Replies

1. 
   mikeinohio | Oct 11, 2021 01:09pm | #1

   Before messing with the hinges, I would put a level on the jamb. If it's been knocked out of plumb, I would fix that first and see if it takes care of the problem.

   Mike

1. 
   user-7565791 | Oct 12, 2021 11:53am | #6

   Thanks so much MikeInOhio. For sure I will try That. Many Thanks. John Griffin

2. 
   pantalones868 | Oct 11, 2021 02:31pm | #2

   Plumb,level, square --- it's kind of a carpenters mantra. Is the distance between the jambs the same top to bottom? Is the head jamb level? Is the jamb on the hinge side plumb? Is the jamb set square to the door? Plumbing across the hinge pins do they agree with the side Jamb? Is the door square? Is the door flat? Are the hinges properly(mortises) set (square and flat ) on the door and also on the jamb side? A personal favorite of mine - is the wall plumb and if you were to take a straight edge across the door opening at the floor do they align? They call it " rough" framing for a reason. An adjustment would have to be made if they don't. Usually not much of a problem on a single door but can drive you crazy on French doors. So yes, taking all of these factors into account you can still, if needed, shim the the hinges. I mean, what's a carpenter without a shim?

1. 
   user-7565791 | Oct 12, 2021 12:25pm | #7

   Pantalones868 allThanks for all your good suggestions. I will try them, but it may take me a while, as I am 91 and I have to go to the Doctor to-day. Many Thanks. John Griffin

3. 
   esch5995 | Oct 11, 2021 03:43pm | #3

   I think this is a Fine Home Building question, but since I make a living remodeling kitchens, I will offer my 2¢.

   First you say at least one door is badly damaged and that it is a hollow core door. Throw it away and get a new one. It doesn't sound like something worth repairing IMO hollow core doors are cheap enough.

   Second I'm not sure what is meant by "the bottom of these doors clears the frame. But the top of both the doors, don’t clear the frame". Are you saying the door is hitting the jamb at the top and preventing the door from closing? If so how wide is the hinge side gap? If it's not a least 1/8" your idea probably won't work. Are the jamb sides square to the top? If they are anything you do to "rack" the door within the jamb could cause the door to hit at the top or at the very least result in an uneven gap. Your best solution may be to just plane the lockset edge of the door to fit as needed.

1. 
   rob_ss | Oct 12, 2021 04:33am | #5

   Out of interest, would you ever remove the door frame to fix it, were it badly out of square?

1. 
   esch5995 | Oct 12, 2021 09:43pm | #9

   That is definitely a situational call. If the jamb is clearly out of plumb and or square it certainly is the right way to do it, but has the potential to open Pandora's Box. Baseboards will possibly need to be trimmed or worse replaced if they are too short. Flooring may be exposed and gaps exposed where the jamb is moved, door casing may need to be replaced, drywall work, etc. the list goes on. So the answer is maybe if I'm doing a total remodel and the customer is willing to pay to have the job done right, but for a quick basement fix for someone talking about repairing a cheap hollow core door not likely.

1. 
   rob_ss | Oct 13, 2021 01:45am | #10

   Thanks. I've never faced the situation myself.

1. 
   esch5995 | Oct 13, 2021 07:02am | #11

   I agree it is not a common problem that a door can't close even in today's shabbily built corporate homes. A door rubbing a jamb is common and fixed with a couple passes of a plane but being unable to close is another matter. The situation the OP described is really odd since the width of the jamb at the top is defined by the jamb itself and not likely to shrink. I can't imagine how the doors ever fit.

2. 
   user-7565791 | Oct 12, 2021 12:35pm | #8

   Well My Friend esch5995. I may have to do just that. Many Thanks John Griffin

4. 
   mikaol | Oct 11, 2021 04:55pm | #4

   Not for nothin' but is the door square all the way around?

5. 
   jharveyb | Oct 13, 2021 10:37am | #12

   Altho there have been many comments on the perfect way to get a door right, sometimes the best way is the simplest. In this case, repairing the damaged door may be a lot easier than taking a blank new hollow core door and fitting the hinges and latch/knob, which requires some significant skill, esp. on double doors.
   Similarly, cardboard shims are a very good technique for adjusting how a door fits in its opening. There are limitations depending on how much clearance there is around the door, but I use this technique often, including last Saturday. Hinges wear, houses shift, and sometimes the goal is just to get the door working again. It is by far the easiest, quickest way to get it working again.
   Planing down a door is also good when needed, esp. an old door or one purchased used. It is likely to have been put out of square/straight by some previous carpenter, and restoring it to better shape can be helpful. I did that to a different door last Saturday. Planing can be tricky if the surface shows and the finish is hard to duplicate (esp. on the latch side.)
   Even in new construction, a piece of cardboard can be helpful, as it can be difficult to predict how much slop there is in the cheap hinges we often are forced to use/how much to deepen the upper mortise to compensate for it. I typically replace one of the hinge screws at each hinge with a longer screw into the framing behind the hinge jamb to keep the jamb from bowing, sagging, or twisting.
   By the way, I think it is good workmanship to shoot for the highest standards of fit in new construction or high end remodeling, but sometimes the best thing is to just get things working again.
   Harvey Baker (aka Dr. Door)