Two Easy Methods Of Fixing Uneven Double French Doors
Occasionally, double French doors get out of alignment as a result of their weight causing them to settle unevenly. Once this occurs, locking your door will become challenging, and it may also result in gaps that make your home less energy-efficient. Additionally, it might rub against the floor or the door on the opposite side, causing more harm. The shifting of a building or the earth can cause double French doors to become out of alignment. Because of its weight, French doors occasionally need to be aligned right away after installation. Whatever the cause, a do-it-yourself enthusiast may easily mend misaligned French doors. It doesn't take long to do the task. The doors will align and work properly after everything is finished. You might use one of two methods to adjust mismatched doors. These include replacing or tightening the hinges' screws. You can place a wood shim on the jamb that requires it if this doesn't work. Checking the outer top corners of the doors where they meet will reveal this. The side that has to be shimmied is the corner that is a little lower.
Thing's You Will Need
- Doorstops & Drill
- Screw-Tip Attachment
- 3-Inch Wood Screws
- Wood Chisel, Hammer & Pliers
- Wood Shims & 4d Finish Nails
- 6d Finish Nails & Nail Set
Method 1: Replacing Or Tightening The Hinges' Screws
- Open Both Doors Fully
First of all, you need to open both doors fully and use a doorstop on each in order to keep them in place. Set up a drill with a screw-tip attachment, either electric or cordless. - Install A 3-inch Brass Or Silver Wood Screw
On each side of the aperture, tighten the screws holding the hinges on the doors' edges and the faces of the doorjambs. Install a 3-inch brass or silver wood screw that matches the finish of the original screws if a screw spins but won't tighten snugly. - Remove The Doorstops
Take the doorstops off. Close the doors and check the seam where the doors meet and the alignment at the top edges. If replacing and tightening screws did not correct your uneven French doors, move on to the following stage.
Method 2: Inserting Wood Shims
- Determine Which Side Of The Jamb To Shim
Firstly, you need to examine the top, outside corners of the doors where they meet to determine which side of the jamb to shim. The door's lower top corner suggests that the doorjamb on that side of the aperture has to be shimmied in order to raise the door's outer corner. Open the door from the side where the jamb will be shimmied, then use a doorstop to keep it in place. Carefully remove the vertical piece of casing along the side of the doorjamb using a wood chisel and hammer. - Start At The Bottom Of The Casing
The seam between the casing and jamb can be reached by starting at the bottom of the casing and working your way up. Make sure the chisel is completely in the seam and under the casing by gently tapping the handle with the hammer. Use the chisel to pry the bottom part of the casing away from the wall and jamb. To remove the piece, carry out this procedure multiple times along the casing. - Remove Any Finish Nails & Three-inch Wood Screws
Use pliers or the hammer's claws to remove any finish nails that were left in the casing and at the jamb's edge. Remove any three-inch wood screws that were affixed to the doorjamb's lowest or middle hinge on this side. Close the door after removing the doorstop. Just above the lowest hinge, insert the end of a wood shim into the space created by the doorjamb and the wall's framing. - Examine The Space Between The Door's Edge And The Doorjamb
When the top corner of the door and the top corner of the other door are lined up, hammer the shim's outer end into place. Examine the space between the door's edge and the doorjamb. If more shims are required to make the gap uniform from bottom to top, install them. Any removed screws should be put back in place. - Make Vertical Scores On The Faces Of Each Shim
Use a utility knife to make vertical scores on the faces of each shim along the doorjamb's outside edge. By hand, cut off the extra part of each shim. With 4d finish nails at the inner edge and 6d nails at the outer edge, reinstall the casing at the side of the jamb. Drive the nails just above or below an existing hole using the existing nail holes as guidance. Using a nail set and a hammer, place the nails for the wood filler 1/16 inch deep.