Interior Door Sticking....

well, it's that time of year again. each summer, when the humidity kicks up, my bedroom door starts to stick when closed, requiring downward pressure on the doorknob to open (which, of course, will only wreak havoc on the doorknob and shank, etc.) so, as every past summer, I've got the block plane, the wood chisels, and the belt sander out. This seems counterintuitive, but would painting the top edge of the door keep it from expanding again? I'm afraid that the thickness of the paint will just make it stick again, but I don't understand how it keeps swelling to replace the height I keep removing. Thanks.

 

Humidity usually swells the jamb-hinge side connection and affects the operation of the door. Since you say this is a recurring problem that seems to be getting worse, it could be that your house is experiencing some settling. When a door rubs on the top of the door on the latch side, it usually indicates that the latch side jamb (and surrounding floor) is sinking. But if it's rubbing on the side, that's usually easily corrected.

If the door is rubbing on the SIDE of the door, near the top of the latch side, then it usually indicates that the weight of the door is pulling the top hinge side down due to the fact that the jamb is not completely secured to the stud, allowing movement with seasonal changes.

As a quick fix, you can usually correct a lot of door problems by removing one of the short screws from the hinge side of the jamb, and replacing it with a long 3" screw that will go into the stud. This tightens the jamb up and affects the clearance on the opposite side of the door.

So if your door is rubbing on TOP of the door on the latch side, put a long screw in the BOTTOM hinge and see if that helps any.

But if the door is rubbing on the SIDE of the door on the latch side, put a long screw in the TOP hinge and see if it helps.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/thexsleeper/detail?.dir=4b29&.dnm=d26cre2.jpg

 

Thanks. Since it rubs at the top---more on the latch side than the hinge side, but on both sides---I might try the long screw in the bottom hinge after my sanding and planing. But do you think that painting will make no difference?

 

It's always a good idea to seal all 6 edges of a door.