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I don’t know if it’s the lock/latch or if the door is getting stuck at the bottom. Thanks 😄
Hi @EllieBee,
It can definitely be a bit tricky to pinpoint exactly what's stopping a door from latching properly, especially when it’s not immediately clear whether it’s the latch mechanism or if the door is sticking somewhere. I’d suggest slowly opening and closing the door while watching and feeling around the entire perimeter—top, sides, and bottom. As you bring the door close to the frame, pay attention to the moment it starts to resist. That’s usually where the issue lies.
Look closely for any signs of scrubbing or rubbing on the timber frame or door edge, particularly along the hinged side or bottom edge. These marks often show where the door may have swollen or dropped slightly, preventing it from closing properly. It’s also worth checking that the latch lines up with the strike plate—sometimes the door may shut, but the latch doesn't quite meet or engage with the hole in the frame due to slight misalignment.
Ideally, there should be a consistent, small gap all the way around the door when it’s closed—enough so it doesn’t bind, but tight enough to keep it secure. If the gap closes entirely in one section, or if the bottom edge of the door is dragging, that could be enough to prevent the latch from engaging. Once you isolate where the binding is happening, you can determine whether a small adjustment to the hinges, a bit of sanding, or realigning the strike plate will solve the problem.
Just to confirm, is the issue that the door won't close into the frame or that when it is closed it doesn't latch? There's a bit of a gap between the latch side of the door and the frame. To reduce this the hinges need to be packed out to shift the door further to that side. Alternatively the striker plate could be packed out to bring it closed to the door.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
