Signs your door hinges need attention.
Hinges are small parts that do a big job. When they fail, the whole door stops working right. Here are the most common signs it is time for a hinge repair.
Door Sagging
The door drags on the floor or the top corner hits the frame when you try to close it. The top hinge has pulled away from the jamb.
Squeaking Every Time
A loud squeak every time the door opens or closes. The hinge pins are dry and need lubrication or replacement.
Won't Stay Open
The door slowly swings shut on its own. The hinge is set too deep or the door frame has shifted out of plumb.
Hinge Pin Popping Out
The pin keeps rising out of the hinge barrel. The pin is bent, the knuckles are worn, or the hinge is misaligned.
Screws Stripped
The screws spin freely and won't tighten. The wood around the screw holes has broken down from repeated stress.
Paint-Caked Hinges
Layers of paint have built up in the hinge knuckles, making the door stiff and hard to open. The pin is stuck.
The stripped screw hole problem
This is the number one hinge problem we see. The top hinge on a door carries most of the weight, and over time those screws loosen. Homeowners tighten them, they hold for a while, then they loosen again. Eventually, the screws spin freely because the wood is completely chewed up. The common DIY fix of jamming toothpicks in the hole works for about a week. We do it right. We drill out the damaged wood, glue in a hardwood dowel, let it set, and drill new pilot holes. Then we use 3-inch screws that reach through the jamb and into the framing studs. The door will not sag again.
How we fix door hinges.
Hinge repair is quick work when you have the right tools and know what you are doing. Here is our approach.
Inspect All Hinges
We check every hinge on the door, not just the one that looks bad. We also check the frame, the screws, and how the door sits in the opening.
Tighten or Reinforce
If the screws are loose but the holes are still good, we tighten them. If the holes are stripped, we dowel and redrill. We use longer screws when needed.
Replace if Needed
If a hinge is cracked, bent, or worn out, we replace it with a matching hinge. We carry standard butt hinges, spring hinges, and ball-bearing hinges on the truck.
Test and Adjust
We swing the door in both directions, check that it closes flush, verify the latch catches the strike plate, and confirm there is no rubbing or dragging.
Hinge types we work with
Not all hinges are the same. Standard butt hinges are the most common on interior doors. They are simple, reliable, and easy to replace. Spring hinges are used on doors that need to close automatically, like fire-rated doors and some garage entry doors. Ball-bearing hinges are heavier duty and are used on exterior doors and heavy solid-core interior doors. Self-closing hinges are common on screen doors and some commercial applications. We carry all of these types and can match what you already have or upgrade to something stronger if the current hinges are not up to the job.
When to repair vs. when to replace
Most hinge problems are repairable without replacing the hinge itself. Squeaky hinges just need the pin cleaned and lubricated. Loose hinges need the screws tightened or the holes reinforced. But if a hinge is cracked, the knuckles are worn and sloppy, or the pin is bent so badly it keeps popping out, replacement is the better call. We always try the least expensive fix first. If the hinge does need replacing, we match the size, finish, and type so it looks right and works right. Call us at (772) 207-4146 and we will let you know exactly what your door needs.
Door Hinge Repair Pricing
* Estimated labor costs. Parts and materials may be additional. We quote the exact price before starting.
Simple fixes like lubrication and screw tightening start at $45. Doweling stripped holes and replacing hinges runs $75 to $150 depending on the number of hinges and the door type. Price includes parts and labor. We confirm the exact cost before we start. If we find additional issues like a sticking door that also needs planing, we will quote that separately.
We repair and replace all residential hinge types.
Serving the entire Treasure Coast.
Treasure Coast Sliding Door Repair fixes door hinges across Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Palm City, Hutchinson Island, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, and Indiantown. That covers Martin County, St. Lucie County, and Indian River County. Most appointments are same-day or next-day.