How To Fix A Door That Won't Latch

Hinge Screws: amzn.to/2WfBhMQ
Hand File Set: amzn.to/2PA2Zjk
I will walk you through 3 different fixes for a very common issue of a door that won't stay closed because the latch is misaligned. There are a number of different reasons for this issue and this video will walk you through the 3 most common fixes.
Fix 1 - Check / tighten hinges
This is by far the most common issue and most interior door hinges only have 3/4 inch wood screws which are secured into the door jamb. These screws can strip the wood holes and become loose over time from normal wear and tear. I will demonstrate a few different tricks to get your screws back to a secure hold and your hinges flush and secure.
Fix 2 - Find Interference and file the latch plate
If your hinges are secure I would move on to the latch and latch plate. First you will want to assess the amount of interference and I will show you an easy method for identifying exactly where the latch is hitting the latch plate. If the interference is small a little filing might be all that is needed to get your door back to latching without issues.
Fix 3 - Adjust hinges with shims
If fix 1 or 2 don't work then we will move back to the hinge side and figure out how much adjustment is needed and in which hinges. This fix will take longer but with some patience you will quickly identify what is needed and start the adjustment with shimming the hinges.
The fixes are demonstrated in the order of complexity and should be approachable for all weekend warriors.
Additional Links
#10 3 inch screws (with T25 Drill Bit) - homedepot.sjv.io/eWo7z
Box of Washers - amzn.to/33Cdvw9

[@mountainssea9642]

It’s making me nervous that he looks just over my left shoulder in most of this video. WHAT DOES HE SEE

[@dogrsqr]

No worries....he's just talking to the escaped lunatic with the knife who's standing behind you.

[@darkwingduck47]

your toilet door that won't latch

[@lovethosebudgies66]

LMAO 🤣

[@Nerdificationing]

His notes obviously

[@02sabby02]

I would have just used a chisel and moved down the strike plate and then fill the area with some wood putty and touchup paint

[@fuckgoogle8012]

Epoxy and sawdust makes a great filler material that's tough, sandable, and bonds extremely well.

[@mikeo9049]

That's what I was thinking this whole video.

[@allenwilson9656]

That would have made more sense and a hell of a lot less work

[@petermadany2779]

I just quickly fixed two doors using various techniques demonstrated in this video. One needed a little longer screws and some washers in the bottom two hinges. (With the help of my son, I did not need to use any tape.) The other door needed the strike plated to be filed for a couple minutes using a very old file. For the second one I also used a chisel to enlarge the hole in the wood by about 1/8".

[@CytoplasmicGoo]

Before I resort to that, if it's not that bad a misalignment I use a dremel or a rotary file bit for a cordless drill and file out the plate. It usually fixes it in minutes.

[@lsatenstein]

Scott, Grandpa here. I watched as you did a very good job to adjust the door angle. Sometimes though, brick is on the far side of the hinge, which means, longer screws wont work. Most door frames are from soft pine, and that is why the screw for the hinge failed. I always carry a few toothpicks (flat type). With a touch of white wood glue, I jam two or three toothpicks into the screw hole and just restore the screw.

[@johnowens4334]

Agree with that gramps!! Also tell him just to tap those hinges back in line and drop the pin in. Enough with the washers and those extra steps

[@marksarovich5534]

My father taught me the toothpick method...And a cheap set of die grinders will beat the file any day.

[@mayorart1]

Yup, me too. I also add a drop of woodworker's glue to help further hold it together.

[@robsteele2427]

Drill out the hole to accept a wood dowel of the next size up. Put wood glue in, tap the dowel in, cut flush. Wait for the glue to set, then reinstall the hinge. Good as new.

[@notsofast5495]

Exactly how my dad taught me to move hinges and fill holes

[@mrmatt7210]

A simple fix if your ok with your current door gaps. Regarding the problem seen in this video there is an option to fix the door which wasnt mentioned. Remove the striker plate and insert an appropriately sized wooden dowel rod (or wooden golf tee) with wood glue into the screw holes. Once the glue has been given time to cure, replace your striker at a lower position and reattach it with your choice of screws. You may still need to file the striker/wood should there be a large offset, but this tip will limit such to a minimal amount.

[@Troy_Built]

That's what I was expecting him to finish with. I was watching to see the cosmetic fix for the space left when the latch plate was moved.

