Diagnose the Problem First

Before grabbing tools, observe exactly where the door is catching or dragging:

  • Door drags at the bottom: Classic sign of a sagging door — likely loose hinges
  • Door sticks at the top on the latch side: Also sagging — hinge side has dropped
  • Door sticks along one edge consistently: May be swollen timber from humidity or a structural shift
  • Latch does not engage properly: Strike plate misalignment — adjust the plate position

Fix 1: Tighten Loose Hinge Screws (Try This First)

  1. 1

    Tighten all hinge screws

    Open the door and tighten every screw in both the door-side and frame-side hinges. Use a screwdriver (not a drill — too easy to strip). Often one or two screws are the culprit. Close the door and test.

  2. 2

    Fix stripped screw holes with toothpicks

    If screws turn without tightening (the hole is stripped), remove the screw. Dip 2–3 wooden toothpicks in wood glue and push them into the hole until full. Snap off flush. Let dry for 1 hour. The toothpicks give the screw new wood to grip. Reinsert the screw — it should now hold firmly.

  3. 3

    Use longer screws in the top hinge

    Replace the standard short screws (typically 25–35mm) in the top hinge with 75mm screws that penetrate through the door frame into the structural stud behind. This dramatically improves hinge strength and is the most durable fix for a sagging door.

Fix 2: Plane the Door (If Timber Has Swollen)

If tightening hinges does not fix the sticking, the timber door itself may have swollen. Mark where it sticks by sliding a piece of cardboard around the gap — it catches at the problem area. Remove the door from its hinges (tap out the hinge pins with a screwdriver and hammer). Use a hand plane or belt sander to remove a small amount of material at the sticking point. Rehang and test. Work in small increments — removing too much creates a gap.

Fix 3: Adjust the Strike Plate

If the latch does not engage the strike plate cleanly, loosen the strike plate screws and shift the plate slightly up, down or toward the latch. File the opening in the strike plate larger if needed. This is easier than planing the door and solves most latch-engagement issues.

Seasonal movement is normalTimber doors swell in humid conditions (summer) and shrink in dry conditions (winter). If a door only sticks seasonally, fixing it in summer may create a gap in winter. Try tightening hinges first and planing only if the door sticks badly enough to affect daily use year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes for hinge-related sagging — tightening or replacing hinge screws is done with the door in place. Strike plate adjustment is also done in place. Planing the door edge requires removal. For most cases (loose hinges), removal is not necessary and the fix takes under 15 minutes.
No — this is seasonal timber swelling from humidity and usually resolves as conditions dry out. If it consistently sticks badly each year, slightly planing the sticking edge when the door is at its worst will solve it permanently. Painting all edges of timber doors (including the top and bottom) seals the wood and dramatically reduces seasonal swelling.