Adjusting Exterior Door Gap

Adjust the gap by bending the hinges.

Adjusting exterior door gap.

Adjusting hinges on doors with big gaps. Strike adjustments if the gap along the side of your door is so large that the latch won t catch or barely catches adjusting the strike can reduce the gap to ensure proper operation. Examine the top corner of your door to see if it s catching on the. How to adjust door hinges method 1 of 3.

Reset the door so that it is level and plumb. If the sun isn t shining brightly enough against. It should be about an eighth of an inch and be consistent. This video shows how to fix when the door clearan.

There should be an even gap across the top and down the latch side. Open the hinge side gap by spreading the hinges. I ve seen shims used behind the hinge leaf to adjust the gap but bending the hinge takes less time. I can widen the gap in small increments.

If you have a large gap at the bottom of your door that may be helping the door to stay plumb. There are two ways to adjust the gap between the slab and the hinge jamb on a prehung door. Tightening hinges so your door closes. Determine which hinges need adjusting.

I don t mind the top space being slightly larger than the side spaces as long as the spaces are consistent. If the problem is the opposite that the gap between the frame and door on the hinge side is too large chop the hinge deeper into the door and or frame to close the gap slightly try keeping them flush if possible so start by chopping in the one that sits most proud if at all. Often you will see that the door on the hinge side is tighter against the frame at the bottom of the door. Check that the stud walls on either side are plumb before you get into bigger issues.

The extra room allows for future settlement and adjustment. Remember that when the gap is adjusted on one side it affects the gap on the other side as well. Hinge shims close the exterior door and look for the largest gap around the door. Open the door and place a wooden block or.

Shim it and nail it and hang the trim. For example if your door hinges are on the left side of your door and the gaps.