How To Repair French Doors, Fix/Align French Door Frames

In this DIY video, we show you how to repair French Doors that have come out of alignment. We show you how to root cause the reason why your French Doors alignment problems persist, and how to fix French Door alignment.
How to fix French Doors and repair French door frames
We'll also show you how to repair French door handles, when the door handles were installed upside down, and the curl on the lever handle is pointing in the wrong direction. we'll also show you how to adjust French doors and how to repair the door frame hinge side.
✅ Tools used in this how to fix French doors DIY video:
✅ Buck Bros. 40603 3 Piece Professional Wood Chisel Set: amzn.to/2sPqhG9
✅ DEWALT DCK299D1T1 Hammer Drill, Impact Driver Kit: amzn.to/2M6h450
✅ Tapcon 1/4x4 Concrete Anchor-25Pack: amzn.to/2CP0uCH
✅ Empire Professional Framing Square: amzn.to/2MlR0TC
✅ Johnson 72" Heavy Duty Aluminum Box Level: amzn.to/2TiuihP
Fix French Door Alignment, fixing it yourself with French door DIY
To fix French doors that won't close, you must fist make sure the French door frame jam is appropriately anchored into the buck plate or even better, the cement block wall which the buck plate is anchored to. This is how to adjust French doors.
How to fix French Doors
Remember, French doors must be perfectly level straight up and down and then fix French door alignment which is critical, there must be an even 1/8" reveal all around both doors. You must assure an even 1/8" French door gap when you repair French doors. You first align one French door hinge, then you align the other French door hinge, and make sure you French door jamb is anchored properly all the way into the buck plate, or further into the cement block wall.
Repair door frame hinge side first
This is how you fix French doors that won't close, because repairing French Doors means you also have to repair French Door frames. Once you repair the door frame hings, chances are this will align french doors properly.The problem you'll find as you attempt to repair French doors DIY is most door manufactures send you screws that are too short.
Correct screws are needed for proper French door alignment
Now repair french door frame. You need to ditch those 1/2" screws, and use 2" or longer screws on your french door hinges to pierce the 3/4" thick door jam, and then embed into the 2x4 buck plate inside the wall by at least 1 1/4". In our case here in Florida, we used 3" Tapcon anchors to fix French Door Hinges to pierce the French Door jam, then the buck plate, and deep into embed in the cement block wall past the buck plate.
How to adjust French Doors
Fixing French doors is not rocket science. For your French doors that won't close, the secret to repairing French doors is to align French doors first by securing all the French door hinges to the door jamb. Then add extra fasteners to repair french door frame by securing it better to the buck plate.
How to repair French door frame
Once you fix french door alignment by screwing all the hinges tight to the door frame, and securing the french door jam to the rough in door opening buck plate, and finally we fix French Door top plate, then you have figured out to automatically align French doors. Now that you know how to fix French doors, you'll have no more french Door alignment problems.
French door DIY at its finest
One we fixed the French Door alignment, then we repair French Door handles. The handles were installed backwards so we reversed them. The French door handle on the inside was moved outside.
How to adjust French Doors and French Door Frames
Once you complete all this you'll be the expert at French Door DIY and fixing French Doors. Then you can show all your friends how to repair French Doors alignment. Say goodbye to all your french door alignment problems. Adjusting french doors is easy for you now. No more French doors that won't close.

[@jeffostroff]

✅ Tools used in this how to fix french doors DIY video: ✅ Buck Bros. 40603 3 Piece Professional Wood Chisel Set to repair door frame hinge side: amzn.to/2sPqhG9 ✅ DEWALT DCK299D1T1 Hammer Drill, Impact Driver Kit: amzn.to/2M6h450 ✅ Tapcon 1/4x4 Concrete Anchor-25Pack: amzn.to/2CP0uCH ✅ Empire Professional Framing Square: amzn.to/2MlR0TC ✅ Johnson 72" Heavy Duty Aluminum Box Level: amzn.to/2TiuihP

[@illestkilla1]

Extremely helpful and informative video here Jeff. I will be tackling 2 French doors tomorrow that are in similar situation using this method. Thanks

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@rickbob8806]

Good vid, learned some new things since I'm getting ready to seal up my French entry doors on new home.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad I could help thanks for watching Rob.

