Door not closing properly after installing new hinges...help!
#1
01-02-14, 06:36 PM
Door not closing properly after installing new hinges...help!
We recently installed new door knobs and hinges to update all of our pre hung doors. Everything went smoothly for all the doors except for one door, which is actually one of our newer doors. The hinges are all standard 3-12 inch 5/8 radius and fit perfectly where the old hinges were. But one door will not freely close. It swings stiffly and We have to push it shut and when we do the hinge side if the door sounds like it is scrubbing along the frame. We even bought another set of hinges thinking we had faulty hinges and same thing. The door shut freely before changing the hinges. Help
#2
01-02-14, 07:49 PM
Group Moderator
Does it swing freely until the back corner of the door starts to contact the door stop? I know that will sometimes make a door sound like its rubbing and feel like it wants to spring back open. If that's the case, you will need to remove the hinge side door stop, close the door, then reinstall the door stop leaving maybe a 1/16" gap between it and the door to make sure it doesn't rub at all. The top stop may need some adjusting as well if you find that it needs it.
#3
01-03-14, 04:23 AM
Hi. Thanks for responding. Not sure what is meant by 'door stop'. It swings somewhat freely about half way and then slows down and then just stops before it gets close to closing point . I have to push it to close it and it sounds like the door is rubbing against the frame. It's a pre hung door and the hinges are exactly the same size and in the same spot but it's like now there is no gap between the door edge and door frame.
#4
01-03-14, 04:41 AM
The door stop is the narrow piece of wood that the door closes up against [top and both sides] I'm not sure how the stop could cause a new problem just from installing new locks but maybe working on the door got it bent out of shape slightly.
#5
01-03-14, 04:59 AM
Hi. Thanks for the response. My husband took off an old hinge and replaced with a new one hinge by hinge. And the door is one of those light weight hollow doors. Could the new hinges be slightly thinner (or thicker) than the old hinges thus causing the gap to be too small? The other doors with the same hinges have a slightly larger gap running between the side of the door and the frame.
#6
01-03-14, 05:36 AM
It's possible. If the door is hitting the stop before it closes you might try either loosening the screws to see if the door will pull out any or taking a block of wood and hammer to see if you can persuade the stop to move ever so slightly.
#7
01-03-14, 05:40 AM
Awesome. We will try that. I guess I should be thankful that out of ten doors only one has a slight issue. Thanks to everyone for their advice!
#8
01-03-14, 05:58 AM
Group Moderator
If you take you hand and run it across the hinge plate, it should be perfectly flush with the rest of the door edge. In other words, there should not be a "dip" where the hinge sits in the mortise- it should be flush not recessed. The same would go for the jamb side of the hinge. If the mortises are too deep, then the door would contact the jamb as it closes and it would be like you said- no gap between the door and the jamb along the hinge side. (and the gap at the opposite side would be a little too wide.)
You would need to shim the hinges out with something that will not compress. Thin strips of wood will be best but I know some guys like to use cardboard.
You would need to shim the hinges out with something that will not compress. Thin strips of wood will be best but I know some guys like to use cardboard.
#10
01-04-14, 04:47 PM
Fixed thanks to everyone's suggestions!!
Hi just wanted to say thanks again for the advice. My husband checked the hinge placement, loosened all the screws very slightly on the door frame side of the door, checked the door to see if it was swinging better (it was) and then tightened some of the screws back up in a couple of hinges while testing the door. Trial and error but evidently a hinge or two were off just enough to effect it. Anyways, thanks to all!!
