This is because the issue is not with the door and not even with the control the knob has over the stuck latch.
Exterior door latch sticks.
Tom s rule of thumb for keeping a door from sticking in the jamb is that the reveal the space between the door and jamb should be 1 8 to 3 16 inch wide or about the thickness of a nickel.
Step 1 close shave photo by craig raine.
A latch bolt that sticks in the strike often leave tell tale marks or scrapes on the strike plate.
Sticking door latches.
Watch joe as he shows you how to unstick a sticking door latch.
Each time you open it there is a little grab before it releases.
When a door latch doesn t click into position it usually means the latch and the strike plate are out of alignment.
Over time joints in a wood door relax causing the construction to sag and stick against the jamb.
In some instances you have a door that sticks along the strike area the metal part of the door frame where it meets the outermost edge of the door.
A sticking door latch might require some lubrication or it might be jamming against the strike plate on the door jamb.
You can see where the cylinder entered the dead latch mechanism and pulled the latch back.
In a situation like this sometimes the door itself is to blame.
Of course if it s on an exterior door you ll want to do this when the weather is nice and when it s safe to leave the door unlocked.
Door lock doesn t latch properly.
You should first test the door latch to ensure the latch is sticking inside the door and not due to a misaligned strike plate.
Turn the knob to open the door and release the knob slowly.
In other cases it may be the wood door edge itself scuffing on the door frame.
Tighten the hinge screws and then try adjusting.
Follow along as tom fixes a swelled door in his own home with just a few simple tools.
Once you have the door handle off you can now try to open the latch manually with either a large flathead screwdriver or pair of needle nose pliers.
Inspect the strike plate on the edge of the door frame.