if sanding doesn't work.

Answer 2

Don't knock the frame about.

Sanding remove virtually no wood, you need to plane it. An internal door can have a gap up to 4mm and still look like a good fit.

when you've got the door off and planed it, make sure the top and bottom rails also have paint on them, this will help resist moisture absorbtion.

job done, half an hour and still time for tea and biscuits

Answer 3

This is a common problem is older homes or buildings. Depending upon what the door is made of you can sand down the edge that sticking just enough to clear and close. Don't sand it down too much because it will have a big gap when is warms back up.

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Answer 4

unfortunately the door will expand and shrink in different temp. the best thing to do is plain down the door on the area's it is causing the problem paint and put back on leave the frame alone as you mess that up lots more work and more expensive to replace

Answer 5

Try lubricating the door with candle or paraffin wax. Since the swelling is the problem this will prevent the sticking. This also works well on dresser drawers and zippers.

Answer 6

Try rubbing candle wax over the door or the frame, it works well in sticking drawers that are wood. So might work on doors as well. worth a try.

Answer 7

Take off the top hinge and loosen the middle hinge and add shims made of cardboard (the flat, not corragated, kind). Add them to the top first, until the door can shut properly, and refasten the hinge. Then add some to the middle to make the hinge fit in line witht he new hang.

Try the "This old house" website, I know they've shown this procedure before.

Answer 8

Pick a dry couple of days, dry the door with an electric fan, then give it a good coat of paint (on every face and edge) this will stop damp getting back in, if you start plaining it when it shrinks again you will get draughts

Answer 9

Well, yeah...Kinda. Northern California can get chilly. Only because of the Jetstream dipping down from Canada/Alaska. The middle of California usually is pretty temperate and the southern of course is usually on the warmer side. Not always tropical.

Answer 10

Try rubbing some candle wax on to the edge of the door, you might have to plane a bit off it, it's hard to say without seeing it.