[@willhagler9334]

Exactly the video I've been looking for, thanks for sharing

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to hear it!

[@davefitzgerald6237]

U rock! good straight forward info! Thanks.

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome, glad to help out, thanks for watching Dave!

[@slip0n0fall]

FYI those pieces removed at the bottom of the frames are not packing material - they are used to seal the frame against sill plate, often referred to as 'corner pads'. Caulk is to be applied around them. It was either missing or never installed on the other side.

[@jeffostroff]

Probably never installed

[@mauricioperez2550]

Thanks a million this video helped greatly. 👋👁👁👍

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you liked it Mauricio

[@mjjmfamily1202]

I need to hire you to correctly install my basement French doors.

[@MT-wt6uo]

Jeff, thank you for this great video. I also watched your plumbing video and followed your advice to fix the leaking faucet. My French door was installed by a contractor last year. It has a 1/16 inch gap between the doors at the top, and 1/4 inch gap at the bottom. It is leaking cold air into the house in the winter. In this video, you fixed the door gap but it wasn't recorded in the video. Can you kindly tell me how you fix it?

[@jeffostroff]

We show you in this video starting at 9:35, for the next few minutes after that we show you what has to be done. In our case it was loose hinges on the other door. Even if your hinges look tight, you can still tighten them down further. To solve the crooked cap. bring both doors almost together but not closed. Put a 6 foot level on each door and see which one is not vertically level. The problem could be left door, or right door, or both doors out of level. You have to look at the reveal gap all the way around both doors and see which one has the uneven gap, it should be equal 1/8" space all the way around. Sometime we have found we have to actually add more screws tot he door frame, because on the hinge side of the door frame it can pull away over time, causing your door to hang crooked. We did the front doors on this house that same day, and you need to watch that video here also, it shows how we fix the crooked gaps: How to Fix Uneven Door Stuck Closed, Door Frame Alignment : kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3LPkIiEjK1-e7s

[@repentandturnfromsin]

That is hillarious the knobs were put on (and kept that way) with the key hole on inside of home! Thanks for the tips on adjusting doors. Mine is similar. Wore my last door knob out overtime prying door open to go outside...drives me nuts.

[@jfssparky]

Nice video big help

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks I'm glad you found it helpful

[@jasonwatson-finley7538]

Thanks so ma few good screw thru the hinge holes me new door shuts amazing

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help jason

[@Here_Today_]

having referrals is imperative! nice fix

[@jeffostroff]

Yes they are!

[@helpontheway5404]

You're a god!

[@jeffostroff]

Only God can be a god, but I'm happy to be his helper!

[@dreras]

Great video and explanation. Two questions for you. 1) Did you put Tapcon screws in all four holes in each hinge or just some of them? I'm wondering because it seems like the Tapcon package mentions not to put them to close together, but I wasn't sure because of all the lumber in the door framing which might negate the screws being close in the concrete. 2) Kind of the same question, but it appeared as if both doors were sagging in the middle. Most other resources have mentioned just putting the long screws in the top hinges to bring the doors up. DId you only put the Tapcon screws in the top hinges? Thanks again for the video!

[@jeffostroff]

Dreras, with these French doors, the previous installer incorrectly installed the entire door frame to the rough-in door opening buck plates, causing a few failure modes, doors not correctly attached tot he frame, and frame not correctly attached to the wall opening. Because of this, we wanted maximum embedment into the concrete wall, all the way through the buck plate so that there would never be a question of stability of the door frame. Everything is compressed together by the Tapcon anchors, through the side of the door frame and hinges, and through the buck plate, and into the concrete block wall. So we put 4 Tapcons on every hinge. This should not be a problem. Every screw on all 3 hinges on the French Doors is a blue Tapcon screw. Then you can see in the video we also added several Tapcons going up the wall on the wide white painted section of the French Door frame, as that also was not adequately anchored to the concrete wall. This door would have easily failed inspection, had it been permitted, which it obviously was not, it was installed by an uninformed handyman in over his head. Previous installer lacked lacked even the most basic knowledge of structure and hurricane codes. If you saw the video of what we did at the front door of this same house: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3LPkIiEjK1-e7s there the door frame was already properly secured to the wood buck plates and there was not cement walls on either side of the door, so we only used Deckmate screws to tighten the hinges better, and embed deep into the buck plate. No Tapcons were used on the front door repair. That was enough to satisfy and align both front doors.

