Need recommendations for Handyman in N. Rlaeigh to fix exterior doors. (Raleigh: new home, purchase)

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Does anybody have recommendations for a Handyman or general contractor in N. Raleigh that can help a clueless soul out with very minor job repairing some poorly hung exterior doors? Or if you can point me to a website with DIY info on how to correct issues with exterior doors that don’t close / seal properly I would greatly appreciate it. The back door no longer latches into the strike plate when I close it. I can also see an uneven gap between the top of the door and the top of door frame (The gap grows wider the further out from the hinges you go). On the front door I can see an uneven gap all along the sides of the door where it is supposed to meet the Door Jamb. I don’t know if the Door frame is crooked or the if the doors were just hung improperly and just need a simple adjustment, but I would love to get them fixed so they close properly and I get a good solid Seal when they are closed so I can heat / cool my home more efficiently.

I know it is a minor repair and it isn’t rocket science, but I have no clue as to how to go about fixing a poorly hung / sealed door. I am worried if I start messing with the hinges I might only make the problem worse. I am hoping this is a quick fix that can be done by a handyman at a minimal expense.

Feel free to DM me if you have anybody you can recommend.

[ducter]

If this is a new home look under the hinges where they are screwed to the door, sometimes there are cardboard like shims there that can be removed the adjust the gap. This is an easy for you to adjust it a little short of rehanging the door. Search the internet for hanging a door.

[sacredgrooves]

....or add a shim to the lower hinge to even the horizontal gap if the top hinge is not shimmed. The strike plate would need adjust to allow the door to latch, although shimming the hinge may alleviate that also. There is rarely a door that seats plumb in a frame, be it the frameis crooked or the door has expanded/contracted (wood doors)
If you have any detailed questions feel free to PM me.

[MikeJaquish]

I don't have a great concept of your front door issue.
I would hazard a guess that your back door was not properly secured.

It shouldn't be a big deal to fix.

The hinges should have had one screw removed on the jamb side of the hinge, and a long screw installed that is fastened into the framing of the door. The little screws will hold the door in the jamb, but the jamb will not support the door forever. The door needs the support of the framing.

Try removing each of the screws, one at a time, from the jamb side of the top hinge, reinstalling them as you go. One of the screws should be at least 2.5 to 3" long. When you find it, don't back it out....Try snugging it up a little bit, as an adjustment. This should draw your door into the jamb side a little an possibly even up the gap at the top.
There should be a long one in the other two hinges also, and might need to be tightened a little too.
If you don't find any long screws, you have likely found the problem with your sagging door.

The long screw may be holding the shims in place. That is why you don't want to remove it entirely when you find it.

Have fun. No beer until done...

[VickiR]

Wow...with all these handy"men" around, why don't one of you just go over to NRG's house, help him fix the door and I'm sure he'll happily supply the beer!

If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to call!

No, Mike, being a delegator is NOT the same as being bossy!!! I knew thats what you were thinkin!

Vicki

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by VickiR

Wow...with all these handy"men" around, why don't one of you just go over to NRG's house, help him fix the door and I'm sure he'll happily supply the beer!

If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to call!

No, Mike, being a delegator is NOT the same as being bossy!!! I knew thats what you were thinkin!

Vicki

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I didn't realize beer could be so useful in getting home repairs done!

I plan on tackling my door issues this weekend. Maybe I don't need a handyman after all!

[gastric]

I just replaced two external doors on my 9+ year old house due to similar issues that you mention. The builders didn't use anything to secure the doors to the house other than the TWO long hinge screws Mike referred to, two long strike plate screws, and a handful of nails on the jam side and through the outside brick moulding.

The replacement door needed some serious shims under the sill (foot plate) on the hinge side to even up gaps exactly as you described. That evened the gaps at the top and bottom of the door and now it seals well and the jam lines up with the strike plates and all is well in door land.

However, I have no idea how you'd easily correct that issue in an existing door outside of completely removing it then reinstalling it correctly.

I personally like to try everything myself at least a couple times and chalk it all up to experience and an effort to save money. You can usually totally blow the job and have to re-purchase parts/etc. and re-do the job 2-3X and still come out ahead of hiring a professional. And in the end many of the supposed pros don't do a much better job than you can yourself anyway.