The cold weather can have a weakening effect on doors, make sure that you're protected.

Winter has officially settled and like most years it’s a cold one, we are used to the colder months, but is your home? Doors are designed to keep all the bad weather out and stop any gale force winds from making their way into your living room, but there are several problems that can arise this time of year. 

Image of a green door against a white stone wall.

Warped door

One of the most common problems in the winter months is when your door binds in the upper corner, the changing weather can cause your door or frame to contract or expand; ultimately getting stuck in the frame and being difficult to open or close. This is a common issue with real wooden doors, which are also notorious for presenting numerous problems in colder months. Other common causes of a door binding is old screws giving out, causing the door to tilt towards the corner of the frame. 

Fixing A Warped Door

On the positive side these issues are preventable and easily fixed. The key to fixing any door binding is making sure that your door is squared inside of the jam, and not on an angle. Start by replacing old screws with new ones; it’s recommended doing this as soon as you notice your door catching. When replacing old screws (depending on the severity of the problem) it’s a good idea to use longer screws that the originals. This is to provide more counter balance, relieving pressure, for your door to swing from; and remember to drill pilot holes to prevent chipping before drilling in any new screws.

Image of screws partly drilled into a plank of wood.

Loose screws & hinges

Some screws may loosen overtime, and during wintertime it becomes a more noticeable issue. While loose screws aren't a big deal, it could become one if left untreated; doors will begin to sag and put unnecessary pressure on hinges ultimately causing them to break. 

Fixing loose screws

If this is an issue the first obvious resolve is to simply tighten any loose screws. But if your screws are stripped replacing them is the next best course of action. Beyond this if your screws no longer tighten into your frame you will need to create a new hole for the screw to grip to. This is an easy process, simply insert a glued dowel into your old hole and leave to dry. Once dried, add new pilot holes and proceed with installing any new components needed.

Black screws on a yellow background

My door won't latch

If your door won’t stay shut this may be the result of loose hinges. Double check that both your top and bottom set of hinges are tightened to ensure that this issue won’t become a security risk later on down the line.

Old damaged green wooden door with a black iron hinge

Door Hardware & Fittings At My Trade Products

Small fixes like these can save you a lot of lasting damage later on down the road. We recommend our range of Reisser, Unifix and Perry screws and hinges. Don’t forget, orders over £75 (ex VAT) qualify for free delivery. My Trade products work hard to hand select the highest quality products and tools for you. We only work with trusted brands that you recognise to deliver the best experience for you.