[@BlackopsSOG1]

thats what i was thinking he basically moved the entire door when he coulda just moved the latch unless he didnt want to wait for a couple things to dry

[@2ddw]

My doors that are out of whack like this never seem to have enough reveal to kick out the bottom even a 1/16" . It's like the door is not latching and the reveal is even all over. Sometimes I've wondered whether the finish carpenter was sleeping when they drilled out the latch hole.

[@penelopelgoss2520]

Agree, done that 👍

[@gaexavier2644]

Just move the latch plate up or down. I just fixed mine after watching Bill (second video on this same issue). This fix is way overkill! Reminds me of a handyman who wants to milk it for more money.

[@danmichalko2673]

Your videos are usually very well done. However - for this one you should have done some research first. Washers are pretty lame. You can actually buy a set of plastic hinge spacers that are in the same rectangle shape and are slotted so you only have to back the screws out enough to slip them in place, adding more as required. I'd take this video down and put up another one. BTW - the file is convex. Concave means caved in :)

[@roisinsmith8811]

Was about to start messing about with the latch itself before seeing this vid. Tightened the hinges and straight away the door closes. Genius. Thank you so much!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Roisin, yeah that is the most common fix by far. Glad it was an easy fix for ya 👍

[@changclifton786]

I am a professional Locksmith and your fix is the first one I try, before adjusting the hinge knuckles, shimming the lower hinge, and lastly, realigning the strike plate! All in that order! I am sending your video to my Aunt who is thousands of miles away! Good job!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Thanks appreciate the kind words and glad the video helped.

[@paulmullins3353]

Hinge bending: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amnJd6eBiayHe9k

[@AAA-nq6bo]

I had a 38 year career as a locksmith at a university that had well over 20000 doors and over those years I had thousands of calls for doors not latching especially at dorm room doors. Great video and I did the exact same process diagnosing and repairing the doors at our university over the years! There is one more tool called changing the swag of the hinge and you can use a tool called the hinge doctor to do this. Great video!

[@ShaneRoberts-v4i]

Wow , 38 years and over 20.000 doors!! That's a lotta doors !! Bet your favourite band isn't the " DOORS !" LOL

[@sg8345]

Big deal. I had a 74 year career as a locksmith at a university that had well over 500,000 doors

[@ShaneRoberts-v4i]

@@sg8345 let me guess,the university was JUST doors ?

[@BlkFireHawk427]

if you are still in that career in repair, there is another common issue I'm sure you have seen where when the door latch or dead bolt screws have stripped out the wood and just spin. There is a new hardware solution that sits inside the door along the latch that is threaded, called Resecure Latch. They have a channel here that shows how it works. Its a awesome handyman/DYI product that is a permeant solution.

[@LandonRoy-cv9rt]

I, as a finishing carpenter do not approve of this video and the fact that you do as a locksmith raises questions regarding your qualifications & experience. DIY videos like this keep the calls rolling in, which results replacing the unit opposed to a simple service call.

[@garcand]

This whole time my door latch and the latch plate were misaligned. So I took the plate off, raised it a cm and drilled another hole. Thanks for the video

[@Verb130]

Hinge bending works better than shims (washers) in the hinges. There are special tools specifically for hinge bending, or a 10" Cresent wrench (adjustable spanner if your in the UK) works great also. Like you pointed out, as long as your screws are anchored well the hinge will bend without any problems.

[@drbarchitect]

The problem I've had trying to bend hinges is that the screws often begin pulling out of the door or wood as you begin trying to bend the hinge. Anyone else experienced this?

[@trbr1799]

@@drbarchitect keep the door closed? There will be some resistance against the outward movement at that point. May not help though.

[@douglasdever6134]

@@drbarchitect Never had a problem and did quite a few doors.

[@annarouly2144]

I go down to the big box store and buy one of those extra long strike plates (about 3" long). The extra length puts the screw holes away from the original screw holes. With a wood chisel I quickly chisel out where the new plate will have to sit. Then with a Dremel I grind out the wood in the latch hole and I am done. Got to love a Dremel. I do not know how you get through life without one. Big Box store also has a strike plate with an extra long hole for the latch. I put one of those on the porch screen door. It is very humid in my area. The humidity causes that screen door to lift then sag then lift, sag, etc. That plate with the extra long latch hole gives the latch room to move. All I have to do is grind the latch hole, in the jam, to fit the hole on the plate. Now any time of the year the porch screen door stays latched. In my area it is always the humidity that messes with the doors.

