Painted doors

ttwin · 02-18-2013, 06:54 PM

I painted my bathroom doors and changed out all the hardware, hinges included. It looks great but now the doors won't close without some effort and the closet door you can see where there is a much larger gap at the bottom then at the top. Could painting the door have caused this? Any suggestions on fixing them?

joecaption · 02-18-2013, 06:59 PM

Really old doors with many layers of paint?
100% sure the same doors where put back in the same openings.
100% sure the hindges are sitting flush?

ttwin · 02-18-2013, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joecaption

Really old doors with many layers of paint?
100% sure the same doors where put back in the same openings.
100% sure the hindges are sitting flush?

There was only one layer of paint then I paint it once, hated it, then painted again the next week. Not all the hinges are flushed neither are all the screws. The door are in the same opening.

joecaption · 02-18-2013, 09:34 PM

That can be the reason there now sticking. It does not take much.
Figure out why there not flush.

chrisn · 02-19-2013, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ttwin

I painted my bathroom doors and changed out all the hardware, hinges included. It looks great but now the doors won't close without some effort and the closet door you can see where there is a much larger gap at the bottom then at the top. Could painting the door have caused this? Any suggestions on fixing them?

no

get the hinges flush and the screws sunk

jsheridan · 02-19-2013, 05:25 AM

I would rather stick pins in my eyes than monkey with removing established hinges from the door or jamb of an established door, or anything hinged for that matter. Unless you're an experienced carpenter, in some cases, you're only asking for trouble. I did that once.

Gymschu · 02-19-2013, 07:42 AM

As Joe Sheridan stated, you really have to put the hinges back in exactly the same place that they came from. In other words, the hinge that was on the bottom should go back on the bottom, the hinge that was in the middle needs to go back to the middle. This happens quite often when doing kitchen cabinets. Hinges get bent a certain way or were altered to make a door close properly, etc. When reassembling the door hardware you can lose track of what goes where and you end up with a "misfit." This MAY have happened in this case. Now you may have to tweek your carpentry skills and re-router where the hinges go to make these doors close flush again. The paint DID NOT cause this!!!

ttwin · 02-19-2013, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gymschu

As Joe Sheridan stated, you really have to put the hinges back in exactly the same place that they came from. In other words, the hinge that was on the bottom should go back on the bottom, the hinge that was in the middle needs to go back to the middle. This happens quite often when doing kitchen cabinets. Hinges get bent a certain way or were altered to make a door close properly, etc. When reassembling the door hardware you can lose track of what goes where and you end up with a "misfit." This MAY have happened in this case. Now you may have to tweek your carpentry skills and re-router where the hinges go to make these doors close flush again. The paint DID NOT cause this!!!

I'm changing all the hardware from bronze to brushed nickel so I can't put the old ones back. I've read that I could place a level on the door to make sure it's level and use one 3 inch screw in the top hinge only to pull the door back into alignment. Im glad to hear its not the paint.

joecaption · 02-19-2013, 08:40 AM

If those hindges are not flush it can be as simple as the hindge is slighty bigger then the old ones.
Just use a razer knife to mark where some wood needs to be removed. Remove the hindge and remove the extra wood with a razer knife or a wood chisle.
Adding a longer screw will only work if it's placed in the right spot.
Were to put it depends on where the door is off. EG top or bottom.
When checking for plumb you check the hindge side jamb with a long level not the door it's self.

spraygunn · 02-19-2013, 09:13 AM

Hey tt,

How old is the house/doors. Years ago before prehung doors, when carpenters would hang a door they would use all sorts of techniques to balance the opening. When removing the hinges from an old door do it carefully, paying close attention to what’s behind the hinges. As Joe said, it’s the last thing you want to do. Often times you’ll see little pieces of cardboard or even pieces of shims behind the hinge. Some things are better left untouched.

Today with the advent of prehung doors, you won’t have that problem. Everything is done by calibrated jigs. Each door is the same as the one before it and after it. Continue to tinker with the adjustment and it will get better.

jsheridan · 02-19-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraygunn

Hey tt,

How old is the house/doors. Years ago before prehung doors, when carpenters would hang a door they would use all sorts of techniques to balance the opening. When removing the hinges from an old door do it carefully, paying close attention to what’s behind the hinges. As Joe said, it’s the last thing you want to do. Often times you’ll see little pieces of cardboard or even pieces of shims behind the hinge. Some things are better left untouched.

Today with the advent of prehung doors, you won’t have that problem. Everything is done by calibrated jigs. Each door is the same as the one before it and after it. Continue to tinker with the adjustment and it will get better.

YES! Exactamundo.

ttwin · 02-20-2013, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraygunn

Hey tt,

How old is the house/doors. Years ago before prehung doors, when carpenters would hang a door they would use all sorts of techniques to balance the opening. When removing the hinges from an old door do it carefully, paying close attention to what’s behind the hinges. As Joe said, it’s the last thing you want to do. Often times you’ll see little pieces of cardboard or even pieces of shims behind the hinge. Some things are better left untouched.

Today with the advent of prehung doors, you won’t have that problem. Everything is done by calibrated jigs. Each door is the same as the one before it and after it. Continue to tinker with the adjustment and it will get better.

It's a twenty year old house

ttwin · 02-20-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraygunn

Hey tt,

How old is the house/doors. Years ago before prehung doors, when carpenters would hang a door they would use all sorts of techniques to balance the opening. When removing the hinges from an old door do it carefully, paying close attention to what’s behind the hinges. As Joe said, it’s the last thing you want to do. Often times you’ll see little pieces of cardboard or even pieces of shims behind the hinge. Some things are better left untouched.

Today with the advent of prehung doors, you won’t have that problem. Everything is done by calibrated jigs. Each door is the same as the one before it and after it. Continue to tinker with the adjustment and it will get better.

There was nothing behind the door when I removed the hinges. I did purchase a chisel and a three inch screw to hopefully correct the problem. The greatest space between the door and jamb is at the top, I have to lift the door up and slightly over to get it too close.

ttwin · 02-20-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisn

no

get the hinges flush and the screws sunk

Thanks

ttwin · 02-21-2013, 03:37 PM

UPDATE!!
After having to chisel 4 mortise, drill 6 three inch screw and removing the hinges countless times the doors finally open and close as they should. I can truly appreciate the phrase time is money. It took me six hours, and three store trips, to get both doors right.