Door Installation and Repair in Pasadena, the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire

Why does my door stick, rub or won't latch?

Most sticking doors come down to three causes: loose or sagging hinges that let the door drop, swelling from humidity or paint buildup along the edge, or a house that has shifted slightly so the frame is no longer square. Each has a different fix, which is why finding the cause comes before planing or sanding.

A door that rubs at the top corner on the latch side usually has a sagging hinge. A door that sticks only in humid weather has swollen. A door that will not latch because the strike plate is out of line often points to frame movement or a loose jamb.

• Loose hinge screws: tightened or replaced with longer screws that bite into the framing
• Door has dropped: hinges shimmed or reset so the gaps around the door are even
• Swollen or painted-shut edges: edges sanded or planed lightly and resealed
• Latch misaligned: strike plate repositioned or the latch hole adjusted
• Frame out of square: jamb corrected, or the door refit to the opening

Shaving a door before checking the hinges is a common mistake. It hides the symptom, leaves a bare edge to absorb moisture, and the door often drops again.

Should I repair my door or replace it?

Repair is usually enough when the door is solid and the problem is hinges, latch, alignment or surface wear. Replacement makes sense when the door is cracked, rotted, warped, water-damaged or hollow and damaged, or when you want better security, insulation or a different style. Cesar will give you an honest recommendation on site.

What is involved in installing a new door?

Installing a door means removing the old door or unit, checking that the opening is plumb and square, setting the new door so the gaps are even, hanging it on hinges, adding weatherstripping and hardware, and sealing exterior edges. A prehung door comes with its frame, while a slab door is fitted to your existing jamb.

Prehung and slab doors are different jobs. A slab replaces just the door and is cut and drilled to fit your existing frame. A prehung unit replaces the frame as well, which is more work but gives a straighter result when the old frame is damaged or out of square.

1. Remove the old door, hinges and, for a prehung unit, the old frame and trim.
2. Check the rough opening for plumb and level, and correct framing issues where needed.
3. Set the new door or unit, shimming it so gaps are even and the door swings freely.
4. Fasten the frame and hang the door, then fit the lockset, latch and strike plate.
5. Seal exterior doors with flashing, caulk and weatherstripping as the situation calls for.
6. Install trim, touch up paint or finish, and clean up.

Can you install French doors, patio doors or exterior entry doors?

Yes. We install interior doors, exterior entry doors and French or patio doors, and we refit or restore existing ones. Exterior doors need extra care with flashing and sealing so water stays out. If the job means changing the size of the opening, Cesar will tell you up front what it involves.

Doors that open to the outside take more abuse than interior doors. Sun, rain and temperature changes work on the threshold, the bottom edge and the weatherstripping, and these are the places where water gets in first.

Widening or moving a doorway is a bigger project because it changes the framing above the opening. We will not guess at this: Cesar looks at the wall, explains what the job involves, including whether anything beyond handyman scope is needed, and confirms the plan before work is scheduled.

Can you replace locks, handles and other door hardware?

Yes. We replace and rekey knobs, handles, deadbolts, hinges, strike plates and door closers, and we fix hardware that sticks or no longer lines up. Bring the new hardware you have chosen, or we can recommend options that fit your door's bore and backset and your style.

Hardware has to match the door it is going on. The bore hole size, the backset, which is the distance from the door edge to the center of the hole, and the thickness of the door all matter. Mismatched hardware is the usual cause of a lockset that feels loose or a latch that does not catch.

Tell us about any security concerns, such as a door that does not close firmly or a frame that has been kicked in. Reinforcing the strike plate area with longer screws is a small step that helps.

What should I do before the door visit?

Open and close the door a few times and note exactly where it rubs or sticks. Take photos of the gaps and any damage, measure the door if you plan to replace it, and have any new door or hardware on hand if you already bought it. Clear a path to the door for our tools.

• Note when the problem happens: all year, only in humid weather, or after rain
• Photograph the gaps around the top, sides and bottom of the door
• Measure the width, height and thickness if you are replacing the door
• Keep the receipt and box for any hardware or door you already bought
• Clear furniture and shoes from the swing area so we can work