--as in life--it's often the little things that matter. And it's amazing how many small structural things can go wrong around your house. Whether it's the front-door lock that won't let you into your own home, or the cracked window that won't keep the cold out, small household problems can have a big effect. For most of these, there's no need to call for a repairman-- the solution lies in tapping your ingenuity and using a few common household materials in innovative ways. Even when it seems that the roof is falling in--or the floor is opening up beneath you--there are often simple ways to solve larger problems on your own.The bedroom door sticks every time it's opened or closed, but the idea of repeatedly hanging and planing or sanding what you think are the trouble spots seems like more work than it's worth.Tape carbon paper or another type of blued paper along the edge that is sticking. Open and close the door, and the bluing will mark the problem areas, allowing you to sand or plane exactly the points that are causing the door to stick.
This works on the side, top, or bottom.You're starting to think you live in a haunted house because every time you open the door, your entrance is announced by a squeak coming from the hinges.Just lifting the hinge pin and squirting a little oil into the hinge will work for the short run, but the squeaking will inevitably return. To ensure long-lasting silence, tap the hinge pin out of the hinge and coat the pin with white lithium grease. Tap the pin back in place and test the door. The door should open and close silently, although you may have to lubricate both top and bottom hinges.Privacy's at stake when the bathroom door is out of kilter and binds on one corner.Close the door and inspect the clearance along the sides and top to see if it's misaligned in the frame. Check the hinge mortises to see if one is deeper than the other. If so, install a thin cardboard shim or playing card under the hinge leave to adjust the alignment. If necessary, add more shims until the door swings freely.
A sliding glass door that doesn't stay in its track is more than a minor annoyance, it's a safety hazard.First, check if the door has adjustable rollers and adjust to improve the door's action. The metal guides that contain most sliding glass doors can get bent out of shape by daily wear and tear. Badly bent or flattened guides will allow the door to slide out of the track and badly damaged tracks need to be reformed into their original shape. Use a scrap piece of lumber (or a large building block from a child's wood block set) that is just thick enough to fit into the slot of the tracks. Secure the wood in place and use a mallet to pound the track guides back into their correct position.Every house has one, a door that slowly drifts shut every time you try to leave it open.Rather than resetting the hinges or propping it open with a potted plant, remove one of the hinge pins, lay it on a hard surface, and strike it lightly with a hammer until the hinge pin has a slight bend. Tap the pin back in place.
The increased friction will keep the door where you want it. Sign up or log in to customize your list. Here's how it works: Anybody can ask a question The best answers are voted up and rise to the top The main door into my house has rubber at the base of it and it has started to squeak against the wooden floor when opened. How do I fix this problem? It's the same concept are wiper blades on a car. The rubber is either too far gone and need to be replaced or you can rejuvenate it by wetting it. Rubber, when exposed to the elements, will slowly dry out and lose its oils and become, well, dry. It can become brittle, squeak, and streak. If you can save it, then all you have to do it wet it and let it soak up some liquid just like your wipers working better after a few passes in the rains. You could use water, but it won't work well or for as long. Something like gun oil or any petroleum based oil would work well; however, it's also the first to seep out and cause oil streaks on your floor.
So how do you get a result you're happy with. If you can rub it while dry and it makes your hand dirty or crumbles, it's probably a goner. Otherwise, if you can find an oil you can stand the smell of (because you'll smell it for a while), soak the rubber in it for a few hours then let dry for another few hours. After that, rinse it thoroughly with hot water to get the extra oil sitting near the surface out. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google Sign up using Email and Password Post as a guest By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service. Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged doors floor or ask your own question.If the sliding doors on your shower or bathtub don’t glide smoothly, repair them soon. A door that drags on the lower track will eventually do permanent damage to both the door and the track. A dragging roller at the top of the door will wear and require replacement. First, make sure the rollers on both doors are riding on the tracks inside the upper rail.
Sometimes, one roller falls out of the track and the bottom edge of the door skids along the lower rail. In that case, you only have to lift the door and guide the roller back onto the track. If an off-track roller isn’t the problem, you’ll have to remove the doors to adjust and possibly replace the rollers. Many doors have a small plastic guide at the middle of the lower rail. To remove this type of guide, just remove a single screw. Others have a guide rail screwed to the door (Photo 1). With the guide removed, lift the doors out of their tracks (Photo 2). Then make sure the rollers turn easily. If not, apply a little silicone spray lubricant. Some lubricants can harm plastic, so check the label. If the lubricant doesn’t do the trick, replace the rollers. Most home centers and some hardware stores carry replacements. Take an old roller with you to find a match. In many cases, you can use a replacement that’s slightly larger or smaller than the original. But be sure the original and replacement edges match—either rounded or flat (see photo of roller types).