[@armandhasani7190]

It's not appropriate to put tapcon screws on the hinges. They do not lay flat with the holes.

[@zehuazhou3390]

Thank you for the video. My right french door is a little sagging, so there is a little 1/8 inch gap at the lower left corner of this right door, when it is fully closed. I do not see any loose screws on any hinges of that right door, so I wonder what else I should be looking at? When that right door is closed, I do see that the top hinge has a little gap while the bottom hinge is fully closed, so there is indeed something out of whack.

[@jeffostroff]

It sounds like your upper right hinge might be loose. If you tried to tighten all the screws and it has not effect, you may have to chisel out that upper hinge mortice deeper. Remove all 3 screws and swing the hinge away from the carved out mortice that it is screwed into. Then chisel the mortice a bit deeper, and then re-screw i the hinge with a the next side wider screw and longer screws to grab in and bite the wood better, and it should pull that upper hinge more to the side, straightening out the door.

[@capitalatmsusallc1646]

very good guys

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@donmittlestaedt1117]

Thanks

[@jeffostroff]

No problem glad to help!

[@theprofessordad9456]

Really enjoyed your video and the comments below. I seem to have a situation that wasn't addressed in the video and was wondering if you have experience with it. I have two sets of french doors with the same issue. When closed, if you look at the doors at the bottom, they sit flush to each other with good contact to the t-astragal. However, when you get to the top, there are not flush and the door is no contact to the t-astragal which causes outside air to leak in. I am a little lost as to what to do to correct this issue. All looks to be good from what I can see but obviously something is misaligned. Thank you for any advice to help me with this!

[@jeffostroff]

Test the door to see if it is plumb when closed, test the frame as well, maybe the door is slightly out of alignment. Make sure your reveal is perfect 1/8" all the away around. If you see the reveal line getting wider or skinner from top to bottom of the door, then it is not aligned right

[@jrmorrissey207]

Hey Jeff... The "comedy act" at 11:22 are a necessary pieces of the weatherization, and door installation, not a manufacturer shipping piece as you say. It's called a jamb seal and you should buy a new ones and reinstall them. They go on both sides of the french door (passive and active), and in the center. Also the hinge screws you said "are a joke" are perfectly fine. They're not there to anchor the door to the wall. They connect the hinge to the jamb. The installation instructions specifically say to remove one screw from each passive hinge (normally) and replace with a single supplied screw for each hinge.

[@jeffostroff]

Our building code here in Florida is different. They don't allow those tiny screws, which are not really up tot he task of holding heavy doors to wood frames, which is why all French Door sag. We ARE required in Florida to have at least one long Tapcon going through each hinge. Some cities require 2 full length Tapcons. But certainly out method is better than the tiny 3/4" #8 screws which the door manufacturers supply.

[@miked2246]

@jeffostroff Jeff, Great video! The problem i'm having is the door gap is too wide. How do I adjust the doors to make the gap to pull the doors closer together?

[@jeffostroff]

How big is the gap Mike? Assuming your gap is even, what you can do is get some wood shims in place at each of the hinge locations, which will push the 2 doors closer together.

[@miked2246]

@@jeffostroff Thanks for the quick response. So I measured the gap and think I have several issues. It appears the door frame wasn't properly shimmed when installed. The gap on the left door at the hinge is 1/8 at the top and bottom but about 1/2 inch in the middle. The right door has a similar bow but not as severe. The gap between the doors is 9/16 at the top and 7/16 at the bottom. I was hoping to shim the hinges but now I'm thinking I'm going to have to pull the trim off and see if I can shim the frame to square before doing anything. I suspect the original home owner (or installer) knew they had an issue as several of the frame screws have been removed. So what do I do if the gap is not even?

