Why won't my door latch?

A door usually won't latch because the latch bolt no longer lines up with the opening in the strike plate on the door frame. Loose hinge screws, a house that has settled, or wood that swelled in the humidity can shift the door just enough to miss.

Start by finding where it misses. Close the door slowly and watch the latch. You can also rub a little chalk or lipstick on the latch, shut the door, and see where it marks the frame. If the mark lands above or below the hole, the door has dropped or shifted.

Tighten the hinges next. Open the door and snug every hinge screw. If a screw just spins, its hole is stripped. Swapping one short screw in the top hinge for a longer one, often about 3 inches, can reach the wall framing and pull the door back into place.

If the latch is only off by about an eighth of an inch, you can file the opening in the strike plate a little wider. For a bigger miss, move the strike plate up or down and fill the old screw holes.

Check the latch itself, too. If it sticks or doesn't spring all the way out, the mechanism may be worn or need a little dry lubricant. In very humid months, a door may stick and then work fine again once the air dries out.

Fortress adjusts doors that stick or won't line up on its Summer Tune-Up visit, and you can also book a Fix-It Hour for a door or cabinet that needs work now.