Guides
Seasonal Door Alignment Problems
Updated 2 min read
The short answer
Interior doors stick in summer because humidity rises and the wood swells, closing the gap between the door and the frame. In winter, humidity drops and the door shrinks, creating visible gaps. In most cases, adjusting the hinge position resolves the problem without planing. Only persistent rubbing that does not self-correct seasonally warrants removing material from the door.
Diagnosing the problem
| Symptom | Likely cause | First fix | Second fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door sticks at top latch side | Door sagging on hinges | Tighten hinge screws | Add longer screws into stud |
| Door sticks along full height | Door swollen from humidity | Wait for humidity to drop | Plane 1–2mm off the edge |
| Gap visible at top in winter | Door shrunk across width | Normal — wait for spring | Adjust hinge to re-center |
| Door rattles in frame | Gap too large year-round | Adjust hinge to re-center | Add weatherstripping |
| Door rubs at floor | Floor settled or new flooring | Trim bottom of door | Check floor level |
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How to adjust a door hinge
Most door alignment issues are solved by adjusting the three-way concealed hinges common on modern doors, or by repositioning the standard hinges.
- Tighten existing screwsA screw that has loosened allows the hinge to shift. Tighten all screws on all hinges first — this resolves about half of all door alignment issues.
- Use longer screwsIf the existing screws spin without tightening, the hole is stripped. Replace with 65mm screws that reach into the wall stud behind the frame. This pulls the hinge (and the door) back into alignment.
- Adjust the hinge cup (concealed hinges)European concealed hinges have three adjustment screws: lateral (side to side), depth (in and out), and vertical (up and down). A quarter-turn per screw makes a visible difference.
- Shim behind the hinge (standard hinges)A piece of cardboard or thin wood behind the hinge leaf adjusts the door position. Adding material behind the top hinge tilts the door; behind the bottom hinge corrects a different gap.
- Check the frameIf hinge adjustment does not resolve the problem, the frame may not be plumb. A level held against the frame reveals whether the issue is the door or the frame.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
- Should I plane my door or adjust the hinges?
- Adjust hinges first. It takes five minutes, costs nothing, and is reversible. Only plane a door if hinge adjustment cannot resolve the rub, or if the door has been sticking in the same spot for more than one seasonal cycle.
- How much can I plane off a door?
- You can safely remove 1–2mm from the edge of a solid-core door without affecting its structural integrity. For hollow-core doors, planing is limited — the skin is thin and the core is void. Check the door construction before removing material.
- Why do my new doors all stick?
- New homes settle and new wood acclimates. If the house is less than two years old, seasonal door issues are extremely common and usually self-correct. Adjust the hinges to keep the doors functional and revisit in spring.
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