[@Rintin820]

I used toothpaste as a marker, genius

[@georgeschroeder3026]

I have done many doors over the years yet, you taught me an excellent trick with your shim/washer trick at the end of your video. Very well done! I only wish that I knew of this in my earlier years (now 72) lol. Thank you, it is never too late to learn something new. Excellent presentation!

[@walterthurman6441]

Great video -- thanks so much. After watching it I hoped that method #1 (tighten the screws) would fix things, but the screws were all tight. So I moved on to method #2 (take a file to enlarge the strike plate hole) and it worked like a charm. I removed very little material and it only took a few strokes of the file. Method #3 for me would have turned into "call a carpenter," but I didn't to go there. So thanks!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Nice Walter, glad you were able to get the misalignment fixed without too much hassle. Cheers!

[@eostrike]

I had several of these issues over the years. Easiest and quickest fix for me was to move the strike plates down. Thanks for sharing this for people that like to DIY.

[@danmoore3300]

If the door is sagging, swap the top and bottom hinges or replace them. It worked well for me.

[@richopper6391]

If the striker plate needs to slide up or down 1/16 or 1/8 inch, moving it will not work because the screw holes do not line up and if you plan on making new holes, that doesn't work because you'll just make a larger screw hole

[@eostrike]

@@richopper6391 wood glue and thick tooth picks fix this issue.

[@moobox]

@@richopper6391 just dowel the original screw holes and drill new ones

[@Ironace-wb9sx]

@@moobox yes dowel works great with some glue. Like a charm!

[@datsuntoyy]

2:25 on exterior doors I drive a #8 by 4" in each hinge and the striker plate. That way it goes into the studs and makes the door much more resistant to break-ins. It also holds the hinges and striker more securely.

[@mrc79]

this is a gem in the comments

[@howtodoitdude1662]

Wood shims behind the hinges works great. You can also remove the hinges and bend them on a vice to make it work. Thanks for sharing!

[@donpcmartin]

1.5x speed... you’re welcome. And great content!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Life Hack 👍

[@SwankManOfficial]

Try 2x

[@ciscodiy8276]

Thanks

[@nabilshaheen3537]

My ADHD made more sense at 2x

[@POPPASHANGO]

I lived in an older home and had some doors misaligned. Tightening the screws is definitely a fix a good number of times. If I could add that if you find a stripped screw and you don't have a longer one on hand, you can jam as many toothpicks necessary to fill the hole right through the plate and the snap them off at the same time. The original screw will go back in tight and hold you can add the longer screw later if you want. I also invested in something called a Hinge Tweaker. It helps alot.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Nice, I have seen the modified crescent wrenches made for the hinges but haven't pulled the trigger just yet. Definitely looks handy.

[@markme4]

The tooth picks also remove any random particles of food stuck deep inside your door

[@axjohn]

I keep the bamboo chopsticks from Chinese food orders just for this purpose. Push in the hole them break off. They work GREAT.

[@mikecassie3523]

@@axjohn golf tees work too

[@michaellacaria910]

@@axjohn bamboo sticks (dollar store for skewers) swell nicely with glue

[@aznrocka]

Good informative video. They make a product that’s plastic shims called EZ Shim. I’ve used those to square doors to the frame and use longer screws like you suggested in the video.

[@Sam-ey1nn]

You skipped "move the latch plate" solution. I think that's easier than shimming the door hinges. Just loosening the screws on it and pushing it down or up a little bit so that you can still use the same screw holes works. In extreme cases I have had to drill new holes but that's the exception. I've found sometimes the issue is that the door latch was just never installed correctly to begin with. As with most contractor work, it was done by someone in a hurry who didn't really care whether it worked or not as long as it would pass inspection.

[@aaronwilliamson4045]

If the original installation of the striker plate was dropped a little below center it would allow for some door sag and provide margin. My experience the striker plate is always too high.

[@jsimpson8018]

Washers are too complicated. I use cardboard box, like cereal boxes. I use the hinge as a template and cut a shim(s) the exact size then place them in the mortice of the hinge and screw them home with longer screws. They wont show as badly and wont compress and loosen over time like other materials will. Old shoe leather works well to, but it can compress over time.

[@TheFunnyCarpenter]

Might have been a cleaner look to just bend the hinges and grind a little more strike plate out… says the Monday morning quarterback:)

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Yeah, honestly I think 90% of people can get the latch aligned with step 1 and 2. I also have another video where we bend the hinges to adjust a misaligned exterior door 👍

[@j.brewer7552]

Your method seems like jimmy rigging it. If your door is not rubbing and set even on the frame then redo the strike plate. And fill as needed.