[@jeffostroff]

@@miked2246 I would remove the molding around the doors, then remove the to side frames with hinge cut outs on them. Those side frame pieces or what will have to be shims and you can use quarter inch thick poplar wood strips and home depot they sell them in 8' lengths. So you could please shims up-and-down the frame until you have a frame that is perfectly level Informs a good perfect 90ﾟ angle with the top of the door frame using a carpenter's square. Once that has been completed you can put the door frames back on re install the doors and make any minor adjustments.

[@MoneyManHolmes]

What can you do to hide all those new tapcon holes? Can you bondo or wood fill them and paint over?

[@jeffostroff]

Yes we use wood filler, then sand perfectly flat, then paint over them. If you were getting inspected, do not do anything until the inspector has signed off on it.

[@mesirowlawclerk6386]

Thanks, I am gonna do that tonite with my french door.

[@jeffostroff]

Great let us know how that works out we love to hear from people who use our videos to great success.

[@mesirowlawclerk6386]

@@jeffostroff It worked well. Used the 2-inch deck mate but it was not enough, so bought 3-inch deck mate and I will install them tonite. But still, after inserting 2-inch deck mate the door is working fine without touching each other.

[@jeffostroff]

@@mesirowlawclerk6386 That's great news! Like we showed in the video it really helps when you know all the dimensions of the stack-up of material between the door jamb, and the tip of where the screw is supposed to attach.

[@elijahroddy7870]

The center piece of my french exterior door has the bolts that go into the top and bottom. The problem is they are plastic and have broken off so I can no longer lock the other door into place. Is it possible to replace just that 2 in middle piece with bolts that are metal?

[@JohnADauer]

How much gap is supposed to be between 2 exterior French doors?

[@kencouturier4222]

I have a problem with my French door.. The left side that is normally not opened will not . THe slides that you push to pull the pegs out of the bottom sill won't move. florida and rusting I believe. Any idea how to fix

[@jeffostroff]

Get some PB Blaster and spray it on there a few times over 15 minutes, then use a flat head screwdriver against the tab of the unlatching slide on the bottom of the door, and see if that will force it up. Best to have one person wiggle the door a little to try to relieve the stress on that slider that is causing it to wedge into the hole so tight that it doe s not want to come out.

[@dustang05]

I have newly installed French doors. The non-locking with pins door bows out at the top. Doors wing into the house. Doesnt close all the way at the top,standing inside the house. What to check to fix? Thanks

[@jeffostroff]

put a spirit level along the top front edge of the door and see if the door is flat. If it is a case of the wood doors bent, then nothing you can do but replace them.

[@mcooper5929]

Can you advise me on actual door bent at bottom corner? Can it be straightened?

[@jeffostroff]

On small dents and dings I use Bondo to flatten it out

[@lanalovely1538]

Jeff do you have any advice on hanging french doors because I have 2 and I'm not sure of the part needed to hang them because the door jamb is already in place in the doorway I just need advice on what the part is that you put on top between them

[@jeffostroff]

Are you referring to the sliding flush bolt? It is attached to one door, and slides upward to lock into the top of the door jamb.

[@lanalovely1538]

@@jeffostroff I'm not too sure it's my first time with french doors I just don't know how to hang them or what hinges to use or what parts I need

[@lanalovely1538]

@@jeffostroff can you please help me :(

[@jeffostroff]

@@lanalovely1538 The doors usually come with hinge sets and flush bolts, check the doors before you buy. Often you can locate the door online and the PDF file for instructions will be there too, they should be clearly explained there.

[@lanalovely1538]

@@jeffostroff our doors came from an old tenants house our landlord gave them to us so I'm not too sure what parts are needed

[@johnmahoney6663]

I hear New England, loud and clear.

[@jeffostroff]

Stay wicked faaaaah apaaaaart when you go shopping for lobstaaah

[@ron8979]

Awesome video but do you ever do work in the odessa florida area?

