Doors won't stay shut.

KD Redlowske
by KD Redlowske
Hi Hometalk folks! I am having an issue with two of my interior doors staying shut, because the doorknob part that is supposed to latch into the door jamb part is not latching. Could it have been because of the extreme cold, even tho I have had the heat on? (I have one cat that loves to get into trouble in those two rooms). Can anyone help? Nothing wrong with doorknobs.

  8 answers
  • Tinyshoes Tinyshoes on Jan 10, 2018

    May need to remove doors, remove hinges and put a thin piece of wood behind where hinge is then replace hinge and door and see it that works. For some reason it sounds like something shifted since the initial installment of the door. Hope you understand, my husb usually gives me exact wording but he's not here right now...lol

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 10, 2018

    Put a wedge under door ......

  • Ken Ken on Jan 10, 2018

    Happens to all houses. It is just settling a bit and the latch is either above or below the striker. If you close the doors and look at the gap between the door and frame you will see that it is wider on one side across the top than the other. Fix for this is to move the striker plate up or down a little.

  • Dfm Dfm on Jan 10, 2018

    i have child safty lockes on the entry doors-inside. spaced right, they dont open. if i can pick the lock a toddler can...

  • Janet Martin Wade Janet Martin Wade on Jan 10, 2018

    Are the hinges mounted with the wrong screws? If the screws stick out the door won’t close properly.

  • Candy Candy on Jan 10, 2018

    Adjust screws on hinge. May have come loose.

  • William William on Jan 10, 2018

    Make sure the screws are tight in all the hinges. They usually loosen. What you can do is remove one screw from each hinge and screw in longer 2" or 3" long screws. This will prevent All the screws from loosening.

  • KD Redlowske KD Redlowske on Jan 10, 2018

    Thank you all for your replies. However, this just started over the last three days. The wedge idea won't work.😀 Both doors open in, i.e. If I were to try a wedge I would be shutting myself into the bathroom or the utility/laundry room. All hinges have the right pin and are secure. No loose screws. I actually replaced the doorknob on the utility room about 8 months ago and it was working just fine. I can get them both to latch by slamming the door. Condo was built in 1980 so I would suspect it is pretty much done settling.


    Again, thank you all. If anyone else has any ideas please let me know. ☺