12 Common Door Repairs in Princeton, NJ

Although the doors in our homes are often overlooked, they serve a greater purpose than simply permitting or prohibiting entry into various rooms. Our doors welcome friends and family into our space, create a quiet moment when we need time alone, and protect what we love.

Doors need care and upkeep. Over time wear and tear from daily use, fluctuations in temperature and humidity, settling, and even the occasional accidental slamming take a toll. Off-kilter latches, squeaking hinges, and warped frames all need to be repaired. And when you need repairs in Princeton the technicians at Mr. Handyman are the team for the job.

Our location’s combination of highly skilled technicians and superior customer service makes Mr. Handyman of Princeton and Robbinsville the ideal home repair, improvement, and maintenance provider in and around Princeton, NJ. Our technicians live locally and have spent their careers helping our community. When you welcome one of our contractors into your home, we’ll treat you with the same consideration and respect that we would with our closest friends and neighbors.

We offer a range of handyman services. Whether your door’s latch sticks or its hinges have started to corrode, our technicians can efficiently and professionally fix the problem. Continue reading to learn more about how your doorways could benefit from a little TLC.

1. Noisy Doors

In the middle of the night, a squeaking door might seem as loud as your alarm clock. Perhaps you’re constantly woken up by a loud squeegee each time your other half gets up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Or, maybe the whining of rusty hinges alerts you to your little one sneaking downstairs for a midnight snack.

Either way, squeaking doorways are annoying. But the good news is, this type of repair can be easily completed by the pros at Mr. Handyman. Whether your hinges need lubricating, are too tight, or are too loose, our carpenters can re-align the doorway, replace damaged hinges, or make minor adjustments that will have your door opening and closing quietly in no time. You can say goodbye to irritating noises in the middle of the night and finally get a well-deserved good night’s rest.

2. Opening and Closing Issues

Opening and closing should be easy. But if you find yourself throwing your shoulders against the door like a detective in Hawaii Five-O just to brush your teeth in the morning, you need to hire door repair services. Since doorways are designed to open and close with minimal effort, sticking doorways, knobs that won’t turn, and doors that always seem to swing open right after you close them indicate issues with alignment. A few reasons why your doorway might not operate correctly include:

• The latch does not align with the hole in the strike plate
• The latch is too high or low
• The hinges are too loose or tight
• The door has warped from humidity or insect damage
• Your home’s structural foundation has shifted and the doorway has warped

One of our experienced technicians will be able to diagnose the problem and easily fix your doorway, so they open and close with ease.

3. Damage from Termites

If you live in Princeton, we’re sure you are no stranger to the danger posed by termites. These tricky pests have been the bane of existence for New Jersey homeowners since before the days of Captain Henry Greenland. Termites can stealthily infiltrate your home. Often, your wood doors might look fine from the outside, but the hungry little insects will be eating their fill of the interior—and possibly spreading to the rest of your home. The best way to discover if your doors have been compromised is by giving them a knock. A simple tap or two will help you ascertain if it’s been hollowed out or not. Yet this trick only works on solid wood. Some are already hollowed out, which makes them less appealing to termites to begin with.

If you notice termite damage in your home call a pest control service. Once the pesky critters have been taken care of, our Princeton service professionals will be able to resolve the situation right away. Our technicians can also replace your wooden doors with a vinyl or fiberglass model, which will be far less tempting to termites looking for their next meal.

4. Loose, Tight, Rusty, or Damaged Hinges

Hinges are fundamental to a properly functioning doorway. However, humidity, dust, constant use, and fluctuating weather can negatively impact the bracket’s performance. When a hinge has corroded, it also runs the risk of breaking off entirely. Since your hinges are what holds the door to its frame and support its weight, severely damaged brackets could cause the door to fall. If you notice damaged hinges call our handyman professionals to fix them right away and prevent the risk of injury.

5. Peeling Paint

Peeling paint has never been in fashion. Not only is peeling paint unattractive and can detract from your home’s visual appeal, but it’s also bad for your health. Although lead-free paint is not poisonous, it can still agitate your lungs when inhaled. If you or your family members have allergies or are asthmatic, this can be especially troubling. Paint that does contain lead, which is often found in historic homes, is highly toxic and must be disposed of by a trained professional.

When you notice peeling paint on your doorways, call our service professionals right away. We’ll carefully sand away lead-free paint and apply a new coat for a refreshed appearance. Even if your paint isn’t peeling, painting your doorways can be a creative way to update your home’s aesthetic.

