Fix Gap On Latch Side Of Door

If the gap on your door exceeds this.

Fix gap on latch side of door.

Fill in the notches where the hinges were with thin pieces of wood. If a door binds on the latch side at the top the upper hinge may be loose. Measure the gap under the low side of the floor. A binding door may need to be planed but often simpler repairs will solve the problem.

If you have gaps around an outside door you could be losing up to 15 percent of the money you spend heating your home by allowing heated air to blow outside. If the gap between the door and the jamb is large and consistent the door is mounted too low in the jamb. This job can be a hassle especially if you have painted trim. Place a level on the floor and level it.

A properly installed door features a 1 8 inch gap along the latch side to allow the door to swing and function correctly. The installer should have adjusted the frame with shims to leave about a 1 8 in. Measure the width of the gap then remove the door from the jamb and take the hinges off the door. This is the amount you need to cut off the high side of the door jamb.

To readjust the door frame you have to remove the trim along the latch side to get at the shims. One two three the gap is so big that the latch will not catch in the jamb so when the deadbolt isn t engaged the door won t stay closed. Apply slow but moderate lifting force on the door knob. Tighten the screws or repair the screw holes.

Be careful not to overdo it and seal the door so that it can t settle with the rest of the house. Sometimes the gap is far too wide. Reducing door gap in a latch side. In this picture notice how the gap is larger on the latch side of the door.

As long as the gap is even on an interior door it shouldn t be why a door isn t closing properly. The side where the lock is. How to fix a gap in an outside door. Gap along the latch side about the thickness of two quarters coins.

The door is probably touching the side jamb at the top of the door leaving no gap at all. Look to see if the top door hinge on the door. If you have a large gap at the bottom of your door that may be helping the door to stay plumb. Here are some pictures of the problem.

Open the door approximately 18 inches and stand on the other side of the door so you can see the hinges where they attach to the door jamb. The new door is snug against the frame on all sides except one.