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How to Fix a Door That Won't Latch

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How to Fix a Door That Won't Latch: crwdns2935265:00crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 How to Fix a Door That Won't Latch: crwdns2935265:00crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0

  • Once the striker plate has been removed, the area where the door latch fits into the door frame (known as the mortise) needs to be enlarged.

  • Using the wood chisel, scrape away small parts of the door frame to create enough space for the door to latch.

  • Scrape away from the flat side of the mortise, or the edge that would stop the door from moving to an open position.

  • You don't want to remove more wood than necessary, so try closing the door periodically to see if there's enough room for the latch to engage.

  • After there's enough room for the door to click shut, make a few more light passes with the chisel, since the striker plate (once it's installed) will occupy some of the space of the mortise.

  • Wood chisels are very sharp. When using the chisel to enlarge the mortise, be sure to position the chisel so that if it slips it won't injure you or anybody working with you.

  • If your chisel is dull, you might find it difficult to remove the wood from the door frame. Tapping the back of the chisel gently with a hammer can help make this easier.

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