6. Misaligned Wheels

Although hinge doors have their own set of problems, sliding doors can require repairs from time to time as well. Many Princeton homes are built with sliding closets, patio doors, and shower doors. If there is an issue with the track or if the wheels are misaligned, the sliding door can stick and stop working. Trying to grab your coat when your closet only opens four inches before sticking is frustrating to say the least—particularly in the morning when you’re about to leave for work.

Don’t suffer sticking doorways. Instead, call the experts at Mr Handyman of Princeton and Robbinsville. Our technicians are highly trained and very versatile. We’ll carefully replace or realign the wheels and track so a stubborn wheel never gets in the way of heading to work again.

7. Inoperable Knobs

Pulling at a doorknob only to have it come off seems like a scene straight out of Looney Tunes. But in real life, it's hardly a laughing matter. When your handle won’t turn, doesn’t line up with the latch, can’t lock, or is sticking, it’s time for a replacement. Our service professionals will let you know why your handle is not working properly, be transparent about your options to fix it, and efficiently complete the required repairs. Alternatively, perhaps your knob works perfectly fine but you’d like a change for aesthetic reasons. We can swap out the handle and install a new one with ease.

8. Damage from Wear-and-Tear

Did you know it’s not just your exterior doorways that can be damaged by humidity and changing temperatures? Glitchy HVAC systems, poor bathroom ventilation, or frequent window opening, can throw off your home’s humidity and moisture levels and possibly warp the frames on your interior doors. Yet, environmental factors are not the only cause of wear-and-tear damage. The age of materials, pets scratching or chewing at the frame, the natural settling of your home, and slamming during heated moments with your teenager can impact the functionality and aesthetic of your doorways.

When your doorways have seen better days, call the pros at Mr. Handyman of Princeton and Robbinsville. We can expertly complete repairs that will erase years of damage with one visit.

9. Outdated Aesthetic

Sometimes, your doorway might work perfectly well but you no longer like its style. Maybe you moved into a new place and the doorways are outdated or you’ve recently renovated and your doors don’t match the rest of your home. Whatever the case might be, our service professionals are happy to stain, paint, or replace them entirely. You’ll be amazed at how your new-and-improved door elevates your space.

To that end, take a moment to look around your home. Do your current doors match the style of your space? If you’re not sure, take a couple of photos on your phone of the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms and look at them as you might a design inspiration board on Pinterest. If your doorways do not add to the look of your home, it’s time for a change.

10. Misaligned French Doors

French doors are often used to highlight master bedrooms or basement suites. Known for their elegant appearance, French doors add a touch of luxury to your home. However, if they are misaligned they won’t close or lock properly. Not to mention, they will look wonky as opposed to sophisticated.

As we’ve covered earlier in this article, there are many reasons why doors might not line up in their frames. This is true of French doors as well. Maybe one side has warped or its hinges are loose. Or, perhaps it was not installed correctly to begin with. If you’ve noticed your French doors don’t quite look right, it’s likely a problem with the alignment. If so, call our Princeton service professionals today. We'll skillfully line up each side, so they’re a perfect fit for one another—and a perfect fit for your style and home aesthetic.

11. The Latch Does Not Work

Although most interior doors don’t lock, for the areas of your home that require privacy it can be frustrating when the lock fails. If each time you try to lock the door and it doesn’t stay latched, you’ll need an expert to fix it. Generally, latches that work correctly are not aligned properly in the frame. Perhaps the frame is twisted and the latch bore (the small hole opposite the lock that enables it to latch) no longer lines up with the lock. As a result, the lock will be practically useless. Maintain your privacy by calling one of our skillful carpenters to make the repair today.

12. Repair Not Replace

At Mr. Handyman of Princeton and Robbinsville, our technicians are highly skilled carpenters. Our unique skill set means we can save doors that other handyman services would replace. Especially if you live in a historic neighborhood, we’re adept at carefully repairing damage to your front door while maintaining its integrity. If you love the stunning entranceway on your older home and don’t want to see it replaced because of a little wood rot or warping, our service professionals are the team to call.

Get Started Today With Your Princeton Handyman Professionals

When you need door repairs in Princeton, we’re the experts for the job. Whether you want to update the look of your home, or a squeaking bathroom door is driving you crazy, the professional technicians and carpenters at Mr. Handyman of Princeton and Robbinsville can help.

To improve your doorways functionality and/or aesthetic as soon as possible, we invite you to give our friendly team a call today or request a service online.