How To Shim A Door Hinge To Stay Open

When a door won t stay open the casing is probably leaning slightly in the wall frame.

How to shim a door hinge to stay open.

Or you close it to within an inch of the frame and it swings itself open. Place the shim on the wall where your hinge rests then screw your hinge into place over the shim. Cut a piece of thin cardboard to the size and shape of the hinge side piece. If the top hinge is to the left or right of the bottom hinge the door is going to swing in the direction of the top hinge.

Open the door and support it with a wedge while you remove the hinge that needs to come out and slip the shim behind it. Place it on a hard surface and whack it in the middle with a hammer. The goal is to restore the hinges to plumb. Test to make sure your door is now level or that it is level enough to stay open and not close on.

It only closes in the winter during the heating season. I want it to stay open so that i don t walk into it in the dark. If the door still won t stay open without assistance remove the screws from the top hinge first. This should give it a slight bend which will add tension to the hinge when you re install it.

We all have these kinds of doors you open it and it swings itself mostly shut. This door is fine for 9 months of the year. Open the door step in to the opening and turn to face the hinges. If your door is leaning and the screws on all hinges are tight you may need to shim one of the hinges to get the door level again.

Use cardboard or premade pre drilled shims. This door is hinged on the left and opens into the laundry room. Place that piece of cardboard on the door frame where the hinge will be screwed back into place.