How to Fix a Sticking Door in an Old Exeter Home

Doors in old houses don't behave like doors in new builds. They swell, shrink, drop on their hinges, and generally have minds of their own. Here's how to work with them.

Why Old Doors Stick (It's Not Just the Door)

In a Victorian or Edwardian house, the problem might be:

• The door - Swollen from moisture
• The frame - Shifted over 100+ years
• The hinges - Worn, loose, or painted over
• The house itself - Settlement causing walls to move
• All of the above - Usually

Before you do anything drastic, identify the actual problem.

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Step 1: Diagnose Where It's Sticking

Close the door slowly and watch exactly where it catches.

Top corner: Top hinge is probably loose or dropped Bottom corner: Bottom hinge issue, or frame has shifted Full edge: Door has swollen, or frame has moved Won't latch: Strike plate misaligned

The chalk trick: Rub chalk or lipstick on the door edge. Close it, open it, and look for transfer marks on the frame showing contact points.

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Step 2: Check the Hinges (Do This First)

90% of old door problems are hinge problems.

Check for:

• Loose screws (tighten them)
• Worn hinge pins (door will feel wobbly)
• Paint buildup stopping full movement
• Hinges pulled away from frame

Fix loose screws:

Old screw holes are often stripped. Options:

1. Use longer screws (75mm reach fresh wood)
2. Fill holes with wooden matchsticks + PVA glue, let dry, redrive
3. Pack with cocktail sticks and glue

Fix paint buildup:

1. Remove hinge screws one at a time
2. Clean paint off hinge leaf and recess
3. Refit

Worn hinges: If the hinge pin is worn, the door drops. New hinges are cheap - replace like-for-like.

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Step 3: Adjust the Frame (Yes, Really)

In old houses, the frame is rarely where it started.

Check for:

• Is the frame still plumb (vertical)?
• Has one side moved more than the other?
• Are there gaps at top or bottom?

Minor adjustments:

• Deepen or shim hinge mortises to bring door back to plumb
• Move strike plate to where the latch actually hits
• Add cardboard behind hinge to push door out

Major problems: If the frame is badly out of square, you're looking at rehanging the door properly or accepting compromise.

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Step 4: Work on the Door

Only plane or sand the door after you've sorted hinges and frame.

The conservative approach:

1. Identify exactly where it rubs
2. Remove minimum material
3. Sand first (less aggressive than planing)
4. Plane only if sanding isn't enough

Important: Old doors are valuable. Don't butcher a Victorian four-panel door. A skilled adjustment beats aggressive planing.

Seal after planing: Any bare wood MUST be sealed or the door will absorb moisture again.

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Dealing With Seasonal Changes

Old solid timber doors move with the seasons. Accept this.

The practical approach:

1. Fit the door for its worst (most swollen) state - usually mid-summer in Devon
2. Accept some gaps in winter
3. Use draught excluders for winter gaps
4. Maintain seals and finish to minimise movement

Don't:

• Plane it to fit perfectly in winter (it'll stick in summer)
• Plane it perfectly for summer (gaps in winter)
• Expect perfection from a 120-year-old door

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Special Considerations for Old Doors

Panelled Doors

The panels are meant to float - they expand and contract within the frame. If they've been painted stuck:

• The door can crack rather than flex
• This gets worse over time

Fix: When repainting, don't glue panels in place with thick paint.

Heavy Doors

Old doors are often solid hardwood - much heavier than modern doors. This means:

• Hinges wear faster
• Better quality hinges help
• Three hinges are better than two

Mortice Locks

Old mortice locks are often part of the problem:

• Lock may have shifted inside the door
• Keep (frame plate) may need repositioning
• Old locks may need servicing

Fire Door Conversions

Some old doors have been upgraded to fire doors (often in flats). These have special requirements - don't adjust without understanding the regs.

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When to Accept It

Some old doors will never close perfectly. If:

• The house has moved significantly
• The frame is out of square
• The door is warped

You might need to:

• Live with it
• Replace the door (keep the old one if it's original)
• Have the frame rebuilt (serious work)

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When to Call Someone

Get help if:

• Multiple doors affected (could indicate structural movement)
• It's an original door you don't want to damage
• You've tried the basics and nothing works
• Fire door adjustments needed

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Old door driving you mad? I work with period properties every week. Call 01392 964094 or get a quote.