Doors & windows
How to fix a door that won't latch or keeps swinging open
A door that bounces back open is nearly always the latch missing the hole in the strike plate. Five minutes of diagnosis saves you rehanging the door.
What you'll need
- •Screwdriver
- •Lipstick or marker
- •Round and flat files
- •Chisel
- •Longer screws
Step by step
1Find where the latch is landing
Colour the end of the latch bolt with marker or lipstick, close the door and open it again. The mark on the strike plate shows exactly how far out you are and in which direction.
2Check the hinges first
Grab the door edge and lift. Movement means worn hinges or loose screws. Replacing the middle hinge screws with 60–75mm screws that bite into the frame studwork often pulls the whole door back into place.
3File or move the strike plate
If you're out by a millimetre or two, file the strike plate opening. More than that and it's better to unscrew the plate, chisel the recess across and refit it, filling the old screw holes with glued dowel.
4Free a sticking latch
If the bolt doesn't spring back out fully, the latch may be gummed with paint or the spindle binding. Remove the handles, clean and lubricate, and check the spindle isn't too tight in the follower.
5Deal with a swollen door
If the door only sticks in damp weather, plane the smallest amount off the binding edge, then prime and paint the bare timber so it stops absorbing moisture.
Common mistakes
- •Planing the door when the real fault is a sagging hinge.
- •Filling old screw holes with filler instead of timber — screws won't hold.
- •Leaving planed edges unsealed so the door swells again next winter.
When to get a second opinion
On a fire door, don't plane or modify the leaf — you can invalidate its rating. Check before cutting.
Ask an experienced tradesperson