KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN – FIXES FOR A STICKY DOOR
KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN – FIXES FOR A STICKY DOOR
With the humidity coming into play full force now is the time to check your doors and seals.
Testing the fit:
Start with one area at a time. Sprinkle powered chalk on the top or edge of the door. Slowly close the door until you feel the door start to bind. The chalk should leave a trace where the door first makes contact. You may fix a larger spot than you think. You can do this by scraping paint or planing. The high spot often extends further than you think.
Many people don’t properly strip doors before painting. This can result in a door with many coats of paint too large for the opening. Sanding with rough sandpaper can cut through paint quickly.
Planning a door in summer is the best solution. Only take off enough to close the door. If you take off too much you may have a draft problem in winter.
Loose hinges are often caused by stripped screws. You can get longer screws or fill the hole with a wood dowel or toothpicks coated with glue. If the leaf is not fitting properly remove it and either pare off wood or add a thin piece depending on the problem.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
