How to Fix a Door Latch
A door is dependent on a couple of items for smooth, free-flowing movement. Door latches hold the door in place while the hinges make it movable. If the any of the latches are damaged, the door won’t be aligned properly, possibly causing it to skid on the floor when pushed. The hinges may also get damaged, since they will be carrying much of the door’s weight. You can prevent this chain reaction if you know how to detect and fix a damaged door latch.
Common Door Latch Problems
There are three adverse situations that concern the door latch.
The door latch won’t stick in place.
The door won’t latch.
The door latch is misaligned.
Each situation is resolved by a series of adjustments on the latch’s frame or connection. Fixing the latch is easy, so don’t fret.
The Door Latch Won’t Stick in Place
For a door latch not to fit, there must be something wrong with the way the slot was constructed. The screws’ connection points may not be straight or the slot’s contours may not match the shape of the latch. Addressing such issues requires some carpentry skills, so ready your toolbox.
What You can Do:
Tighten the screws to secure the latch’s connection.
Apply graphite spray on the latch and its slot until the door moves in one smooth motion.
If the graphite spray fails to do the job, apply petroleum jelly on the latch.
Use your hammer and chisel to even out the slot’s surface.
Use a power drill to fix the screws’ slots.
The Door Won’t Latch
The door that won’t latch presents a bigger problem, especially if it sags. The hinges aren’t built to carry the door’s entire weight. You must check if the latch is bent, if the latch’s slot is too deep or if there are obstructions inside the screws’ slots.
What You can Do:
Straighten a bent latch using a hammer or pliers.
For deep latch slots, you can remove the latch, insert folded paper or cardboard, then screw it back tightly.
Check the latch’s alignment. Use a hammer and chisel to iron out any contour differences.
Remove obstructions inside the screw slots using a stick or by affixing the screws tightly.
The Door Latch is Misaligned
The strike plate comes as primary cause for misaligned latches. Just make the necessary modifications based on its dimensions or the door’s overall alignment.
What You can Do:
Adjust the strike plate with regard to how the door is positioned.
Enlarge the strike plate’s holes.
Connect additional strike plates to properly align the door.
Just replace the defective strike plates.
Repairing a door latch may seem tricky at first, given the amount of things to consider. With a keen eye for detail and some carpentry savvy, you can fix most door latch issues in no time.