Closet door with a mind of its own
by
Janice
+6
My hinged closet door won't stay open. It closes on its own. We've tried to bend the hinge pins but can't. Any more ideas?
8 answers
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It's not level.
Hope Williams
on Oct 20, 2015
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check the hinges. Each piece of them need to be perfectly plumb and the screws must be completely tightened. It takes some futzing around, but getting everything straight will end your swinging door.
Lauren365
on Oct 20, 2015
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If the hinges are secure on the door frame and the door, then your problem can be that your door and/or frame are not plumb. To check the door frame, place a level across the top frame to see how off it is, and also check the side frame as well. Remember houses do settle and it can affect your doors and windows.
LD
on Oct 20, 2015
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Check the spacing around the door when it is closed. Usually there is a wider space between the door and the door frame toward the bottom edge. Loosen bottom hinge screws from door frame and put a piece of card board behind it as a spacer. Tighten screws back and see how much that helps. You may need to add more cardboard until it stays open. Worked for me many times over the years.
Robbie Horn
on Oct 20, 2015
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My son had the same problem with the pantry door on his newly constructed house. He called the contractor who sent one of his carpenters over to fix it. The guy took out the hinge pin on one of the hinges took it outside laid it on the concrete sidewalk and hit it with his hammer a few times. Took it back inside, reinserted the pin . . . problem solved! The hinge pin was flattened just enough to keep the door from swinging closed on its own.
Judy
on Oct 20, 2015
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I concur. Check the vertical edge to be sure it's level; if not, you may need to tighten or loosen your hinge screws to make it plumb. If all that fails, you could always install a magnetized door stop that will keep the door open. If you already have a door stop, put a magnet on the end and a corresponding magnet on the door.
Martha Hinkle
on Oct 20, 2015
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I had this same problem in my old, old house. Didn't want to deal with rehanging the door. I envision having to plug the old screw holes and then make new ones. Not a lot of fun. But...I made a fabric door stop that hangs from the door knob. It is a bag filled with beans and as you walk into the bath, pull the cord it hangs from so door stop is out of the way and the door will close. As you leave, pick-up the cord, pull door open and drop the door stop against the door. Sounds complicated, and visitors always have to take it off, but for the residents it's great. The fabric can be an additional decorative element. I can make a drawing if you're interested.
Carrie Hawk
on Oct 20, 2015
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I don't think bending the hinge pins is a good idea and it didn't work anyway To fix it, you'll have to take the door down, Take the hinges out of the door facing. fill the screw holes. And then rehang the door. (Best way to refill the screw holes, because you're probably going to be making the new holes in "almost" the same place. Use a wooden match, coat it in wood glue or something even stronger, and force the match into the old hole. You might have to use pieces of a wooden toothpick to make it tighter. Let dry at least 24 hours.) Put the hinge on the door, not the facing, rehang door in bottom hinge only. With door open at a 90 degree angle, use level on side of door and when the bubbles are level, mark facing for new screw holes. Sounds complicated, huh.... Even more complicated if it has three hinges, which it probably does. In that case, the bottom hinge and the top hinge would need this process. Use the middle hinge as is. Probably easiest way to fix this is hire a good carpenter who understands design/engineering elements.
Carrie Hawk
on Oct 21, 2015
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