How To Repair A Door Hinge?

Door hinges are a type of bearing that connects the door frame and the door itself. Door hinges help support your exterior doors and play an important role in helping safeguard your family as well as providing privacy to them. However, when you notice your door sagging or causing indents on your carpets that were never there earlier, your door hinge probably needs to be repaired. Repairing a door hinge whether it requires tightening loose hinges or replacing a hinge can be quite stressful especially if you are doing it for the first time. To learn how to repair door hinges, take a look at this simple guide below.

To repair a door hinge, it is always important to determine the extent of damage and then decide whether you need to repair the existing hinge or replace the hinge completely. This guide helps you learn about how a door hinge can be repaired.

Tightening Loose Door hinges: Repairing a door Hinge
Loose hinges can often cause the door to bind, stick or scrape the floor. To check if you are having the problem of loose hinges, open the door and seize it by the edge of the lock. If you encounter movement at the hinge screws while moving the door up and down, it is a sign that he hinge screws need to be tightened.

Luckily, hinge screws that have been become loose lately can be tightened easily using a screwdriver. However, it hinges screws have been loosened for a considerable period of time, the constant movement of the screws and hinge plates may have enlarged the screw holes. As a result, the screws do not remain tight and fall off, becoming completely useless. When repairing enlarged screw holes, ensure that you repair one screw hole at a time so that you do not have to remove the door completely.
Directions:
· Take out the loose screw
· Take a wooden match and dip its bare end in some carpenter glue. Using a hammer, tap it into the screw hole as far as it goes.
· Cut or break match (es) flush using the hinge plate. Discard the heads.
· After the empty space in the screw whole is filled with matches, push the screw into the hole using a screwdriver.
· Continue doing this procedure with the other enlarged screw holes until you have fixed them.

Tip: Instead of using match, you can also use wooden golf tees. Since golf tees are tapered, they easily fit into the screw holes.


Replacing a door Hinge:
If you are unable to repair a door hinge, replacing them would be a good option. To learn how to replace a door hinge, follow the steps listed below.

Step #1: Use shims to steady the door:
Expose the entire hinge by moving the door. Place shims beneath the door to steady it. Since replacing the door does not require you to remove the door, placing shims beneath will not help support the door, but also prevent it from falling over,

Step #2: Check the measurements:
When replacing hinges, ensure that you buy door hinges that are match have the same measurements as your old hinges. In addition, placing hinges at the right locations using a measuring tape is also essential for proper installation. When installing a new door hinge, place one at 7 inches down from the top of the door frame and the other one at a point that is 11 inches from the base of the door frame.

Step #3: Remove the old hinges:
Beginning from the top, remove the hinge screws of your old hinges, holding the hinge leaf’s in place. Pull them away carefully from the door and the jamb. Ensure that the wood beneath the hinges is in good condition.

Step #4: Get the Jamb and door ready for a new hinge:
If you have a door hinge that has been attached for a while, you may require doing some repair work on the jamb and the door. If required, sand down the wood and stain to match the pre-existing wood or add a new coat of paint.
· If your new hinges are not of the same size as your old ones, fill in the mortise holes in the door frame as well as the door with wooden putty. With the help metal scraper, fill in screw holes.
· Allow the wood putty to dry completely. After it dries, sand it smooth and blend it with the surface.
· Stain or paint the repair so that it matches with the trim and the rest of the door.

Step #5: Fix the new Hinge:
Position your new hinge on the location of the previous one. With the help of some screws and a screwdriver, fasten both the sides of the hinge to the jamb and the door. To secure the new hinge, put the hinge pin in the hinge.

Step #6: Repeat the same procedure when removing the second hinge:
Move to the second and using a screwdriver remove it. Using new screws, replace the old hinge with the new one. Ensure to hold the hinge in place so that it does not get pushed out of the location. Secure the new hinges in place by using the new hinge pin. · If there is a third centre hinge, ensure that you replace it as well.

Step #7: Do not forget to test the new hinges:
To test the new hinges, first take away the shims that are placed beneath the doors. Try opening and closing the door 5-6 times. If you find that your door is opening and closing without any problems, your job is done successfully.

Door hinges repair in a common problem experienced by most people all over the world. Since doors are subjected to constant movement, repairing hinges is essential to help keep them in good condition. Beginners attempting to repair a door hinge often find it a daunting and time-consuming task. However, with a little practice and practical experience, you will not be able to repair a door hinge effortlessly, but will also help them moving smoothly for years to come.