[@Tolohtony]

I use cardboard from a cereal box to make shims, stack if needed.

[@apfelbasket]

Cheap lipstick is great for marking latch & dead bolt spots. Coat whole surface & it leaves exact spot & shape!

[@mostlikelywedoitservices6926]

Get a rotary tool or a drill with a burr. It will take for ever with a hand file. Just did one today. A minute with vacuum sucking up the metal that would land on the floor. Customer said man you did that fast.

[@sarahcherry9460]

Thanks so much! with your video I was able fix my non-latching door in 5 minutes! Just needed to tighten the hinges. That door has been irritating me for years - who knew it was so easy to fix!

[@Bithiah71]

Omg! Tightening the screws worked for my bedroom door! Thank you for this video!

[@meganseaver4859]

One more suggestion, none of yours was the problem for me I had to take the plate off of the frame and put a teeny wedge of wood underneath and screw it back on to raise the plate a little bit

[@joelynch1059]

Dude! You are the man! I just tightened my hinges ever so slightly and it fixed it!! Like 2 or three screws 1/8 of a turn!! Thanks a million!!!

[@CarlosRodriguez-hb3vq]

One more scenario for you: my door was hitting the door frame at the top of the door, which forced the latch downward. The fix was to sand 1/8” off the top of the door, relieving downward pressure and allowing the latch to align.

[@MechanicalFrog]

What about using some superglue on the washers instead of painter's tape?

[@Budhah1]

Easiest way I know in small offset like this is to put a half inch drill bit in the drill and use the side of the bit to file the plate and wood down to fit. Maybe that is too simple. But putting washers on middle hinge? Solid doors can't bend like that.

[@charlesmcadory8286]

I do alot of doors and great tip. I take old hinges and cut off the ears and use them the same way that you use the washers. Again good job.

[@mikes3060]

You can use any type of clear plastic. juice container or a soda bottle works great as shims. Just need to cut it in the shape of the hinge free cheap and easy.

[@davidcox9983]

I make these adjustments all of the time. Washers behind the hinge is not a good idea. The hinge will not sit properly on the jam, and will move or rock on the washers, causing more problems. It's better to properly install the strike plate in the correct position. I use wooden cooking scewers to fill the old holes so I can position the new hole properly.

[@44Mag]

Nice info. I am in North Texas, and we have serious foundation fluctuations in this area. it is common to see doors with as much as a 1/2 to 3/4 inch sag and alignment issues. My garage door was so extreme, I had to remove the latch plate, enlarge the hole in the jamb, then install the plate higher. I will try your tip using the washers behind the hinge on a few of the other doors though. - Thanks.

[@IncogNito-gg6uh]

I found a latch plate with a larger vertical opening, 2" vs 1". It gives extra room to allow for doors that keep moving up and down a little.

[@miketumillo7875]

When the screw is stripped out, you can use a wooden golf tee, after you remove the door hinge, hammer it into the wooden golf tee into the hole break of what part that won't go in and it has always come out flush for me, you can tap the tee downward or upward, use the same screw and into the golf tee and it like putting a new door frame in. The screw stays in place.

[@davidgray3716]

I used the washer method on a heavy door from our garage. I installed longer screws as well. Thank you for your concise description. Excellent

[@fuzzyfuzzwuz]

7:50 - those aggravating moments when you make your "to-do" list longer! haha #paintscuff

[@327365hp]

Not to mention marring up the pinwith cutters, use a nail set to tap the bottom of the pin.

[@heroknaderi]

Very helpful thank you. And another thing i do sometimes for a stripped out screw hole is tap a plastic anchor in it and reuse the original screw. only of i wanted to use the same leingth, i tried it and it held strong. I appricciate the video.😀

[@skygh]

Good concepts. Door specialist for the last 25 years I've always tried to get 1/8 inch gap on all sides of door ideally. I use pasteboard instead of washers to shim hinges placing strips carefully to tilt the hinge as needed. A 1/4" strip near the door stop shrinks the gap and vice versa. Remove the strike from the door to allow for longer file strokes. They screw right back on. I use rotary carbide burrs to grind them but I have to do this regularly. Good info bro

[@ChrisPBacone]

Depends the framer if installed centererd

[@sethburkhart1021]

Hi! I know this is an old comment, but I can’t find where to buy board, or what is a more common or modern word for what you mean. Home Depot sells hardboard. Is that what it might also be called? Thanks for your great comment!

