No matter how well you maintain your home, regular wear and tear is inevitable. Over time, you may find that your interior doors no longer seem to be fitting properly in their frames. Or perhaps one or more of your doors have sustained accidental damage thanks to your rambunctious household of children and pets. Regardless of the cause, with professional services for interior door repair, Naples, FL homeowners can get their doors operating like they’re supposed to in no time at all.

A close-up of a handyman screwing in a new strike plate on a wooden door during an appointment for interior door repair in Naples, FL.

Naples interior door repair is not challenging in and of itself, but rather the troubleshooting involved to find the problem’s source is what gives many homeowners a headache. Unless it’s a pre-hung door, it’s recommended that slabs are hung by an experienced carpenter. A properly fitted door requires considerable precision, and being even an eighth of an inch off can result in a door that doesn’t function correctly. A similar level of precision is required for interior door repair.

The professional Naples handyman team at Mr. Handyman is made up of licensed contractors who have the experience and expertise to repair binding, strike plate misalignment, holes, improperly fitted slabs, and sliding track issues. While you could try to tackle some common interior door repairs in Naples, FL, yourself, it’s best to rely on an experienced carpenter and qualified contractor from Mr. Handyman serving Naples, Marco Island, and Immokalee.

What To Expect From Our Indoor Door Repairs in Naples, FL

Although interior doors are protected from the elements, that doesn’t mean they don’t suffer from similar damage as exterior doors. Since wood is a preferred material, it’s not uncommon for you to need indoor door repairs in Naples, FL due to moisture damage caused by high levels of indoor humidity. But there is more, from entry door repairs to frame repairs, your own needs for door repair may vary significantly.

Here is a list of some of the popular types of Naples indoor door repair services we provide:

BINDING DOOR PROBLEMS

Doors that are said to ‘bind’ refer to those that are difficult to open and close. When you wake up at night to use your bathroom, the last thing you want is to struggle to wrench open a binding door. If you have small children, they may not be strong enough to open them themselves, and it could also pose a safety hazard.

There are a few different reasons for your binding problem. Sometimes, it’s as simple as having loose hinges, but other times the slab may just be too big for its frame. No matter what the cause is, with this type of interior door repair, Naples, FL technicians will have a relatively simple time completing a repair.

WHEN YOUR DOOR WON’T LATCH

When we say that a lock doesn’t latch, we mean that it isn’t clicking shut. It can therefore be opened without needing to turn a knob. Locking a door that doesn’t latch is pointless and may lead to some embarrassing and unsafe situations.

This problem comes down to a misaligned strike plate—the metal plate you find on the door frame. A properly aligned strike plate will allow the latch to click into place, thereby preventing your door from opening unless the knob is turned to release the latch from the strike plate hole.

HOLES IN SLABS

Hollow-core doors are commonly used in home interiors due to their affordability, lightweight, and wood-like appearance. What they’re not known for, however, is their durability. Though they look like they’re made of wood, many homeowners in Naples have the misfortune of finding out just how easy it is to jam a hole into them. But don’t worry! When hiring a licensed contractor from Mr. Handyman for professional indoor door repairs, in Naples, FL property owners can look forward to their slabs looking new again.

SLIDING DOOR ISSUES

Up until this point, we’ve talked a lot about hinged doors that our service technicians fix on a regular basis. But what about bifold doors and barn doors that are no longer sliding properly? Closet doors that can’t be fully shut can make your room feel cluttered and disorganized. They can also be noisy and cause disruption for other people in your home. Problems with sliding units usually come down to three common causes: debris buildup, misalignment, and a lack of lubrication. All you have to do is call your local handyman for expert Naples interior door repair services!

The Mr. Handyman Difference

A close-up of a handyman screwing in a new strike plate on a wooden door during an appointment for interior door repair in Naples, FL.

Mr. Handyman serving Naples, Marco Island, and Immokalee is a locally owned and operated handyman business with a team of licensed contractors who provide local communities with excellent property maintenance, repairs, improvements, and remodeling services.

All our highly trained service professionals are background-checked, bonded, and fully insured, bringing many years of experience working in the trades. They, too, are local and are familiar with common issues that property owners face.

In addition to Naples, we also serve the areas of Marco Island, Goodland, and many more. As a Neighborhood company, we pride ourselves on our excellent service. Customer service, respect, and integrity are at the heart of what we do, which is why we offer a Neighborly Done Right Promise®—on the rare occasion that we don’t get it done right the first time, we’ll make it right so that customer satisfaction is always guaranteed.

Indoor Door Repair: Naples, FL FAQs

HOW CAN I FIX A BINDING DOOR PROBLEM MYSELF?

To determine your best course of action, you’ll need to identify any areas where binding is occurring:

  • Hinged Side: When binding occurs on the slab’s hinged side, it’s possible that hinge lubrication or tightening is required. Before investing your time in more labor-intensive repairs, give your hinges a thorough spray with WD-40. If your hinges were squeaking, this should fix that problem and allow them to move properly. If binding is still occurring, tighten all hinge screws. Loose screws that won’t tighten have probably been stripped, in which case you’ll need to replace them.
  • Top or Bottom Sides: For a panel that is sticking near the top frame or is dragging on your flooring or carpet, some light sanding should correct the binding. When sanding panel tops and bottoms, go very slowly and test for binding frequently. You don’t want to sand away so much that your door no longer seals!
  • Non-Hinged Side: If sticking is occurring on the side opposite to the hinges, and you notice that it sticks more during particularly muggy months, weather changes may be to blame. When varnish and paint on your wood doors wears off, humid air will be able to get into the wood and cause it to expand. To fix this problem, you’ll need to reseal your door with a fresh coat of paint. During this type of interior door repair, Naples, FL homeowners may find it easier to complete it during Southwest Florida’s dry season, at which time your door will have contracted back to its normal size.

