How to adjust an entrance door? Practical guide
In order for an entrance door to fulfil its function properly, it must be properly set and adjusted. From time to time, the hinges need to be adjusted if the sash starts to scrape on the floor, creak or if there are gaps between the sash and the frame. How can you do this yourself, efficiently and quickly?
When does the front door need adjusting?
The front door plays a very important role for the comfort and safety of the occupants and, at the same time, does intensive work every day – it is opened and closed many times and exposed to demanding weather conditions. This means that the sash can become slightly lowered or crooked over time. The door may also start to creak or clatter on the floor or there may be a leak visible to the naked eye.
Replacing the seals often proves to be a sufficient remedy for the latter. In this text you will find more practical information on how to take proper care of a leaking front door. But what can you do if the door rubs against the frame or the door does not sit flush against the frame? In this case, it is necessary to adjust the leaf. This will restore thermal and acoustic comfort.
Can I adjust the entrance door myself?
Yes, the adjustment of your entrance door is not complicated and will only take you a short time. You just need to have a few essential items with which to do it precisely. An allen key is essential for the smooth adjustment of your entrance door, a spirit level and a tape measure are also useful. It is also worth remembering that regular maintenance of the door is important. Even if the leaf is working properly, you should inspect it carefully once every few months and make sure that no gaps are forming. This will allow you to react more quickly and eliminate potential irregularities.
Overhead door adjustment and type of hinges
Adjusting a rebated door most often means improving the peg or box hinges, as these are the most commonly used types of external hinges. In the first case, adjusting the top screw allows the door to be moved left or right, while changing the setting of the screw below allows the leaf to be raised or lowered.
Canned hinges are located in boxes mounted in a special hole, and the door hinge adjustment is carried out with the leaf closed. Using an Allen spanner, correct the settings of all the screws, thus aligning the door and improving its pressure on the frame. On the other hand, the adjustment of non-leaf doors consists of the adjustment of concealed hinges, or so-called 3D hinges. These are recessed hinges with a leaf structure. It is possible to adjust the hinge horizontally, vertically and also in terms of the depth of installation. All you need to do is ensure that the weight of the sash is distributed equally on each hinge.
With modern doors, self-adjustment of the hinged doors is convenient and quick because the door leaf does not have to be removed. In the past, adjusting the hinges was a more demanding job – you had to take the door off each time and only then adjust the hinges accordingly.
How do I adjust a front door when the sash overlaps the frame?
You can do this with a spirit level, but if you don’t have one at hand, all you need is painters’ tape and a pencil and – of course – an Allen key. Prepare two pieces of tape and stick them on the side of the jamb where the door overlaps the jamb when closing (in this article you will read about the difference between fixed and adjustable jamb). Place one at the top and the other at the bottom. Close the door and mark the edge of the door with a pencil on the tape, then open the door and measure the distance between the edge of the door frame and both marks.
If the measurement is identical in both cases, the door position is correct. If not – adjust the hinges by screwing in or out the screws in the tops of the hinges accordingly. Once you have done this, repeat the procedure with a tape and pencil to make sure that the door position agrees. If, despite this procedure, the door rubs against the threshold, you also need to perform a door lifting action. How do I raise the door on its hinges? Locate the screws responsible for adjusting the height of the door and make the appropriate adjustment.
Adjusting the door leaf pressure
With an even simpler method than the tape and pencil, you can check whether the door’s clamping force on the frame is adequate and whether you need to adjust the door in this respect as well. While outside, place a piece of paper between the leaf and the frame and close the door. Move the piece of paper in different directions – move it up and down and try to remove it. If the paper moves easily, the leaves are not tight enough and the door needs to be adjusted. Tighten the screws located at the bottom of the hinges and repeat the test with the paper. If it cannot be removed, the task has been completed successfully. If it is still possible, you need to tighten the screws a little tighter.
Adjustment of exterior metal doors
This type of door requires sturdy hinges that can easily hold a heavier-than-others sash, but the adjustment of exterior metal door hinges looks standard. Manufacturers use both traditional and concealed hinges on such sashes. The adjustment of external metal doors requires an allen key, with which all the screws must be adjusted to the optimal position.
How do you check whether your entrance door has been adjusted correctly?
If you have used all the patents (including those involving tape, a pencil and a piece of paper) in the various steps of adjusting your entrance door and based on these you have made the correct adjustments, this means that the hinges should be adjusted correctly. It is worth further verifying this by looking at the door carefully and applying your hand at various heights of the door frame to ensure that there are no clearances, gaps or crevices through which light can be seen or air flow can be felt. Also check that the leaf does not clatter on the floor when opening and closing.
What if it is too late to adjust the hinges?
It may happen that the adjustment of an old door does not have the desired effect and you have to replace the leaf with a new one. In such a case, it is worth investing in a decent, modern wooden door, which will serve you for many years and its systematic adjustment will be intuitive. If you’re looking for more traditional models, consider the sleek white P167, P138 with subtle wood grain and P147 – a classic in a modern version. And if you are interested in doors with a more unusual and intriguing design, we recommend the leaves P157 and P126 (in both cases wood is elegantly juxtaposed with black) and P163 and P150, in which steel elements tastefully intertwine with a blue shade.