5 Steps to Follow to Fix a Misaligned Door Latch (2024)
If you have a door in your home that won't close properly, chances are that it has settled over time, along with the house. If the door has become misaligned, and the latch doesn't match up with the hole in the strike plate, follow these 5 steps to solve the problem:
1. The misalignment may not be visually apparent, so the first thing to do is the "lipstick test". Start by rubbing red lipstick onto the edge of the deadbolt. Turn the knob to retract the latch, close the door, then release the knob so the latch just barely touches the strike plate.
2. If the lipstick mark is too high, tighten the hinges at the bottom of the door with a screwdriver. If the mark is too low, raise the latch by tightening the hinges at the top of the door. Tightening all the hinges may do the trick if the misalignment is minor.
3. If tightening the hinges doesn't help, measure the misalignment of the lipstick marks on the strike plate. If the latch is off by 1/8 inch or less, remove the strike plate from the door jamb and enlarge the hole slightly with a file.
4. If the mark is more than 1/8 inch above or below the strike plate hole, you may need to reposition the strike plate. A sharp chisel should be used to enlarge the indented section that holds the strike plate. Hold the strike plate in the proper position and drill new 1/16-inch holes to accommodate the screws. Use wood filler to fill in the gap in the indented section that remains visible after moving the strike plate.
5. If necessary, remove the door's hinges and adjust them to reposition the door.
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A simple fix for the misaligned door could be a matter of tightening a few screws. If the top of the door scrapes against the door jamb, check the top hinges. Tighten the screws that hold the hinge to the jamb, as well as the screws that hold the door to the hinge.
Doors become misaligned either from age or from damage, such as being hit by material handling equipment or other objects. Either the door or the frame sags out of square. In cases where technicians ignore these conditions, both eventually will occur. Door misalignment usually occurs with wood doors.
Place the Allen key in the hole (located in the main section of the hinge). Make half a turn – the door should start pulling back towards the hinge side. Recheck the handle. Repeat this on the centre hinge, checking your uPVC door is shutting and locking following each adjustment.
And if the door latch won't retract, there's something wrong with the workings of the door latch in general. It could be due to a broken or damaged spindle. Other common reasons include a misaligned strike plate and a jammed door latch.
Check to see if there are any wood shavings stuck in the mechanism of the lock or the latch. To fix the problem, simply check and clean the spring inside the handle and the spring mechanism inside the tubular latch.
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