Owning Historic Charlotte Homes
How Does Aging Impact Your Interior Doors?
As homes age, they have a tendency to settle, which can create some issues for homeowners–some larger issues and some simply frustrating. This month’s tips are all about interior doors and easy fixes for them as they age.
1. Why won’t that door stay open?
Remove one of the pins from the hinge and lay it down on its side on an old board. Take a hammer and hit the pin in the center until it has a slight bend. Be sure not to over bend the pin or you will not be able to place it back into hinge holes. Re-install the pin back in the hinge and see if that solves the issue; if not remove another pin and repeat the process.
2. Now, the door won’t close!
Most homes will settle and sometimes a door will begin to hit the door frame, causing it to rub the paint off or the door will simply not close at all. Make sure that all hinge screws are tight. If not, tighten them and see if that solves the problem. If that doesn’t work, from the inside of the frame, pull the door towards you and locate where the door is hitting the frame. Mark that area on the door. Then, remove the door and use a hand plane or a sander to remove the excess wood from the door where you marked the troubled area. Re-install the door and see if it now closes freely and touch up the area with paint where the the planing or sanding was done.
More home seller tips can be found at www.ListMyCharlotteHome.com
Charlotte Real Estate Wonk
