Door is sagging. How should I fix it?

Submitted by whosflyingthisthing_ t3_z5vqxl in DIY

A door in my rental apartment is sagging and I’d like to put it back into place. The hinge is clearly on an angle. My first thought was to place a wedge under the open side of the door and pry it up, but that seems like I would do more damage than good. Any advice is much appreciated!

Edit: I removed the door and screwed the bottom hinge out one turn. That definitely reduced the sagging but it’s still not great. I’ll remove the door again and tighten in the top one and hopefully that helps :)

Edit 2: Door was fixed by adjusting how far the door half of the hinge is screwed in. I simply screwed in the top hinge one rotation further and the bottom hinge one turn out.

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Comments

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Aquamarine_Androgyny t1_ixyfubk wrote

Is the door getting caught on the frame when you open and close it?

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whosflyingthisthing_ OP t1_ixyjarh wrote

Yes. It still closes but rubs against the frame at the top

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Aquamarine_Androgyny t1_iy0slq6 wrote

If you can't find a way to straighten the door out via the pins then you probably will just have to take a sander to the part that rubs against the frame. Just sand the top edge of the door (no need to take the door off) little by little until it closes without rubbing. Sometimes the problem is just that the frame has started to sag and there isn't much you can do about it

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ThatGuyFromDaBoot t1_ixzmwhx wrote

Can't quite tell the source of the sag in the pics. In my experience it is usually from the hinge pulling loose from the frame or weight pulling the frame away from the opening itself. I usually replace one screw on that side of the hinge with a 2"-3" screw that reaches all the way to the wall framing.

If the hinge is bending though it needs to be replaced.

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shervmeister t1_ixzo4d7 wrote

Yes, grab a drill (or better yet, an impact) and suck those screws in tight. I replaced all my door's upper hinge's middle screw with a 3" because they're just heavier doors and needed the support

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l397flake t1_ixzwdyp wrote

Always call the landlord, it’s his property.

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Knichols2176 t1_iy10dbb wrote

As a landlord I appreciate a person taking care of odd little things if they can. I have developed this kind of relationship with my renters and in exchange we sharply discount rent and allow any items needed to be reduced from rent. I reduce rent by a lot. If they mess up a door I’m ok. I can replace entire door and frame for $150 if needed. I’m more than willing to drop rent to have peace.

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l397flake t1_iy4p752 wrote

Maybe there are other problems with this to consider, like rotted trimmers. My tenants pay rent I provide good housing. I want stuff like this fixed by my guys, that way I know it’s fixed properly.

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Knichols2176 t1_iy6t5ur wrote

I think it’s because my tenants have been my tenants for years and I’ve developed the trust of their help and that they won’t do anything they can’t do.

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extra_specticles t1_ixy7s7y wrote

Do you have pictures of the overall door and doorway please?

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1tonsoprano t1_ixyv93q wrote

Watching as I have the same problem with the same type of hinges

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jsm7464 t1_ixz7ljh wrote

You can put a shim behind the hinge to make small adjustments. I usually use zip ties cut into 3” pcs. Then use painters tape to hold them in place. If you put the shim near the door stop. It will pull the door away from latch side and towards the top of the door frame. If you shim towards the barrel side of hinge. It will push the door towards the latch side and the floor. It sounds like you need to shim the top hinge at the stop. Then shim the bottom near the barrel.

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JRokafela t1_ixy7u9t wrote

Take out the top and middle hinge pins leaving the bottom one in place with the door closed. Pry the door up from the bottom and place a shim in between the door and the jamb at the top, then straighten the rings on the top and middle hinges, put the hinge pins back in and remove the shim.

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JRokafela t1_ixy7xov wrote

Nevermind, I commented before looking at the pic... wrong type of hinge for that fix...

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