[@jeffostroff]

No, I stay right here

[@lucrativepro]

What was that countersink tool to take the wood down called?

[@jeffostroff]

I use the Dewalt 3 piece kit set and love it, had it for years. homedepot.sjv.io/D97M2 None of the tool makers provide this is in a case anymore. Dewalt did years ago

[@grantdepoy2136]

The thing on the 2nd door that stops the first door is down way too far. How do I move it up? It prevents the 2nd door from opening. It's almost an inch too far down. Is that a factory installed item? I can't find any thing mounting it to the door.

[@jeffostroff]

Are you talking about the wood strip that runs all the way up the door from floor to top of door? I don't see how that can be wrong unless someone messed with it later. It should run the full length of the door, so it would be pretty hard to be an inch too low.

[@robbyrobrob1]

I"m struggling with the same issue. Noticed keyway upside down .... not good.

[@jeffostroff]

I hate it when the do the keyway upside down

[@EdStaniszewski]

Hi, i have a new french door that was put in. The right side has a big gap next to the middle hinge. The gap is about 5ft long and it levels out just before the bottom and top hinge. How do i fix?

[@jeffostroff]

It could be that you don't have a problem at all. As long as the door is working fine and if you put a spirit level on the door is it perfectly vertical? It might just be that the wood molding is slightly warped as it was installed around the door frame. But if you really do have to make adjustments the best way to do it would be to look at what you have to do to the hinges like the top and bottom hinge you might have to chisel out a little bit of the wood to make the hinge go deeper and further away from the door in order to straighten out that gap. But I am a big fan of not touching something if it isn't really broken

[@sbuzz5889]

exterior door molding?? not do able?? would have helped, but cut into a corner

[@jeffostroff]

Not sure what you are asking, fragmented sentences, not sure what you mean by cut into corner.

[@firedchiefpaul]

Hi, at 11:37 in the video, he reports that this foam pad is packing material and should have been removed. Most entry doors have this extra weather seal at the bottom corners to help keep air infiltration out where the side and bottom weather strips cross at right angles. IMHO, this "packing pad" that he removed should have stayed in place to stop air infiltration.

[@jeffostroff]

Air infiltration is stopped by your weather stripping. IF what you are saying is true, why didn't the manufacturer put this all the way around the door?

[@CooterELee]

I don't have any idea, but I bought 3 home depot masonite brand doors and they come with this piece separate and it probably said in instructions to stick it on there because I did.

[@richardkennedy9975]

How to adjust double door

[@Chuckplaysblues]

I have interior French doors which do not align at the bottom. One door “kicks out” from the other. Do you have a video showing how to align this type of problem? Thanks.

[@jeffostroff]

No video on that, but sounds like one door was mounted proud of the other door or it was not vertical like the other door so it sticks out. IF that is the case, the only remedy is remounting the door.

[@Chuckplaysblues]

@@jeffostroff Thanks… probably not mounted parallel, as you say. They align at the top. I will try remounting one door.

[@antonioaiello6588]

Not trying to nit pick but deckmate screws usually run a torx 25 or torx 20 bit not star.

[@jeffostroff]

Yes we tend to loosely call them star bits

[@jefferiadcock5508]

what if it is a brand new set of prehung doors? The hinges are not the problem

[@jeffostroff]

I have seen prehung doors where even at the factory they did not mortis the hinges deep enough I worked on a door a few months back where we had to remove the hinges and carve the mortis for the hinges a little deeper And then reinsert the hinges again

[@lucrativepro]

I was working on trying to fix the same doors at my renovation today... each hinge side was framed with a single 2x4... looks like I’ll be doing some framing. 😡🤬

[@jeffostroff]

It will be worth it when you are done and it's working better than a person who installed it

[@Airbender24B]

My upper locking quick release bolt won't budge. How can I fix a stuck upper lock?

[@jeffostroff]

The door may have settled over time, how does the reveal crack look all the way around the door, is it a nice even 1/8"? If not, maybe tightening the door hinges back down tight might move the door enough back into the original alignment that it wall take the pressure off that sliding bolt. So the door is maybe out of square and leaning on the bolt.

