A door that won't latch, sticks at the top, or drags on the floor has three possible root causes. Each one has a different fix. Diagnosing the wrong cause first wastes an hour — here's the order we check, every time.
Quick summary: When your door won't close, the fix is almost always a single 3-inch screw in the top hinge — not planing, not shimming, just one screw.
Diagnose Where It's Sticking
Close the door slowly and watch where it contacts the frame first:
- As a result, top corner on the latch side — Hinge sag. The door is dropping because the top hinge screws are stripped or loose. This is 80% of sticking doors.
- In addition, along the top edge — Frame is out of square, or the door was trimmed at the bottom and is riding too high.
- Furthermore, bottom edge dragging — Hinge sag (most common), or a swollen door bottom (rare in Arizona's dry climate, but happens after monsoon leaks).
- Moreover, latch doesn't reach the strike plate — Strike plate has shifted, or the door has warped.
Fix 1: Tighten and Repair Hinges (Fixes 80% of Sticking Doors)
Time: 15-30 minutes. Cost: $0-$5.
- As a result, open the door and tighten all hinge screws on both the door and the frame side. Use a screwdriver, not a drill — a drill can over-torque and strip the hole.
- If screws spin freely (stripped holes), remove the screw. Insert two wooden toothpicks dipped in wood glue into the hole. Let the glue set for 10 minutes, then snap the toothpicks flush and drive the screw back in. The screw now bites into fresh wood.
- If the door still sags after tightening, replace the top hinge's short screws (typically 3/4") with a single 3" screw that reaches through the frame into the wall stud behind it. This pulls the hinge and door upward. One 3" screw fixes most sag — it's the single most effective door fix that exists.
Fix 2: Adjust the Strike Plate (Fixes Latch Misalignment)
Time: 15-20 minutes. Cost: $0.
If the latch bolt doesn't line up with the strike plate opening, the fix depends on how far off it is:
- For this reason, less than 1/8" off — File the strike plate opening with a metal file to enlarge it in the direction the latch needs to go. Takes 5 minutes.
- Consequently, more than 1/8" off — Remove the strike plate, chisel the mortise in the new direction, fill the old screw holes with toothpicks + glue, reposition the plate, and drive new screws. Takes 15-20 minutes.
Fix 3: Plane the Door (Last Resort)
Time: 30-45 minutes. Cost: $0 if you own a block plane.
If the door itself is binding against the frame and the hinges are tight, the frame may be out of square (common in older Phoenix homes with settling foundations). Use a block plane to shave the binding edge:
- In addition, close the door and mark where it contacts the frame with a pencil. Open and plane only the marked area.
- Furthermore, take thin passes — 1/32" at a time. Check fit after every 3 passes.
- Moreover, sand the planed edge smooth (120 grit), prime, and paint to seal the exposed wood.
Warning: Planing removes material permanently. If you plane too much, the door has a gap. Always fix hinges first — planing should be the last option, not the first.
When It's Not the Door
If multiple doors in the house suddenly stick or show gaps at the top, the issue may be foundation settling — not the doors. Look for diagonal cracks from door corners and cracks in exterior stucco. If you see these signs, a structural engineer assessment ($250-$400) is worth the investment before fixing individual doors.
If your door won't close after a fix attempt, check whether you addressed the root cause (hinge sag) rather than the symptom (binding edge).
Book a door repair — starting at $65 →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the quickest door wont close fix?
The fastest door wont close fix is replacing the top hinge screw with a 3-inch screw that reaches the stud. This corrects hinge sag in under 5 minutes.
Why does my door wont close fix only work temporarily?
If your door wont close fix keeps failing, the problem is likely a shifted frame (settling foundation) rather than hinge sag. Check for uneven gaps around all four sides.
Does humidity cause door wont close problems?
Yes — Arizona monsoon season swells wood doors. A seasonal door wont close fix is to plane 1/16 inch from the binding edge, then seal the raw wood to prevent recurring issues.
