Top Door Hinge Loose

If you encounter movement at the hinge screws they need to be retightened.

Top door hinge loose.

If the hinge and jamb are painted cut the paint around the leaf with a utility knife swing the leaf away from the jamb. Tap the hinge pin back into the door with a hammer at the top of the pin barrel. Open the door grasp it by the lock edge and move it up and down. Coat a wooden golf tee with glue.

Allow the glue to dry. Reinstall the hinge and screws in the holes. Ask a helper to hold up the door and align the pin barrel on both halves of the hinge. Test the hinge on the latch side a door is cut at a slight bevel to make it easier to close.

If the hinge pin falls out. Break the tee off even with the bottom of the mortise. Tap the tee into the hinge screw hole with a hammer. If one is loose remove two or more screws and try driving in longer screws.

Open the door wide and insert a wedge under the bottom outside corner to level it. If a door binds open it grasp the knob and lift up to see if a hinge is loose. If the hinge screws have been loose for only a short time you may need to tighten them with a screwdriver. Remove the loose screws.

It can be because of stripped screws in the top hinge that finally give out or simply the weight of the door. First check that the hinge screws are tight. Binding problems at the top of any door are usually the result of a loose hinge.