[@KaylaMoonx4]

@@sethburkhart1021pasteboard otherwise known as a cereal box.

[@peterrudy9207]

To lubricate the door hinges and well as the door locks , latches , dead bolts , etc with the appropriate spray lubricant .

[@mattfleming86]

SHIMS!!!! There are specific shims for both common hinge sizes. I'll add 2 to the bottom hinge, one to the middle, and none to the top (or more on the bottom with an appropriate taper top to bottom) works splendidly (almost) every time.

[@robertkirchner7523]

Why not taking a 1/2 inch sanding cylinder that comes with your Dremel tool and grind down the latch down slightly. It takes one minute, and an since it's a non locking inside door it won't affect the security. Keep up the good work. Bob

[@Coda6766]

I know that you posted this a while ago but I was going crazy for 20 minutes trying to fix the latch plate. Your video helped me finally fix the latch. It was the hinges. Thank you.

[@nickchen1722]

too much work , you can easily move the latch down on your left side to make it work

[@staind288]

@@isaackvasager9957 just fill it all in with epoxy or wood filler and set it where it needs to be. No need to lug around a heavy door and reset the hinges. 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@sangkyumkim7525]

Thanks to this video, especially the washer and the hand file, I could successfully fix my door!! I love the easy instruction + the detailed reasoning + the hands on illustration.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey my friend! Long time no see. Hope all is well with you and your family and thanks for the kind words 👍

[@honeydoshandymanservices-l670]

This is a very common problem in my town. On Exterior door hinges I use 4" Exterior screws in the back holes to drive them into the Stud. This helps with security as well. I also use them on the Deadbolt strike plate for the same reason. On lighter interior doors I place white drywall anchors in the holes and reuse hinge screws. Some use toothpicks and glue but that just takes longer.

[@bastienclarke1810]

Nice

[@PH-md8xp]

Great video as always. Thanks just one very minor correction- that file you used was a convex file not concave :)

[@charlesbennett6242]

Dremel with a grinding bit works better. Also slipping a thin spacer behind the hinge.

[@richopper6391]

Soooo, did you put spacers behind all three hinges? If so, how does that raise the latch? Doesn't that just move the door laterally toward the frame where the latch is?

[@demenACE]

Do you have a video replacing the entire door frame? IF there were a case when someone misaligned the frame, but ruined the frame trying to fix it? (Wasn't me!}

[@bobmatthews995]

They make tapered plastic hinge shims just for this purpose

[@xinwendog1]

Very useful info -- thanks so much! I fixed two doors: one with method #1 (tighten the screws/changing screws), the second one with method #2 (take a file to enlarge the strike plate hole). They both work like a charm. Method #3 will be the backup, but I don't think it will go there. Again, thanks a lot!

[@rebeccadees2300]

Thank you for the tutorial. I'm a widow and would like to try fixing things like this if I'm able.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Rebecca, happy to help and let me know if you have any questions as you tackle projects around the house.

[@vlugovsky]

@Rebecca Dees - good for you! Nothing like depending on yourself whenever possible! :)

[@gdb5448]

Most of the time it is due to complete incompetence on behalf of the individual that hung the doors in the first place. The striker plate should be installed so that the striker is perfectly centered in the opening, which will allow for shifting/settling in the future. Most people do not take the time to measure properly and just cut the hole by eyeballing it, which is just lazy and pathetic. Finding people to do things the right way is getting damn near impossible.

[@R1j0hn]

Washers on the hinge = FAIL... Bend the tabs of the plate into conformity with an adjustable wrench.

[@jamespetkwitz8737]

please don't bend hinges to fix this problem. especially on hinges like yours that are the thinner, cheaper radius hinges. if they are easy enough to bend, they will just bend back. it's a quick temporary fix that bad handymen do. if your hinge is already bent, or "sprung" as some people call it, replace it. a long screw 2.5" and above for interior door in the top hinge, in the middle hole, or hole closest to the middle of the jamb will draw a door up. if like yours the strike plate is too high, simply move the strike plate and touch up with some wood filler and paint, or if you don't mind the aesthetic, some color matched caulk. your hinges really didn't need to be shimmed out and if you did shim too far, your door will become hinge bound and cause other problems. secure the hinges, and make the door as straight in the jamb as possible then simply over or file the strike.. it is a more permanent solution

[@Psmith713]

Dude the tightening of hinges is so obvious but holy crap it saved me and my door to my bedroom thank you!

