A squeaking hinge are not only annoying. This is a sign that your door is fighting you. If your door is stuck, creaking or won’t come off the frame, there’s no need to call a professional. You need the right technique. Most homeowners think that to fix a faulty door, they have to unscrew the door frame. That’s unnecessary labor.
Start with the hinge pin. This is the easiest fix. If the pin is stuck, do not force it. Press a nail into the bottom of the hinge. Tap upward with a hammer. The pressure forces the pin out. Simple.
When lifting the door, lift the lower pin first. This gives you more control. Put it back on? Insert the top pin first. Gravity helps. Gravity always helps.
Stop the Squeak without making a mess on the floors
Lubrication is standard. But oil drips. Oil stains hardwood. This is a mess you don’t want to clean up.
Use petroleum jelly instead. Just as it is. It covers the pin. It stops the squeak. There is no dripping. There is no cleaning. Just quiet hinges.
“Lubricate squeaky hinges by using petroleum jelly to lubricate hinge pins instead of oil, so you don’t have to worry about oil dripping onto the floor.”
Planing a Door Without Taking It Down
Breaking the threshold? A stuck door usually means that the door is too high. You might think you need to remove the door to plane it. You don’t.
Place the sandpaper directly on the threshold or floor. close the door. Slide it back and forth. The sandpaper works as a file. It shaves the bottom evenly.
If the door does not touch the sandpaper, slide a newspaper or magazine underneath. Raise the sanding surface. Keep sliding. Check frequently. When cleared, stop.
Cut thick doors safely
Need to remove more than half an inch? Don’t rush the saw.
First, mark the cutting line with a utility knife. This will cut the wood fibers. Prevents fragmentation. Keep the edges clean.
Next, use a circular saw. Follow the score. Cut straight. Watch your hands.
Once the door fits, bevel the edges of the latch. Lean back a little. This allows the door to clear the jamb when swinging. It stops binding. It stops slamming.
Seal the Raw Wood
This is where most DIYers fail.
If you plane a door, you expose raw wood. Trees absorb moisture. Moisture causes swelling. Swelling can cause infections.
Seal the planed edges with wood sealant. Do this before hanging. Do this before painting. If you skip it and the door will swell again. And stick again. We’ll go right back to the beginning.
A sealed door lasts. A planed door without sealant is at best a temporary solution. The difference is time. Time spent now may save hours later.
