Here's How To Fix A Misaligned Door Latch

A door that doesn't latch right can be frustrating, to say the least. However, you might be surprised at how simple it is to fix a misaligned door latch. It's a common DIY project that many people have a tendency to ignore. If you're wondering what causes a door to become misaligned in the first place, it typically happens over time as the house settles, or when the hinges become loose. It's not difficult to troubleshoot, and usually can be fixed by tightening up the hinges or filing out part of the door insertion where the strike plate attaches over. 

You won't need much in the way of tools for this fix. You can use a power drill if you like, but a manual screwdriver works even better to avoid stripping. Grab some screws that are between 2 and 3 inches in length and possibly a metal file that fits inside the door where it latches, if this step becomes necessary. You'll also need masking tape and a tube of brightly colored lipstick to help determine where the misalignment is occurring in the first place. So let's get started!

The first step is going to involve lipstick, so grab your least favorite shade; there's a use for that godawful color after all. Take the lipstick and rub it over the door latch. Use some masking tape or painter's tape and tape over the other side of the door where it latches into the strike plate. Now close the door and open it again. The lipstick will show on the tape where it rubs, which in turn shows where the misalignment is occurring.

If the lipstick test shows the door latch is making contact below the strike hole, the problem can likely be fixed using a tightening trick with the hinges. If the test shows that the door latch is making contact above the strike hole, the strike plate may need to be adjusted. Taking the time to perform this preliminary step will show you where to concentrate your efforts in repairing the misaligned door.

Most of the time you can fix the problem by tightening up the hinge screws, but hinge screws are notoriously short and prone to stripping out over time. You can fix the problem either by replacing them with longer screws or using the toothpick trick. If you have longer screws with the same size head, typically 2 to 3 inches in length, replace any that are stripped with these. Otherwise, take a wooden toothpick or a matchstick (sans head) and stick it in the hole after removing the screw. Break it off so it's flush with the wall. Reinsert the screw and it should now be snug again.

If tightening up the hinges isn't the problem, as long as the difference isn't more than ⅛ of an inch, you can use a metal file with a half-round end that matches the curvature to enlarge the hole the strike plate goes over. It takes some patience, but you just want to do quick, short strokes inwards in one direction. In other words, don't "saw" it back and forth. If the gap is more than ⅛ of an inch, you might have to remove and reposition the strike plate and use a chisel and hammer to dig out a bigger hole. Most of the time, a misaligned door is a quick and simple home improvement project.