[@robertwicks3887]

Your technique is awesome and your video was the best I watched for door repairs; I watched a dozen of them and you were #1 in my book. I have an issue with our house settling; it is affecting several doors...each one differently (my luck). The first one I tackled was an inside door to our hot water heater closet, which was binding at the top. I tried hinges, with no luck and I finally resorted to sanding some from the top of the door. It now closes but the latch and the strike plate are misaligned. I am taking on that project next... QUESTION: if the latch is hitting high, do I adjust the top hinge with washers?

[@pearlperlitavenegas2023]

They sell strike plates with longer/wider clearances for this issue

[@d.vaughn8990]

You can use super glue to secure the washers, instead of using painters tape. Don’t risk “marking up” your door jamb, with your utility knife blade, because you need to remove tape. Nice/helpful video btw! Thank you!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Not a bad idea 🤔, thanks for the tip. 👍

[@zeke112964]

Or weld them in place

[@matthewcordova6217]

Did you put spacers in the middle hinge to or just the bottom ??

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

I put 1/2 the shim width from the bottom in the middle hinge.

[@kylewilley9535]

I had one where they had already used the longer screw, and it was still spinning freely. Got a 1/2" dowel and drilled a 1/2" hole. Glued that dowel in, trimmed flush with the jam, then predrilled and screwed the same screw back in place. Worked like a charm.

[@robertjoseph1592]

Two flat toothpicks, break in half and shove the four ends into the hole. You could roll them in wood glue if they won't stay in. Costs less than a nickel and you don't need to go to the home center or lumber yard.

[@lesg9604]

Golf tee. Sand the edge as it’s typically slightly wider in diameter than the existing screw. Roll in glue and tap in. Cut flush and let dry. Boom. Solid wood connection to then drill into once bonded

[@TomCee53]

Plastic masonry anchors work pretty well. Drill as needed, usually 1/4 or 5/16, and push in the anchor. They’re designed to expand and hold tight.

[@marksarovich5534]

nice!

[@marksarovich5534]

@@lesg9604 waaay cool!

[@JohnDoe-si2es]

Step 2 worked for me. Filing the bottom of the metal plate. Used a Dremel tool instead of a file though. Took seconds. Thank you.

[@solomonros]

Option 2 longer two worked. If the holes are stripped, long screws don’t grip. Take a couple of toothpicks with some glue and shove them in the hole. Let set a few minutes and then redrill. Should help.

[@07liftedAV]

Golf tees work well also

[@lawrencejneuser8801]

Messing with the hinges seems to be the Long Way Around The Barn to get to the house. I would have just move the strike plate. And then you could always take bathtub caulk to fill in the area that you chiseled out.

[@KnockingAbout]

Remove strike plate, golf tees in the holes, move down, pre-drill, win.

[@Alan.Bishop]

Is that a Schlage Accent lever in us5 or BHMA 609 Antique Brass?

[@ryanj.7523]

realizing this video is 2 years old, I like to fill the old holes with a wood glue and saw dust mixture followed buy taking a shim custom ripped from another piece of wood to help make up the difference for the gap. A little sanding and some paint and you can reinstall all the Hardware like before and the gap is gone. leaves a great finish appearance in my opinion as well.

[@tickdog3]

What are your feelings about using a knuckle bender over using the washers?

[@genevelis6075]

Please explain, why to go through all this work with the washers if the latch can be lowered faster?

[@railroadaddict1884]

Dude, you saved my sanity after 9 years of doors that don't latch. Thank you!

[@thebearsden1701]

If you use a small impact driver & use 3 screws on top hinge.. you can slightly suck the top door casing closer to the interior 2 x 4 ..thus lifting the door latch

[@paulfox1431]

I’ve used a cone shaped grinding stone on my cordless drill to grind the bottom of the plate to accommodate the house settling which caused the problem.

[@BigBadJohn-jm2bi]

A toothpick on top of the screw holes will move the strike down.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Not a bad idea. I use the toothpick/golf tee trick with a little wood glue to fill in the holes if they are completely stripped but a strategically placed toothpick would nudge the strike a bit. Thanks for the feedback.

