Doors and Windows - door is not square in frame / hard to close

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steelwoolwombat
06-09-04, 09:25 PM
Hi, im trying to do what i can to fix the front door. It seems that the top hinge may be sagging or that the frame itself has shifted a bit. Take a look at the pictures to see what im describing. Its a little tight opening and closing the door. I have checked the hinges and double checked that all the screws are tight, so now i dont know what i should do to fix it....


http://uploads.fakeleg.com/tmp/fdoor1.jpg
http://uploads.fakeleg.com/tmp/fdoor2.jpg

lefty
06-09-04, 10:46 PM
If the screws are tight, then pop the casings off and reshim the door.
steelwoolwombat
06-10-04, 06:12 AM
Thanks for the tip, how exactly do i do that? *Newbie alert* :)

What part of the door frame is the casings? What do i use for shims?

thanks!

Randy Mallory
06-10-04, 10:27 AM
steelwoolwombat,

The casing is the decorative "frame" around the door opening. It bridges the gap between the door jam and the wall.

Tapered wooden shims are available at HD or Lowes. They are wedged between the 2x4 framing and the jam to adjust the door jam for level, plumb, and square, and the gap between door and jam, depending on the part you are shimming.

Removing the casing can be tricky. It is difficult to accomplish without damage to the casing and wall. Use a sharp blade of some kind to cut the caulk line between the casing and the wall before you begin prying, if it exists, to minimize damage to the wall finish.