Door Repair in St. Louis, MO: Sticking, Rubbing, and Won't-Latch Fixes

Door repair in St. Louis, MO is one of the most satisfying jobs we do, because a sticking door is a daily annoyance that's usually a 20-minute fix. The causes are predictable — seasonal humidity swell, a hinge that's worked loose, a house that's settled, a strike plate that's drifted. The fix is almost never a new door; it's an adjustment, a hinge shim, a strike reposition, or a plane. Here's what goes into a door that swings and latches like it should.

The door problems we fix most

• Sticking or rubbing at the top or side of the frame
• Sagging doors that drag on the threshold
• Won't-latch doors where the strike is misaligned
• Squeaky or loose hinges
• Gaps at the threshold letting in drafts
• Interior doors that won't stay put

All of these are on our doors, windows and locks page.

Diagnosing a sticking door

A door that sticks in summer but not winter is swelling from humidity — common in St. Louis's humid months, and common in older homes with solid wood doors. The fix is usually a light plane on the rubbing edge, not a whole door replacement. A door that sticks year-round is more likely a hinge issue: a loose screw, a worn hinge, or a frame that's shifted. We tighten or replace the hinge first, because that's often the whole problem and the cheapest fix.

The strike plate and the latch

A door that closes but won't latch — you have to lift the handle to get it to catch — is almost always a strike plate that's drifted out of alignment. Sometimes the door has sagged a fraction; sometimes the strike has loosened. We reposition the strike, deepen the mortise if needed, and test. It's a small, precise fix that turns a daily annoyance into a door that clicks.

Weatherstripping and drafts

Exterior doors that draft are usually a weatherstripping or sweep problem, not a door problem. Replacing worn weatherstripping and a door sweep is a quick, high-value fix that shows up on your energy bill. We handle that under the same door visit, and it pairs naturally with caulking around the frame.

When a door does need replacing

A door needs replacing when it's warped, split, or a hollow-core that's failed — or when you want to upgrade hardware or a lock. We handle door installation and lock replacement too. We'll always tell you if an adjustment will save the door you have.

Get a door repair quote

Send us a photo of the door, where it rubs, and whether it latches. Most door adjustments quote flat from that. We serve the whole metro, from Shaw to Kirkwood to Florissant. Request a door repair quote today.