Still, struggling? Please do not hesitate to call your local Naples handyman for superior door service. We’ll help you save time and money and promise long-lasting results.

IF THE LOCK DOESN’T LATCH, HOW DO YOU FIX THE MISALIGNMENT?

To repair a strike plate misalignment, you’ll first need to determine where the latch is currently hitting the frame. More often than not, you’ll find that the latch is hitting too low. This is usually caused by a slab that has settled over time and is no longer fully supported by its hinges. To correct this issue, you’ll want to try tightening its screws. If this doesn’t work, then you may need to add shims. Shims are metal or plastic plates that are placed behind hinge plates. Placing a shim behind the bottom hinge should give your door a little upwards leverage, allowing the latch to contact the strike plate hole.

A latch that is hitting above the strike plate is likely caused by an incorrectly installed plate. When hiring Mr. Handyman for interior door repair, in Naples, FL residents can count on us to efficiently remove the plate and reposition it. Afterward, we’ll fill in any holes with wood filler and finish with paint or a stain so it looks and functions as new.

HOW CAN I REPAIR HOLES IN SLABS?

If you have experience with repairing holes in drywall, you’ll find the process of repairing hollow-core holes fairly straightforward. All you’ll need is some plastic wood filler, expanding insulation foam, and cardboard.

  • Remove the slab from the frame and place it on a flat surface.
  • Using a utility knife, carve out the edges of the hole so that you’re left with a clean space to work.
  • Measure the holes’ depth and cut a thin strip of cardboard according to these dimensions. Then, roll your cardboard strip into a tube and place it inside the hole. If you measure the cardboard correctly, the edges will be flush with the door’s surface.
  • Using expanding foam, fill in the cardboard mold. Leave it to dry for several hours. Once dry, you can trim off any excess foam.
  • Using a putty knife, apply plastic wood filler to the foam’s surface. Using a crisscross motion, taper the putty across the foam-filled hole and allow it to dry.
  • Finish by sanding everything down until you’re left with a smooth, flush surface. Apply a fresh coat of paint.

Of course, you can save yourself the time-consuming effort and leave it to your Naples interior door repair professionals!

HOW DO YOU REPAIR A LOOSE-FITTING DOOR?

Unlike binding, a loose-fitting door will open too easily and may rattle when someone walks past it. Not only is this annoying, but it may also make it harder to keep your home energy efficient. Some residents with Naples homes prefer to save money and reduce their energy bills by air conditioning only a portion of their homes. If there are air leaks between interior doors, keeping a single room cool will be next to impossible.

Mr. Handyman’s solution:

This Naples interior door repair can often be fixed by tightening the strike plate and door stop. Many strike plates come with a center flange that can be adjusted to allow the latch to fit more tightly. Our professional technicians will use pliers and pull the flange slightly forward to encourage a better fit.

If that doesn’t do the trick or the strike plate doesn’t have a flange, we’ll tighten the door stop—a piece of molding that prevents the door from extending past the closed position. To do this, we’ll break the seal between the stop and the jamb. Then, place a piece of wood against the stop to protect it, and lightly hammer the wood to push the stop forward until it is flush with the door.

If improving your home's energy efficiency is a priority, we’ll also suggest tightening the fit of your unit using weatherstripping. Though typically used on exterior doors, there’s no reason why you can’t add this adhesive-backed insulating foam to your interior doors as well.

WHAT TO DO IF MY DOORS WON’T SLIDE?

First, check the tracks to see whether they’re dirty. If you’re lucky, all you’ll need to do is grab an old toothbrush and some warm water and get scrubbing. Next, try to add some lubrication to the tracks. For lubrication, you can use oils such as fish oil and vegetable oil or something like petroleum jelly. These products can be messy, so only use a bit. Dip a rag into the product and run it up and down the track.

Still not sliding properly? In this case, you probably have a misalignment issue. Check to see if the wheels are on the tracks. For wheels that have fallen off the tracks, you’ll need to carefully pick up the door and move it back into place. If all wheels are on lubricated and cleaned tracks, the issue may be due to a damaged part, such as a broken spring. In this case, your easiest course of action is to hire a Naples interior door repair expert who can identify damage—and potentially order a part replacement—for you.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED NAPLES INTERIOR DOOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT?

Knowing when an interior door repair in Naples, FL is possible and when it’s in your financial interest to simply replace the unit entirely can be a difficult call to make. When considering the best course of action, take the type of door and material into account.

A French door or sliding glass door with damaged glass will probably need a full replacement, while a solid wood door with dents and scratches can simply be sanded and refinished for a fraction of the average cost of replacement.

Additionally, it may be better to replace a hollow-core door with a hole in it rather than spend your valuable time repairing it, as these panels are generally very inexpensive. Just keep in mind that a replacement will also have installation costs. Deciding whether this additional cost is worth the time you'll save is a decision no one can make but you.

Hire Professional Interior Door Repairs in Naples, FL

Do you lack the carpentry skills required to complete a Naples interior door repair, or simply don’t have enough time to complete the repair yourself? At Mr. Handyman serving Naples, Marco Island, and Immokalee, our licensed contractors, and carpenters are ready and willing to take on this job for you.

Whether you need help with the repair or installation project of your interior or exterior door, our highly-rated local, licensed pros have the knowledge to complete your improvement project according to quality workmanship standards, as well as provide additional information and services for everything from door installation to bathroom remodeling.

If you’re looking for someone who can meet your needs for interior door repair in Naples or a nearby area like Marco Island, contact us today to schedule your appointment with one of our expert technicians.

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