The Simple Hinge Adjustment Trick That Works On Any Door

If your doorway has uneven gaps between the frame and the door itself, it might be time to consider fixing the hinges. If you don't adjust the door to ensure that it lines up perfectly, it can slowly slide into contact with the jamb or otherwise create a bind, which can damage the wood and make the door difficult to open and close. Not checking the alignment and balancing the hinges is one of the most common mistakes many make when installing a new door. Sometimes, patching things up might be as simple as tightening the hinge screws. However, that's not always the case.

Adjusting a door so that it perfectly aligns with the jambs and header of its frame might seem like a challenging task, but there's an easy way to make it less of a hassle. TikTok user @autodoorandhardware has a great trick for fixing misaligned doors that doesn't require removing the hinges or reinstalling the door itself. All you'll have to do to follow this method is pop out your hinge pin with a nail punch and hammer, then slowly bend the hinge knuckles toward the lock-side of your door with a wrench. This should close the gap on the hinge side and make a larger gap on the knob side. This project might also be the perfect chance for you to learn how to properly use WD-40 to fix your squeaky door hinges.

If your door is coming into contact with the jamb opposite the hinges, carefully bending your hinges can quickly fix the problem. While some believe that this can damage hinges, many find that it's a simple solution and use this method often. Begin by placing a wooden wedge below the door to stop it from shifting and remove the hinge pin with a nail punch. Next, bend the hinge knuckles as gently as possible towards the knob side with an adjustable crescent wrench. You can use a shim to ensure the gap is even on the knob side of the door. If the gap is only near the top of the door, only alter the top hinge. If the extra space is at the bottom instead, only bend the lower hinge. Adjust as needed before replacing the pin.

To fix a door that's too tight on the hinge side, you'll need to use a different method: placing EZ Plastic Shims under the hinges instead of bending the knuckles. First, loosen the screws on the jamb-side hinge leaves. Then, close the door and slip the shims underneath the loosened leaves. In some cases, you might need to layer the shims to cover the gap. You can close gaps below the door with this method as well by adding shims under the top and middle hinges. For gaps above the door, shim under the bottom and middle hinges instead. While you're at it, you may also want to learn how to remove rust from your door hinges.