Wooden doors can be a real puzzle.\u00a0 Sometimes they open and close easily, and other times they can be really stubborn.\u00a0 Before you can do something about them, you need to understand why the doors are binding.\u00a0 There are several reasons this can happen.<\/p>\n
To start with, as your house ages, door frames that were once straight-and-square can begin to sag (much like everything else.)\u00a0 When the door frame is no longer straight and evenly spaced around the door, parts of it will tend to catch on the door.\u00a0 Usually, by looking at the door, you\u2019ll be able to see these areas.<\/p>\n
There are different ways to approach this problem. One is to remove both door and frame and reinstall them, making sure that the frame is put in place straight, level, and plumb \u2013 regardless of the condition of the wall around it.\u00a0 This process will usually take a few hours of work to accomplish.<\/p>\n
A second and more practical approach is to shave the door down at the spot(s) where it is hitting the door frame.\u00a0 You can use a belt sander, a plane, or even hand-sand these areas until the door fits again.<\/p>\n