Sticking doors: planing sides: iVillage

Sticking doors: planing sides

Doors can stick when part of the door edge is binding against the frame or floor. Gently removing wood from these areas will return the door to an easy opening and closing action.
See also: sticking doors - scribing bottom

Tools and materials
Pencil, plane

Mark on the door edge, with a pencil, where it touches the frame. For elongated areas, draw a pencil guide line along the door edge. Open the door and plane along the edge, down to the marked-off guide line. Check that the door fits; re-plane if necessary.

Awkward areas
The sticking area is very close to the floor.
If there is not enough room for a plane, remove the door from its hinges.

The sticking area is very close to the latch.
Do not risk damaging the plane on the metallic latch surface. Remove the latch before planing, and/or recess the latch in the door slightly farther in.