Repairing Guides

how to repair a door latch hole

by Shana Oberbrunner Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Place a piece of solid wood over one side of the hole.
  • On the other side of the hole, spray foam insulation into the cavity. Let the foam insulation expand until it's bulging out from the hole. ...
  • Use a utility knife to shave the foam on both sides of the door. ...
  • Scrape the compound so that it's flush with the rest of the door. Sand the dried drywall compound with the 120-grit sandpaper.
  • Prime and paint the patch in the wood door. Tint the primer to the shade of the wood door and work in circular motions from the center of the patch ...

Part of a video titled Door Won't Latch—3 Easy Fixes! - YouTube
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So I carefully paint it there with my thumb. Then. I'm gonna take a pencil to mark the new screwMoreSo I carefully paint it there with my thumb. Then. I'm gonna take a pencil to mark the new screw hole locations. I just draw a little circle. Inside the screw hole with my lid.

Full Answer

How to remove and replace a door latch?

Part Two: Un-Sticking Sticky Doors

  1. Remove the Strike Plate. With a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the strike plate from the door frame. ...
  2. Widen the Hole. Use a utility knife to widen the hole which that the strike plate covers.
  3. Adjust the Strike Plate. Next, you'll need to bend back the part of the plate that curves into the hole. ...
  4. Reattach. ...

How to open door with stuck latch?

Opening a Stuck Door

  1. Try Jiggling the Door. You’ve probably already tried this several times, but it’s one of the most common solutions to getting a stuck door to open.
  2. Remove the Door Hinges. If you are stuck on the inside, the simplest and quickest thing you can do is to take the door off by removing it from ...
  3. Use Bobby Pins or a Credit Card. ...
  4. Take the Doorknob Off. ...

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How to repair a faulty broken door handle latch?

You can tighten a simple interior mortise lockset like the one shown at left as follows:

  1. Loosen the setscrew on the knob’s shank.
  2. Hold the knob on the other side of the door, and turn the loose knob clockwise until it fits snugly. ...
  3. If this does not help, remove the knob and check the spindle; if the spindle is worn, it must be replaced. ...

How to fix a door that won't latch?

There are three simple steps I follow when troubleshooting ways an interior door that is not latching:

  • Step 1:Tightening The Hinges
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  • This is the most straightforward fix and thus should be the first thing to check.
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  • Step...
  • Step 2: File The Strike Plate Hole
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  • If tightening the hinges does not repair the latching problem, try filing the strike...
  • Step 3: Adjusting The Hinges

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How do you fix a strike plate hole on a door?

Move the Strike PlateYou can move the strike plate up or down and in or out.Use a sharp chisel to enlarge the strike plate mortise. Then hold the strike plate in place and drill new 1/16-in. ... Install the strike plate and fill the gap in the mortise with wood filler. Remove the strike plate to paint or finish the patch.

How do you fix a screw hole on a door latch?

0:338:30How to Fix Loose Door Latch, Door Strike, Door Frame! Cheap and ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can get like a one inch screw. And you can screw that screw. Directly back into those holes. AndMoreYou can get like a one inch screw. And you can screw that screw. Directly back into those holes. And it's gonna find some wood. Back there where the screw can bite onto.

Can you fix a door latch?

1:2013:30How To Fix A Door That Won't Latch - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you do then what we can do is just grab a simple Phillips head screwdriver. And go through andMoreIf you do then what we can do is just grab a simple Phillips head screwdriver. And go through and try to tighten each of these screws. Now this is pretty tight but I do have the screw on the bottom.

How do you fill a hole in a door lock?

0:282:42How to Replace a Door Knob & Fill the Wood : Door Installation & RepairsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNext we're going to take our wood filler and fill the holes located where the plunger was a lot ofMoreNext we're going to take our wood filler and fill the holes located where the plunger was a lot of times this is the spot that gets tripped out so we'll just squeeze some wood filler back in.

How do you fill a hole in a screw again?

2:475:43How to Repair Stripped Screw Holes. GOOD ONE! This Video Addresses ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the first thing you do is just with a bit of carpenters glue just squeeze some in the hole. Don'tMoreSo the first thing you do is just with a bit of carpenters glue just squeeze some in the hole. Don't get too crazy squeeze a bit in probably with your finger.

How do you fill an old door latch?

0:564:16How to Patch a Doorknob Hole With a Dutchman | This Old HouseYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd also this edge that's broken to do that i've cut a template out of a piece of medium densityMoreAnd also this edge that's broken to do that i've cut a template out of a piece of medium density fiberboard i'm going to line it up with the edge of the door.

How do you fix a broken door frame latch?

3:206:54How To Fix A Kicked In Door / Forced Entry Situation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI've got screws at the top. The middle and the bottom so I think my doorframe patch is secure enoughMoreI've got screws at the top. The middle and the bottom so I think my doorframe patch is secure enough the next thing I need to do is make the cutouts for the door strikes.

Are all door latches the same?

In the United States, there are two common backsets for residential door locks: 2 3/8 inches and 2 3/4 inches. Pack your locks with a 2-3/8-inch or 2-3/4-inch latch, depending on which backset you specify. Dummy sets have no latch and are surface-mounted so you can install a dummy set wherever you choose on the door.

