Hello Everyone,
We had a home built 7 years ago. We have started using the guest room more lately and found something that we hadn’t noticed before. The gap between the door and latch side of the door opening is to large. When the door is closed you can actually see into the room. The door barely latches. The door seems to be pretty tight against the hinge side of the door opening. Is there any way to adjust the hinges to move the whole door towards the latch side or will a wider door need to be put in? Please see attached pics. They aren’t great pics, but hopefully they will help illustrate.
Thanks, Eric
Replies
If there is room on the hinge side, mortise the hinges a little deeper, and it will pull it away from the latch side. If there is no room, belt sand or plane the hinge side (slightly) first, then deepen the hinge mortises.
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
One of us read his problem in reverse.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
yes, material would need to be added, not taken away. any shims would need to be a good 1/8 inch thick, though, and that seems like too much. Would you think?
Thanks, Eric
Use the cardboard to shim between both the hinge leaf and the jamb and the hinge leaf and the door.
You'll get the 1/8" you need.
If the house is only 7 yrs. old, it's most likely the door is a prehung unit, so I doubt that the door was planed down that it is now "too small for the opening".
Perhaps the hinges are an inexpensive brand. You could look into getting a heavier (thicker) hinge to help make up the difference.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
good ideas. thank you. you are right, it is a prehung unit.
Eric
duh - brain lapse =)View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
One at a time, unscrew the hinges from the jamb and slip a piece of cardboard (cut to size and shape of hinge) behind each one.
Depending upon the size of the gap at latch side, thicker cardboard or more than one piece may be necessary.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
I think there was an article in FHB recently about bending the hinges to realign the door in the opening. Dunno if you can bend them enough for the kind of movement that you want, but worth a look.
Taunton has a video. If that is not enough correction you can shim under the keeper to tighten the latch.