How to Fix a Squeaky or Stiff Door
If you’ve ever had a squeaky door then you’ll know what an absolute pain it can be. There's noise, irritation and the amount of time it takes to work out what’s causing the problem. A week goes by before you realise it's actually the door that’s causing the squeak!
Once you know, the question is, how do you stop it? Squeaky doors are usually caused by a few things that can be fixed. It could be an ageing door that’s become stiff and difficult to open and close, or poorly fitted hinges or frames. These things can happen with both external and internal doors.
The good news is that there are solutions out there to stop doors from squeaking, short of replacing them. That’s not always necessary because a squeak can be rendered silent if you know what to do. There are various reasons why your door is starting to squeak and we’re going to be going through some of them below.
Hinges.
Sometimes the hinges may have started to bend with age and use. If the metal hinges are rubbing them you’ll start to hear a noise each time the door is opened or closed. If the door is quite heavy then it may have bent the hinges. Or it could be that someone or something has been placing excessive weight over the door. This can cause the hinges to buckle, which then makes them start rubbing against each other.
Take the hinges off the door so you can have a good look, it’ll become immediately obvious if the hinges are bent and out of shape. If they are, then it’s likely they’ll need replacing. Keep in mind that here at The Replacement Door Company we have a versatile range of doors that suit all decors and themes. And door hinges can be purchased at any good hardware store.
Sediments anyone?
Is there sediment in your door hinges? This is largely due to friction, and a build-up occurs from a combination of dirt or dust. It could also be down to a lack of lubrication within the hinges and the door itself. Again, take the hinges off and replace them. You could also add an industrial lubricant like WD40. This is available in all good hardware stores, and it can be applied between the hinge pin and the hinge itself. The friction should be severely reduced - so send that squeak into retirement!
Friction caused by the door frame.
Your door could be rubbing against the door frame itself. This can be due to either sagging or movement of the door frame over time. It could be that you’ve recently painted the door, and the gap between frame and door is now smaller, causing a rub.
The solution for this is to look for where you think the rub is occurring. If it’s at the top then the top hinge may need reinstallation with the hinges fixed higher up. What can happen is that the walls themselves can alter and move over the course of many years. So it may be that your current door simply isn't a good fit anymore as a result. Take a look around The Replacement Door Company’s range of doors. It’s likely you’ll need to replace your door with a new one.
Stiff or sticky doors.
If you have doors that are either sticky or stiff then it could be that you forgot to sand them when you installed them. Or it could be that you moved into the house with pre-existing doors, but the previous owner forgot to sand them. It’s important to re-sand a door if you’ve repainted either the door, frame or both. If it’s a new door it may need sanding before it’s a perfect fit.
Simply make sure you sand down all edges before refitting and re-painting as this will remove the previous layer of paint. Layers of old paint will make the door a slightly thicker fit onto the frame.
Is the door poorly installed perhaps?
If this is the case then possible the cause could be that the hinges aren’t fitted correctly. Maybe the wrong screws were used or the frame isn’t as level as it should be. In this case, it may be best to get a professional opinion and get someone to reinstall the frame or door.
Temperature changes possibly?
When the weather changes your doors can expand and shrink and this can cause warping and wedging. This can happen to both external and internal doors.
If this has happened to your door then take the door off the hinges and frame and sand down the edges. Once the weather changes and it starts to expand again, there'll be enough room for the door to stretch.
The Replacement Door Company - for an exciting range of both external and internal doors
So now you have some hints and tips for repairing your stiff or squeaky doors. Are you looking for replacement doors? Then our range of both classic, traditional and minimalist doors might be the answer - take a look around. We have a range of different designs across the board that will suit any home here on our website.
You can browse our doors at your leisure and then visit our showroom. Once you’re happy with your choices, you can book a suitable time and we’ll come and fit the door! That’s all there is to it. Just take a look around.
