How to Adjust a Door so it stays Open

QUESTION TO MR. HANDYMAN

Dear Mr. Handyman,

I have a door that does not stay open. If it is left open, it slowly closes by itself. Is there something that will make the door stay where it is left?

Maggie from Monroe

Hi Maggie,

The answer is “yes.” There is a way to make that door work satisfactorily. The reason that the door is doing this sort of thing is because the door does not hang plumb. Most likely it was installed properly, but sometimes older houses tend to settle causing floors to sag. This in turn puts the walls and doors on a slight tilt, causing doors to open or close on their own.

The best way to remedy this door issue is to adjust the hinges. This will take a little time and patience. Decide whether you are going to adjust the hinges on the door or the jamb. Loosen the hinges and determine which hinge screws need to be moved to achieve your goal by tightening and adjusting. Sometimes a set of new holes need to be drilled through the hinge plate. Other times the screw hole need to be elongated.

I have a little trick you may wish to use when elongating the screw hole on the jamb or the door. Have some wood toothpicks handy and insert the toothpick into the screw hole. Break off what is sticking out, and then put the screw in with an electric drill. This will ensure a tight fit when all the screws are in place.

Once the door is performing properly, spray a silicone lubricant on the door hinge pins to prevent that any annoying squeaks from appearing.

Our highly-rated service professionals at Mr. Handyman of Upper Fairfield County hold years of experience dealing with projects like this. If you feel unsure about doing this yourself, just give us a call and say “Help,” and help will be there just when you need it, “ON TIME.” You can also take comfort knowing that the work will be, “DONE RIGHT,” with 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.

If you decide to have a Mr.Handyman of Upper Fairfield County visit you, our experienced techs would be able to help you with this and any other jobs you wish to have done. No job is too small!

Be sure to ask about our FREE “Home Maintenance Review” and have your house checked from top to bottom. Call us today or simply reach out to us online.

If you have any questions about home repair, e-mail them to: [email protected].

Your, Mr. Handyman Friends