Doors are supposed to swing smoothly and freely, away from the floor. If you notice that your door rubs the floor, you will need to do something about it. Not only does the sound is annoying; it can also damage your floor. If you have a carpet or a doormat near the door, the constant friction with the door can also damage these.
- Act fast on the first sign of the door rubbing the floor. The usual cause of a door rubbing the floor is improper installation of the door. The door may be too big that it needs more area to swing freely. Another cause may be you’re your tiles or your carpet is too thick for the door to be able to swing smoothly. Trimming the door is easier than replacing your flooring.
- First of all, you will need to trace back the occurrence of the rubbing. If the rubbing starts just recently, check out the hinges, as they may be loose. Loose hinges will make the door hang lower, thus all you need to do is to tighten the screws of the hinges.
- If the tightening does not work, then you will need to trim the door for the excess portion that comes in contact with the floor.
- Work on the trimming by closing the door. Inspect the door when closed, note if there are any uneven portions. Try to open the door and take note of the area that rubs against your floor. Use a pencil or a marker to mark the area.
- Next, you will need to remove the door from the jamb. Unscrew the hinges so that you can remove the door. You will need someone to assist you in holding the door while you unscrew the hinges. Depending on the weight of the door, you may need more than one person to assist you.
- Once you have successfully removed the door from the jamb, you need to lay it flat on a surface. Again, examine the door carefully and inspect the unevenness. At times, the wood may have chipped off, thus the rubbing against the floor.
- If the uneven portion is insignificant, all you need to do is to sand it with sandpaper or an electric sander.
- If the uneven portion extends to a greater width, then you will need a plane to cut off the area. Use the plane with caution and then sand the area for a smoother finish. Remember to use protective eyewear when you deal with sanding to avoid eye irritation.
- When you’re done with the shaving and the sanding, inspect again so that you can give a final look before you put the door back. If you have cut off an area from the door, you might need to repaint the area so that it will not be noticeable. Allow the paint to completely dry before you put back the door as the paint may stain your floor.
Put back the door by screwing the hinges. This is the perfect time to replace rusting screws so make sure you evaluate the hinges well. Ask a partner to hold the door while you screw the hinges. Ensure that you tighten the screws to prevent the door from falling.
