One of the most frequent repairs around the house is a door that won’t latch.
Since the latch and the latch plate, also known as the strike plate, gradually become out of alignment, this frequently happens over time. Your home may have settled or the hinges may have become sloppy as a result.
What Prevents A Door from Latching?
The most frequent reason for a door not latching is an alignment issue with the latch and strike plates. This may occur as a result of seasonal changes or the foundation of your home settling, even slightly.
How Do I Fix A Door That Won’t Latch?
Utilizing A Screwdriver, Tighten The Hinges
As gravity pulls the door down, older doors and doors that are used frequently may experience sagging at the hinges. This alters the door’s swing and may lead to a misaligned door latch that makes contact below the strike plate hole. To ensure that the door is securely supported by the door frame, tighten the screws in the door hinges using a screwdriver.
If tightening the screws doesn’t work, think about using a longer 3-inch screw on the hinge’s door jamb side to grab the wall framing and pull the entire door frame inward slightly. If the latch engages below the strike plate hole, insert the 3-inch screw into the top hinge to assist in lifting the door into position. If the latch contacts above the strike plate hole, insert the screw into the bottom hole to aid in lowering the door.
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Sand Or Shim The Area Around Hinges
After tightening the hinge screws, if the issue still exists, the door frame may need to be shimmed or sanded. To shimm, the hinges, first, remove them from the door frame and then cut a small piece of cardboard (or other suitable material) to fit into the hinge mortise. Replace the hinge and inspect the door after inserting the cardboard. If the issue is caused by sunken hinges, shimming usually fixes the alignment of the door. The additional fabric adds a cushion to the door’s balance and supports the hinge.
Hinge mortises that are too shallow or too small for the size of the hinge could, however, be the root of the issue. In this situation, remove the hinges, sand the hinge mortise to the proper depth, and sand the mortise’s edges to make room for the hinge. Inspect the door’s balance and the door’s hinges to make sure they are properly installed and sit flush with the door frame.
Use A Metal File To Enlarge The Strike Plate Hole
The latch and strike plate hole may still be out of alignment even though a properly balanced door will close correctly. The strike plate hole may be to blame if the door adjustments weren’t successful in fixing the issue. Look at how much the latch is out of alignment and whether the latch is contacting the strike plate above or below the hole. The entire strike plate hole may need to be moved if it is out of alignment by more than 1/8 inch (see how to do this below). Try to enlarge the hole if the misalignment is only 1/8 inch or less.
Use a metal file to enlarge the strike plate hole after removing the strike plate from the door frame. The best option for enlarging the strike plate hole is a half-round file because it will coincide with the curve of the latch hole. If that’s the issue, the door shouldn’t need to be lifted, forced, or otherwise manipulated in any way other than the standard push-and-pull motion of a door. Instead, the latch should simply slide into the strike plate hole.
The Strike Plate Can Be Raised Or Lowered
You might find that the latch is more than 1/8 inch out of alignment after using the lipstick test to check the contact position of the latch in relation to the strike plate hole. The door won’t latch properly even if the strike plate hole were bigger. The strike plate needs to be moved to a new location that is properly lined up with the latch after confirming that the door is balanced and the hinges are secure.
In the beginning, take the strike plate out of the door frame. The strike plate mortise can then be enlarged with the help of a sharp chisel and a hammer so that it can be moved up or down according to where the latch is aligned. In order for the door to close smoothly without rubbing or catching on the frame, check the door’s swing and make sure the new position of the strike plate is lined up with the latch. Drill two tiny holes to secure the strike plate if the latch and new strike plate position are correctly positioned. Check the door’s closure and latching to make sure they work properly.
How To Fix A Door That Keeps Swinging Gently Open?
The Problem
When you shut your door, as usual, you notice that it keeps opening silently and slowly when you’re not paying attention. You might have discovered that you simply give up and place some furniture in front of the door so you can sit and watch your show for a while after having to get up from the sofa and push the door closed for the umpteenth time. That’s obviously not a long-term fix though!
The Cause
The most likely reason is that the latch and strike plate, which are two essential components that must work together for the door to stay closed, aren’t properly engaging with one another. If there are no clicks or snaps as you close the door, you’ll typically be able to tell. Chances are it will swing open once more if it doesn’t make a sound.
The Solutions
- The first solution entails merely changing the latch assembly. A screwdriver, about 30 minutes, and a new latch set (obviously) are all you need for this simple task. It’s worth mentioning that you can find a limited number of latches right here on our website while you’re looking.
- Alternately, you can enlarge the strike plate’s opening to reduce the distance the latch must travel to properly engage with it. You’ll need a mill file for this, which is a small multipurpose saw file typically used for honing blades. The strike plate doesn’t need to be taken apart; simply open the door, insert the mill file into the opening in the strike plate, and file away at the inner edge until it is large enough to accept the latch.
How To Stop A Door From Springing Open?
The Problem
Perhaps it is worse to have an internal door that springs open than one that opens gently. To begin with, it makes carrying your tea to the dining room an unpleasant and unpredictable task. Additionally, it might be harmful to young children or animals. Actually, you shouldn’t really have any furniture or home appliances that could smack you without warning.
The Cause
A door that springs open actually has several potential causes:
- The hinges are incorrectly positioned (which means the door is straining to re-open)
- The door isn’t closing fully before it hits the doorstep
- It’s jamming at the bottom because it doesn’t have enough clearance (which means it’s grinding against the floor or carpet)
The Solutions
- It is necessary to use the time-tested “pack it with cardboard” method to fix the hinges. In order to move the hinge out of the way, you must first remove one of its screws and pry it out of the recess. To hold some cardboard in place underneath it, place some in the flat area underneath it and then pivot the hinge back over. Reinstall the screws, and the clearance should be improved. To be honest, if it doesn’t, it might be wise to check to see if you’ve used enough cardboard first.
- Your interior door won’t be able to close all the way to engage the latch if it’s hitting the stop too early. Simply move the doorstop a little farther away to make this right. Lever it off its frame gently using a chisel. To determine where it actually needs to go, take a step back for a moment and shut the door. Nail the doorstop back into its new, correct location after using that as a guide. Set your 30mm nails about 30cm apart.
- The final problem is the simplest to fix; all that is required is to remove a small amount of extra wood from the bottom of the door so that it has enough room to slide into place without being forced out by a lack of space beneath it.
Conclusion
One of the most frequent issues around the house is doors that won’t latch. A door latch’s misalignment can be fixed in a variety of ways. Any problems with your internal door can usually be resolved by utilizing one of the aforementioned methods. Please leave a comment if you still have any questions.