[@kirstendavenport7333]

Hello, I clicked on this video in hopes that I could learn how to fix my door. I'm still not sure what the problem is. I have to keep my bedroom door shut because my roommate has a cat & im allergic :(. But also my roommates cat is a bully. Kitty bites and claws me and my roommate. My roommate is obviously fine with it, but I'm not. From watching your videos I can tell you that my latch is stuck. The l latch refuses to retract. If you get a chance please shoot me some advice

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

If the latch stays retracted and will not extend i would remove the 2 mounting bolts to the door handle. The 2 hallves the the handle will come out and you will see the latch mechanism inside the cutout in the door. Then you can see if anything looks damaged or where the frictions is coming from that would not allow the latch to fulling extend. Good luck with that cat 😬

[@HabAnagarek]

I have brand new prehung exterior doors from Window World. On one, the strike plate just wasn't manufactured in alignment. Human error? Lack of care? I'm not going to chisel a new indent for the plate, as the jamb is yellow and very cleanly machined. So, new Dremel to the rescue.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Best of luck with the adjustment 👍

[@anaesterhazy631]

you should have used white painter's tape :)

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Smart!

[@Manilalou]

You helped me fix that annoying door latch that wouldn't close. Saved me from hiring a handyman. Thanks !

[@jaytmoon]

Fill the stripped hole with elmers wood glue and hardwood toothpicks, then use a longer screw

[@cornflakeusa]

Don't know if anyone mentioned it but Instead of a file, I use a Dremel to remove a little metal from the strike plate. Works like a charm.

[@RobertBrown-jz4qj]

Convex. Not concave

[@patrickhallmaclachlan]

This is a great video! Thank you!!

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Hey Chris, glad you got some value out of the video.

[@jaynecobb3701]

I found out the hard way why putting washers under a hinge was a really bad idea. Then I talked to a carpenter about how to fix it and learned the right way to do it by bending the hinges without removing the door or hinges.

[@Skitteringskulker]

My hands hurt and my back aches but my door closes. Thanks sir! filing was the answer...or at least an answer and i'll take it :)

[@CytoplasmicGoo]

This is actually a very common problem. After tightening the hinges and using longer screws and it still won't latch, I use a high speed rotary tool like a dremel and file out the catch plate. They also sell a rotary file bit if you want to you use a cordless drill it works the same but a bit slower. That usually fixes the problem in minutes. If it's really off, I move the whole catch. It takes some chiselwork and wood putty but it comes out nice, just don't forget to pilot drill the new screw holes first to prevent the jam from splitting. I never had to resort to spacing out or bending the hinges because it might cause the doors to stick or stick later when the weather changes. It's just a can of worms I would rather avoid.

[@pdpaxpv]

My door needs to be realigned just a little bit, but filing worked pretty well. Fixed it real quick. Thanks.

[@hassanbazzi3545]

This is amazing info. I don’t know how this video popped, but I am having a problem with my front door due to taking it off the hinges and change the sweeper. I hated it when I installed it and and it wasn’t latching properly. I will try your method and hopefully I will be in luck. Thank you for sharing

[@healingenso7923]

Rather than bending the hinges, I would be tempted to take off the strike plate and drill new mounting holes and move the strike plate, to fit the latch. You can fill the old holes in the wood, to help keep them from starting any sort of split. But then your fix is just 2 new holes in the strike plate. Perhaps not the prettiest. But if you fill and paint over the old holes in strike plate they can pretty much go away. Turns out, the one I am just working on - replacing all the hardware, the new latch isn't perpendicular to the door. So take my chisel to the recess in the door to change the angle of the plate, once it's screwed in to fix it.

[@MetalGod619]

I can see the strike plate is new from original and you have room to move it up or down . Pull it off fill the screw holes then place lower in correct position .

[@JohnDoe-hb2ge]

Great video! Thank you. I followed along step by step. I decided to grab my dremel to sand down the door jamb and strike plate just a little and voila my door latched.

[@genedillman7811]

That was really excellent. Now I will tackle my 3 doors that don't latch and see if I can solve the problem.

[@EverydayHomeRepairs]

Best of luck on the troubleshooting! 👍

[@jdsim9173]

Wouldn't it be better to reposition the strike plate a little lower?

[@gingermonette7455]

Our front door has been sticking for at LEAST 15 years. It was so bad, I had to move the strike plate so it would close. Hallelujah, now that it's fixed, it now closes smoothly!

[@Lake-oi9rs]

Thanks! Tightened the hinges and my door is latching just fine now