How To Remove A Broken Screw From A Door Hinge

How to Prepare Hinge Screws

Updated: Jun. 30, 2022

Get your door back into the swing of things.

FH07MAY_STRSCR_02-2 Family unit Handyman

This commodity will testify how to fix a mutual door hang-up. The solution to loose hinges is elementary and foolproof—bigger screws! You'll have that sticking door working like a amuse in no fourth dimension.

You lot might as well similar: TBD

Fix it forever

Loose hinge

This is the culprit.

The solution

Replace short hinge screws with long screws when the screw holes no longer hold. Angle the long screws toward the studs to make sure they catch.

One day the door closes smoothly; the next day it's sticking. And the sticking grows worse as the weeks laissez passer. Information technology'south a common old house problem, but information technology tin can happen anywhere kids hang from doorknobs.

The screws belongings the meridian hinges conduct almost of the weight of the door and are virtually always the first to pull out, especially afterwards they've been repeatedly tightened over the years. The best way to beef them up is to replace the standard 3/4-in. hinge screws with at to the lowest degree two iii-in. screws that go through the jambs and solidly anchor into the framing. If the door has a big hinge with four screw holes, only drive 3-in. screws direct through the two holes toward the center of the door. Withal, if the hinge has only 3 holes, add a three-in. screw through the middle hole and redrill the summit screw hole at a slight angle so the screw hits solid wood.

Start the drill chip at a sharp angle so the bit doesn't follow the old screw hole. As before long as you feel a fresh hole starting, tip the drill bit back to an angle that will hitting the stud—the angle shown here should piece of work for most doors. If the bit or screw feels like it's sliding off to the side between the drywall and wood, redrill at a sharper angle.

Screw the hinge back in with xanthous dichromate (zinc-plated) screws—the color and head size of these rust-resistant drywall screws are a proficient match for standard brass hinge screws. If the door doesn't close properly later on all the screws are driven in, they may have been driven in too far, pulling the door frame out of plumb. Just back the screws out a few turns.

Required Tools for this Project

Take the necessary tools for this DIY projection lined up earlier y'all start—y'all'll save time and frustration.

Required Materials for this Projection

Avoid last-infinitesimal shopping trips past having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here's a listing.

Originally Published: June 20, 2022