How to fix a door that won't shut?

[Joker2021]

Hello all

I got a bedroom door that has trouble closing, it will close with some force but it takes some force to open as well and can be very noisy especially at night. 

I can't take off the hinge pin or unscrew the hinges because the previous owner seems to have painted over them and now it stuck.

Will sanding one side of the door work? So the door closes with no issues?

I intend to replace the doors in the future but in a few years. 

Thanks for your suggestions.

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, @Joker2021. It’s fantastic to have you join us and many thanks for your question about fixing a door that won’t shut properly.

Sanding the edge of the door where it’s catching can definitely help if the issue is only minor. If it’s just rubbing slightly on the frame, using a powered sander could do the trick. However, if the fit is quite tight and the door is really jamming, sanding alone might be too slow—using a hand planer will allow you to remove a bit more material quickly and get a smoother result.

If you suspect the door has sagged a little over time, it might also be worth checking the hinges. I know you mentioned they’re painted over, but you can usually cut around the tops of the hinge pins with a utility knife to break the paint seal. Then you can gently tap them out using a flathead screwdriver and a hammer. That would allow you to adjust or re-seat the hinges if needed.

Given that you’re planning to replace the doors in the future, it’s worth doing the minimum necessary to get them working smoothly for now. I suggest starting by sanding the edge that’s rubbing and going from there.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell