Door Separating From Top Hinge!
Help! As can be seen in the attached picture, my door has separated itself from the top hinge. The door pictured is the door that leads into my apartment (no worries, this is the second door one would have to get through to get to me, so safety isn’t an issue and doesn’t make this…
Help! As can be seen in the attached picture, my door has separated itself from the top hinge. The door pictured is the door that leads into my apartment (no worries, this is the second door one would have to get through to get to me, so safety isn’t an issue and doesn’t make this an urgent matter.) This is a solid door and it has been hanging here just fine for many years. Is there a common reason that this happened? I’m considering replacing the door (I’m assuming it can’t be fixed) myself, but if this is something that is the result of improper hanging, I can ask my landlord to have a handyman come by. (I’d rather do it myself if possible and not bother the LL) Any ideas?
In case the picture doesn’t post here, you can see the pic on my Flickr page:
www.flickr.com/photos/35191472@N03/5621983842/
You need a new door as this one certainly does not appear to be fire rated.
Bond is right. The screw heads should be flush with the top of the hinge. These are too large and don’t seat flush in the countersunk holes i the hinge..
You could use bungie cords instead of clamps.
I think bxgrl means shims to make sure the door is really tightly shut.
Ok…#10 wood screws it is! Thanks, Bond!
Thanks, WBer. I’ll go for smaller screw heads and glue. If all else fails by Monday, I’ll call the LL about a new door.
doesn’t look like a door to me. looks like ajar.
Part of your problem is the screws are oversized, it looks like a #12 or #14 so the head can’t seat itself flush with the hinge. If memory serves me, it should be a #10 wood screw. Longer screws would be fine, but not thicker, that’s just going to make the problem worse. The current screws causing the door hinge strip to flex away from the door whenever you close the door. Replace those and then just wood glue and tacks should take care of the rest.
Longer screws won’t hurt, but they probably won’t help on this door, as they’ll just hit into particle board, which doesn’t hold as well as wood (without anchors). The wood jamb piece is doing all the work here, once the screw hits the particle-board core, not much is happening. I think you also need smaller screw heads – these sit proud of the hinge, and they should rest in the chamfer of the screw holes (as do the screws on the jamb side). That could be putting stress on the door, and might have even led to the damage you’re looking at.
Not sure that sort of laminated door is worth the effort, but if you have a motherload of glue, it’s worth a try.
DeLepp, if only!