How do you shave a door latch?

Using a rotary tool Shave off the inside of the strike plate with a rotary tool and a metal-cutting carbide bit. Remove a small amount and test the latch by closing the door. Continue removing metal until the door latch catches.

How do you repair a hole in a solid wood door?

Fill large or irregular holes with epoxy wood filler mixed with hardener. Trowel it into the hole for a smooth surface. Leave the patch with a slight concave center and let it dry. Once the filler has hardened, remove the C-clamp and the wood on the other side of the door.

How do you fix a stripped screw hole in a hollow door?

4:559:12Fixed: Repairing Screw Holes in a Hollow Core Door - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou may need to find a small dowel or something else that will fit in the hole. But for me a skewerMoreYou may need to find a small dowel or something else that will fit in the hole. But for me a skewer was the perfect. Size i just cut down a couple of really small pieces.

How do you fix a misalign screw hole in wood?

3:067:32How to Move Screw Holes Slightly - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLife likely to be softer than the actual window frame itself I'm now going to just gently tap thatMoreLife likely to be softer than the actual window frame itself I'm now going to just gently tap that match into the hole. This is why I wanted to make match take a little bit shorter than the screw.

A rotary tool solves door problems fast

When a house settles, doors sometimes stop latching properly because one side of the frame has sagged. You can fix the problem easily with a rotary tool and a metal-cutting bit.

Photo 1: Widen latch opening

Shave off the inside of the strike plate with a rotary tool and a metal-cutting carbide bit. Remove a small amount and test the latch by closing the door. Continue removing metal until the door latch catches.

CAUTION!

Grinding metal can throw sparks and fragments into the air, so wear safety glasses with side shields, or full goggles when grinding. Otherwise, use a small round file.

How to check if a door latch is missing?

To test where contact is occurring, apply lipstick or a similar marking material to the door latch. Put a strip of masking or painter’s tape on the strike plate, then close the door. Then, open the door. The lipstick should have left a mark where the latch contacted around the strike plate hole.

Why won't my door latch?

A: When a door won’t latch, the latch is missing the hole in the strike plate on the door frame. This misalignment often happens with frequent use of a door, as hinges can allow a door to sag over time.

How to fix a sagging door?

1. Tighten the hinges using a screwdriver. Older doors and doors that are frequently used may experience sagging at the hinges as gravity pulls the door down. This changes the swing of the door and can result in a misaligned door latch that contacts below the strike plate hole.

What to use to fill in holes in door frame?

A wood filler that matches the color of the door frame is a good option to quickly fill old screw holes and gaps in the door frame that are left from moving the strike plate or shimming the hinges. A paintable wood filler and a coat of paint or stain that matches the rest of the door frame completes the repair.

What to do when cardboard door is in?

When the cardboard is in, replace the hinge and check the door . Shimming typically corrects the alignment of the door if the problem is related to sunken hinges. The extra material adds an additional cushion to support the hinge and balance the door.

Can you tighten hinges on a door?

If tightening the hinges or using longer screws to adjust the alignment of the door fixes the issue, then the problem is solved. However, if you shimmed or sand down the hinges, enlarged the strike plate hole, or moved the strike plate, then there may be some clean-up and touch-up required to finish the job.

How big is a hole in a wood door after removing a dead bolt?

It's no small task to repair a wood door after removing a dead bolt latch. The lock cylinder leaves a hole over 2 inches in diameter completely through the door, and there's an additional hole through the door edge where the bolt used to reside.

What is a door reinforcement plate?

Often made of an ornamental metal such as brass, nickel or wrought iron, the plates can either be part of a new locking mechanism or a separate fixture that mounts securely in or over the holes left by the old deadbolt.

What is the best material to fill holes in wood?

Among the most weather-resistant and durable are those made with polyester or epoxy resin. Generally, these two-part products are mixed in smaller batches and built up in layers to fill the hole. They are similar to auto body filler, which is also frequently recommended for large holes in wood.

Do you have to paint a dowel door?

You'll probably have to paint the door, though, because the exposed end grain of the dowel will look quite different and stain much darker than the surrounding wood. If you're handy and have a router with the proper templates, cut a piece of wood with the face grain exposed, called a dutchman in woodworking parlance.

Can you use a dowel to fill a hole in a door?

For durability and structural integrity, it's hard to beat real wood when filling a large hole in a door. A dowel of the proper diameter works well for the rounded hole in the door edge left by the bolt. Although a bit harder to come by, a large dowel makes a stout filler for the lock cylinder hole as well.

Why use silicon bronze screws on exterior doors?

If this is an exterior door and you leave the screws in place, consider using silicon bronze screws so as to prevent corrosion. And stainless won't work, because stainless requires contact with oxygen to be, well, stainless. Without access to oxygen, stainless steel develops what is called crevice corrosion:

Can you use screws to seal holes in a Dutchman door?

Once the epoxy sets, you can remove the screws and then counterbore the holes and install wood plugs with glue (not dowels) to seal the holes.

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