[@Airbender24B]

@@jeffostroff it is 1/8" towards the center but narrows down to 1/16" as you get closer to the hinge.

[@Airbender24B]

A delivery guy unlocked it with ease and gave me the opportunity to tighten the screws all around. Though I'm apprehensive about locking the flush bolt again.

[@Airbender24B]

It locks and unlocks just fine now. Thank you bro.

[@mariabonilla8983]

my doors are not sealing correctly. i have a gap at the bottom that the cold draft comes in and i have had resorted to roll and jamm puppy pads to keep the cold out.

[@jeffostroff]

They make a weather strip product for the bottom of doors, check home depot

[@lindagreen9379]

My French doors were bought with 1 door right side open only. The top of the locked door has detached from the screw in the frame, and the hinges also need to be aligned and tightened. Help.

[@jeffostroff]

Use the same strategies we show in this video to tighten the fames.

[@terrylucas8688]

Bottom lock pin doesn’t align with hole in bottom metal seal plate by about a 1/16”. How to fix?

[@jeffostroff]

You might have to make the hole a bit larger to make it fit, or maybe once you align the door the pin will align properly.

[@terrylucas8688]

@@jeffostroff Thanks!! Made the hole a little larger in the seal plate and a little deeper in the concrete. Works great now.

[@user-jw4qj5yz3w]

If you are not strong enough to do this on your own would you have to hire a contractor or are there trusted handy man services out there?

[@newyorktany]

I wonder how many things were done with mine the door won’t close and let’s all the air out 😩

[@jeffostroff]

Use hese techniques we showed you here, and you'll be enjoying a perfect door.

[@taylorbutts3713]

Isn't this door installed backwards? Hinges always inside and threshold always points out?

[@zehuazhou3390]

What's the tool you used at 12:18?

[@jeffostroff]

Here is the link to the countersink bits that you put into your drill and it makes those volcano shaped holes to hold the screw: homedepot.sjv.io/n146zo

[@OnTheGoKRO]

What would you charge to a random client… not family price. To fix a sagging door like this. The door in question isn’t from a door hinge tho…. So not as simple might be unable to quote it without knowing what the issue is. But on a “general issue” what would you charge lol 150$?

[@cherylmiddagh6361]

My doors are up good but something happened now the locks don’t line up

[@jeffostroff]

Maybe the locks were aligned when the doors were incorrectly aligned.

[@robertf.601]

GRK scews are much better than the deckmate screws

[@jeffostroff]

What specifically makes them better? Do you have any strength of material diagrams or other data?

[@cajintexas7751]

Hey! Those are my doors!

[@ryan9254]

Why in the world would someone put door hinge pins on the outside of their house? All I would need to break into that house is a screwdriver.

[@jeffostroff]

A handyman had installed these doors for the homeowner. We just came in and corrected the mounting, but yes we see this a lot.

[@barchief12]

Sometimes you have no choice if the floor on the inside is higher than the door frame area (such as my house)... if you have to put the hinges on the outside, you can get security hinges where the pin cannot be removed

[@nirradical]

11:20 OMG that's not "packing material"... those are weatherstripping corner door seals. That was painful to watch.

[@brianherald5756]

The doors are in backwards.thats a code violation

[@jeffostroff]

The doors are not in backwards they open outward. What makes you think this is backwards?

[@K5Kreations]

Sorry eyes keep focusing on how dirty the door is. What did you expect, I’m a woman?

[@jeffostroff]

LOL, yes they have 2 dogs there.

[@amp5646]

Don't mean the installer did it

[@jeffostroff]

They told me it was handyman installer that did it, yes in this case it does mean the installer did it

[@MrTeardropminpins]

Ff

[@barrystephens900]

Wow that house looks nasty

[@jeffostroff]

They have it looking better now

[@no_handle_required]

Why are the hinges on the outside? Doesn't seem very secure, no reason to have a lock if you can pull the pins out.

[@jeffostroff]

These are security hinges the pins don't come out