Why won't my door close properly?
A door that's dragging, sticking, or won't latch is usually down to the hinges loosening, the frame shifting slightly as the house settles or with seasonal humidity, or the door itself swelling — not a fault with the hardware alone. Most of these are a straightforward carpentry fix, not a sign of a structural problem.
Loose hinge screws are the most common and cheapest cause — tightening or re-plugging the screw holes often solves it in minutes.
External timber doors commonly swell in wet weather and ease back in dry weather — if it only sticks when it's raining, that's usually the explanation rather than anything structural.
A latch that no longer lines up with the strike plate, rather than the door itself dragging, is a different and usually simpler fix — worth distinguishing before you call anyone out.
What to check
- Does it only happen in wet weather (points to swelling)
- Has it changed suddenly or gradually
- Is it the hinges, the latch, or the frame that's misaligned
- Is it an external or internal door
When to call a pro
If tightening the hinges doesn't fix it, or it's affecting a fire door or an external door's security.
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