gap between door and door frame

I guess because of house settling, my door no longer latches. There is a gap between the door and the door frame. I can not just replace the latch and strike plate because the gap is too large. Right now I am using hooks to keep the door closed. Any suggestions on how to fix this. Thanks

 

Welcome to the forums.

I imagine that your door is not latching because it no longer lines up with the hole in your strike plate? If so, the door has probably sagged a bit.

You mentioned that you have a gap, but it's hard to picture exactly what you mean. Usually when a door sags, the door will have a gap above the door on top that goes from narrow on the hinge end, and is wider on the latch end. And then the gap down the side of the door (on the latch side of the door) usually is tight toward the top of the door, and gets wider toward the bottom. Is that what's going on with your door?

If the door is sagging, you can try removing one of the screws from the top hinge (one of the hinge screws that go into the jamb, not the door) and replace it with a long 3" screw that will go back into the stud. this will help pull the door up. If that helps but more adjustment is needed, you can also loosen the screws in the bottom hinge and insert a couple pennies behind the hinge to shim it out... then tighten the screws back down. This usually raises a door enough that it will latch again.

 

And if the gap is between the latch and plate, remove the trim and drive a small wedge between the stud and door jamb until you're close again. Then drive a finish nail through the jamb into the stud to keep everything where it's supposed to be.