How to Fix a Sticking Internal Door

A door that catches on the carpet or refuses to latch is one of those daily annoyances you stop consciously noticing — until it's fixed. Nine times out of ten it's a 20-minute job with a screwdriver, a pencil and a sharp block plane.

Step 1 — Find where it's binding

Close the door slowly and watch. Run a folded piece of paper around the gap. Anywhere the paper grips, that's the rub. Mark it with a pencil line on the door edge so you don't lose the spot.

Step 2 — Check the hinges first

Before you plane anything, tighten every hinge screw. Half of all sticking doors are simply dropped hinges. If a screw spins, pack the hole with matchsticks and wood glue, let it set, then re-drive. You'll be amazed how often that alone solves it.

Step 3 — Latch not catching?

If the door swings freely but won't stay shut, look at the strike plate. A little shiny mark shows where the latch is hitting. File the plate or move it 2–3mm — usually downward as houses settle.

Step 4 — Plane as a last resort

Only plane the door if hinges and strike are sorted and it's still binding. Take it off, plane the latch edge (never the hinge edge), seal the bare timber and re-hang. Two or three light passes is almost always enough.

If you'd rather we just did it — most of our list days include three or four of these tucked between the bigger jobs.