Repair Door Frame Hinge Side

Use a hinge binding tool hinge doctor to repair binding hinges.

Repair door frame hinge side.

Take care not to damage the stop as you remove it from the frame. Try this only if drawing in the hinges doesn t work. Drill through the jamb countersink the screwhead with a countersink bit. If you have a centering hinge drill use the hinge as a template and the finish repair will be better than new and last for years.

Another hint is to use a long screw in one of the holes in the top most hinge long enough to penetrate the stud. Remove the door stop and molding. By driving a long screw through the latch side of the jamb rather than the hinge side you can often draw in the jamb and give the door a little extra space. Open the door wide and insert a wedge under the bottom outside corner to level it.

Here s how to repair just the split or broken frame area to look as good as new. Remove the screws that hold the loose hinge leaf to the door jamb. Tighten the screws or repair the screw holes. A broken door frame doesn t require removal and replacement of the whole thing.

Use a chisel and hammer or putty knife to pry the door stop and molding away from the frame. A binding door may need to be planed but often simpler repairs will solve the problem. If a door binds on the latch side at the top the upper hinge may be loose. Fix it the right way not the wrong way.

The hinge mortise is a shallow recess the hinge fits into on the side of the door. Clean the dried glue out of the hinge mortise using a chisel. The door is pulled open just past the point where the hinges bind. These tools slip over the hinges when the door is closed.

If the hinge and jamb are painted cut the paint around the leaf with a utility knife swing the leaf away from the jamb. It leaves you with a large screwhead hole to cover. The tool will help to tighten and re align the hinges preventing it from sagging or binding. If the wood there is not sound then you are likely looking forward to some more serious repair such as replacement of the jamb side board or the whole jamb.

The wrong way is a temporary fix not cool. If the adjacent wood is still in good condition it may be possible to cut out the the piece under the hinge plate and replace it with a new block of wood. After time the weight of the door will pull on the hinge and cause the door not to hang straight.