A door should close and latch with a
gentle push or pull. If you need to slam it or if it won't latch at all, figure
out the cause and the solution is easy:
-
The door may be warped so the
top or bottom touches the stop before the latch can engage - close the door
and see if it engages the stop moulding evenly.
-
Newly installed weather stripping
may be preventing the door from closing as fully as it once did.
-
A loose top hinge or house
settling can cause a vertical misalignment between the latch and the strike
plate - make sure screws are tight and look for an uneven gap across the top
of the closed door.
-
The strike plate or the stop moulding may simply have been installed improperly.
Here are a few simple fixes you can try.
 1.
Adjust the Doorstop: If the
door hits the stop moulding before the latch bolt has engaged the hole in the
strike plate, tap the stop in, as shown. This works better with stained doors
than painted ones, which don't move as easily because the paint glues the joint.
2.
Move the Doorstop: If a minor adjustment doesn't solve the problem, remove
the stop moulding at the latch jamb and, if necessary, on the head jamb, too.
Remove the nails left in the moulding from the backside (so you won't damage the
face). Pull or drive in any nails left in the
jamb. To reinstall the moulding, close the door and let the latch bolt engage,
place the stop in position and press it lightly against the door, and install
new nails in new locations. Punch the nails, fill the holes, and
touch up the finish.
3. Relocate Strike Plate: Move the strike plate up, down, or in as needed.
Remove the strike plate and fill the screw holes with wood filler. Use a sharp chisel or utility knife to enlarge the mortise in the
direction that you need to move the plate. Reposition the strike plate to mark
the screw locations. Drill pilot holes and reinstall the plate. Touch up any gap with wood filler, and touch up
the finish.
4. Enlarge the Strike Opening:
Depending on the type of strike plate
you have, you may also be able to enlarge the opening in the strike plate with a
smooth-cut metal file. This approach eliminates any need to putty and paint.
Remove the strike plate and lock it in a vise to file it.
5. Secure Top Hinge: Tighten
any lose hinge screws. If the hole is stripped and the screw won't tighten,
remove the screw and drill a deeper pilot hole for a new 75mm screw that will
extend into the framing behind the jamb. Also use this approach if the screws
are tight but you still need to raise the handle side of the door so the latch
will engage. As you over tighten the long screw in the top hinge, it tends to
draw the jamb in and simultaneously raise the handle side of the door.
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