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Author Topic: closing the door  (Read 2709 times)

Offline Gregg

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closing the door
« on: August 15, 2007, 07:48:04 AM »
Here's a new one on me; or maybe I'm old enough to have forgotten I knew this once.

Had a bathroom door that wasn't latching. Lot of good to have a privacy lock on it! Thought the builder had fixed it when they did the 11 month warranty work on the house. It must have latched securely for a little while.

Well the other day I pulled on the door (from inside the room) while it was still locked, and it opened. I am not happy about this. I messed around with the strike plate trying to get it to protrude more and catch the bolt in the mortise. No dice. I tried to "persuade" the wood stop (which is obviously not plumb with the door) to move over a little. No dice.

I got out the tape measure and compared this door to two others. All three had their strike plates at the same height. But the stubborn door's knob was lower by more than 1/4 of an inch. So, I called the supplier, thinking I might need to replace the door with one from the same stock.

They sent a guy out yesterday. He removed the bottom and middle screws from the frame at the top hinge and replaced them with longer screws. The door now latches!

The explanation: the longer screws go into the stud, drawing the wood frame in. This alters the angle of the door, and raises the knob enough to let the bolt extend all the way into the mortise. I can see that the space between the door and the frame diminishes towards the top. The shorter screws only secured the hinge to the frame.

Only your carpenter knows such amazing tricks! WOW.gif
« Last Edit: August 15, 2007, 09:45:06 AM by Gregg »
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Offline Paddy

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closing the door
« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2007, 04:30:16 PM »
I think this is why installing doors is considered one of the pickier/trickier carpentry jobs around a house. tongue.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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closing the door
« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2007, 07:30:19 PM »
What?! You got a door knob on your out house door?! WOW.gif tease.gif Uptown! notworthy.gif
« Last Edit: August 18, 2007, 10:11:07 AM by Xairbusdriver »
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Offline Gregg

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closing the door
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2007, 07:21:44 AM »
QUOTE(Paddy @ Aug 16 2007, 04:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think this is why installing doors is considered one of the pickier/trickier carpentry jobs around a house. tongue.gif


Yeah, they said, "If it requires a new door, do want us to just provide it and install it yourself?" :noway:!
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Offline gunug

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closing the door
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2007, 01:07:37 AM »
We had something similar happen at work last year with a metal frame bathroom door off our break room and it took two guys and three of those metal pipe clamps (one at the top above the ceiling).  The guy above the ceiling was accessing from a ladder in our server farm and hollering down through an open ceiling tile.  I think it took them about half and hour or so and they also messed with the door latch as well; I didn't hang around to help but could hear all the noise and comments from where I was working at the time!

Hey Gregg, shouldn't this be in the technical section?  smile.gif
« Last Edit: August 18, 2007, 01:08:35 AM by gunug »
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Offline krissel

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closing the door
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2007, 01:43:25 AM »
Have a similar situation with a door to my enclosed porch. It is not on a good foundation (cement blocks) so every winter/summer season the door moves enough so it eventually misses the strike plate hole. Once I find it not closing I get out my screwdriver and loosen the appropriate screws and insert or remove a small shim behind the upper or lower hinge plate.
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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closing the door
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2007, 10:16:26 AM »
Kris, and others, I don't know what all the fuss is about! Get some of them hook and eye 'locks' and quit whinin'! clap.gif And bailin' war will keep the door 'square', jest twist it a bit in the middle to tighten it up a piece or unwind, as needed. And some string, anuther eye screw and a brick makes a dandy door closer! smile.gif
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Offline Gregg

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closing the door
« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2007, 01:47:21 PM »
QUOTE(gunug @ Aug 18 2007, 01:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey Gregg, shouldn't this be in the technical section?  smile.gif

I asked that question first! tongue.gif

QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 18 2007, 01:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Have a similar situation with a door to my enclosed porch. ... Once I find it not closing I get out my screwdriver and loosen the appropriate screws and insert or remove a small shim behind the upper or lower hinge plate.


That's a little bit easier to do on a porch door than an interior door, I imagine; and the appearance isn't as big of an issue. But, kudos on the solution - or did someone else advise you on what to do? Those are wood screws, right? Aren't they getting looser over time? My Dad taught me a trick when that happens, and I just used it again on that bathroom door after removing the strike plate several times: stick a toothpick in the hole and break it off. The screw will be tighter.

Everything I know, I learned from someone else. But, I have one original household tip that my lovely wife devised on her own. When freezing bread or buns for later use, they will get soggy when they thaw. So, she wraps them in a paper towel and puts them bag in the plastic bag. They come out just right!

BTW: strike plate hole = mortise
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Offline sandbox

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closing the door
« Reply #8 on: August 18, 2007, 02:21:57 PM »
gregg, the pre-hung door was not originally attached properly to the door opening.
The hinge screws should not be holding the casing to the stud. I suspect the casing was not shimmed plumb and secure and/or the shims have moved.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2007, 02:28:43 PM by sandbox »
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Offline krissel

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closing the door
« Reply #9 on: August 18, 2007, 03:00:05 PM »
QUOTE(Gregg @ Aug 18 2007, 02:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
That's a little bit easier to do on a porch door than an interior door, I imagine; and the appearance isn't as big of an issue. But, kudos on the solution - or did someone else advise you on what to do? Those are wood screws, right? Aren't they getting looser over time? My Dad taught me a trick when that happens, and I just used it again on that bathroom door after removing the strike plate several times: stick a toothpick in the hole and break it off. The screw will be tighter.

Everything I know, I learned from someone else.

BTW: strike plate hole = mortise
word of the day smile.gif


You are talking to someone who has moved walls, installed kitchens (plumbing included), built bump-out-cantilevered closets, bay windows, cement walks, decks, a carport, put up exterior siding, replaced a 20' section of said porch, etc.... largely by myself.  Yes, I did of course learn from someone else, my Dad. When I bought this place 34 years ago he and I spent every evening after work for several weeks trying to make this place livable. He taught me how to use all the power tools and basic engineering. The rest I picked up from reading, This Old House and common sense.

I became a favorite at the local hardware store and lumber yard.  smile.gif

I didn't use the term mortise because I wanted to make clear I wasn't referring to the mortise behind the hinge plate.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2007, 03:01:07 PM by krissel »
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Offline Gregg

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closing the door
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2007, 01:40:48 PM »
QUOTE(sandbox @ Aug 18 2007, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
gregg, the pre-hung door was not originally attached properly to the door opening.
The hinge screws should not be holding the casing to the stud. I suspect the casing was not shimmed plumb and secure and/or the shims have moved.


Actually, my conclusion, after extensive measurements, was that that door was machined improperly. The knob on that door is from 1/4" to 3/8" lower than the two closest doors, while all three have their strike plates at the same height. (All that was buried in my original post.)


QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 18 2007, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I didn't use the term mortise because I wanted to make clear I wasn't referring to the mortise behind the hinge plate.

Gotcha. Replace the "m" with a "t" and that's me. Wait a minute! That name is already taken, I believe. wink.gif
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