Fix a Sagging Door: Toothpicks, Longer Screws and Bent Hinges

A door that hits or rubs at the top of the jamb can often be fixed with three simple steps, each tried in turn until the gap evens out. In the example, the gap at the top was quite a bit bigger than at the bottom, so the door was tilted down.

Fix 1: Tighten the hinges

Start with the top hinge and check whether it is loose. In the example the top hinge tightened up well, but the middle hinge screw just spun. Take that screw out, put a toothpick in the hole, break it off, and put the screw back in. A badly stripped hole may need two toothpicks. Use a hand screwdriver rather than a drill so the hole isn't stripped further. The door closed better afterward, but the gap at the top was still narrow compared with the strike side and the bottom.

Fix 2: A longer screw into the framing

The presenter calls this the magic bullet solution and says it has worked for him at least 30 times. Replace the back screw in the hinge with a 3 inch or 2 1/2 inch screw, with a head size matching the screw removed. Angle it slightly toward the framing. The two front screws only go into drywall. Don't get carried away driving it, because snapping the head off causes trouble. The door looked considerably better and the gap began to even out, but was not quite there.

Fix 3: Bend the hinge loops

The gap between the hinge plates at the top was bigger than at the middle or bottom. Remove the top hinge pin, using another door pin or a screw bit such as a Robertson bit, and a hammer. The loops on the door side sit past the loops on the jamb, so they need bending toward the door. Use an adjustable wrench, snug on the loop with the moving part pointed away from you, and bend. The bend should match the distance the door needs to move: about a sixteenth of an inch, maybe slightly under. Bend all three loops the same, with some trial and error, then put the pin back. Lining the door up by the knob lets it fall into place, though it may need a tap with a hammer once down.

Afterward the gap was even all the way and the door swung well.