Door repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What door repair is

Door repair fixes doors that stick, sag, will not latch or have damaged jambs. A pro adjusts hinges, planes the edges, replaces strike plates, patches splits and repairs rot where it is found. People call when a door rubs at the top, bangs in the wind or will not stay closed.

Signs you need it

  • The door rubs at the top or the latch side, and the gap is uneven from top to bottom
  • The door will not latch, or it only closes when you lift or push on it
  • The strike plate is loose, the latch hole is worn, or the door bangs when it closes
  • The door frame is split or cracked near the lock or the hinges
  • The bottom of the door is rotted, swollen or lets in water
  • A hinge pin is bent, a screw has stripped, or a hinge has pulled out of the frame

What the pro does

  • Check the door and frame for gaps, sag, rot, splits and hinge wear
  • Tighten or replace the hinge screws and check the hinge alignment in the frame
  • Adjust the strike plate and the latch so the bolt drops in cleanly
  • Plane or sand the edge of the door where it binds, and seal the cut edges
  • Patch splits in the jamb or the door, and repair rot where it is limited to the surface
  • Test the door through a full open and close, and check that the latch holds without rubbing

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Type of problem, since a loose strike or hinge screw is quick and a rotted frame takes longer
  • Number of doors and their location, such as interior, exterior or sliding
  • Extent of rot in the door, the jamb or the sill
  • Hardware replacement, such as a new lockset or hinges
  • Whether the door must be removed and rehung
  • Paint or stain needed on the repaired areas

What a written quote should spell out

  • Each door and the problem found on it
  • Each repair item by name, such as hinge adjustment, strike replacement or planing
  • Whether rot repair or a new section of jamb is included
  • Hardware and materials used, and who supplies them
  • Warranty on the repair, in writing

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is causing the door to stick, and how did you check it?
  • Will you adjust the hinges before you plane the door?
  • Do you replace the strike plate and the latch bolt, or only adjust them?
  • Is the rot limited to the surface, or does it reach the framing?
  • Will you seal the cut edges after planing?
  • Do you use screws long enough to reach the framing?
  • Does the warranty cover the repair if the door sticks again?

Red flags

  • A door planed without first checking whether the hinges or the frame are the cause
  • Hinge screws that are not reset into the framing
  • A strike moved without checking the latch bolt alignment
  • Rot patched over without removing the soft wood
  • A quote that names only a general door adjustment

What you can do yourself

You can tighten the hinge screws, adjust the strike plate with a file or a chisel, lubricate the hinges and the latch, and check the door's gap with a card. Remove the hinge pins with care. In a home built before lead paint was banned, sanding or scraping old paint can release lead dust, so ask a pro about lead-safe methods first. Do not cut into the framing or remove the jamb; call a pro for rot repair, a split frame, or a door that must be planed heavily or rehung.

Licenses and permits

Door repair is often not licensed as a trade. Some areas require a contractor registration for paid work, so check with your state or local licensing agency.

Door repair questions

Should I plane the door or fix the hinges first?

Fix the hinges first, if they are loose or misaligned, since that often solves the sticking. Plane only as a last step, and only the edge that binds.

Can a rotted door be repaired?

Surface rot can often be cut out and filled. Deep rot in the door or the frame usually means replacing the part. A pro checks how far the rot goes before recommending a fix.

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About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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