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Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched
closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote:
One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet
wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't. So I think you may have found the cause. Thanks. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 18:13, Caecilius wrote:
On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't. So I think you may have found the cause. Thanks. If the door is bowed and currently sitting on 2 hinges, you could add a third hinge in the middle which may reduce or eliminate the effect. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote:
One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Gravitational anomaly. Bill |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 19:45, Andy Bennet wrote:
On 25/05/2020 18:13, Caecilius wrote: On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't.Â* So I think you may have found the cause.Â* Thanks. If the door is bowed and currently sitting on 2 hinges, you could add a third hinge in the middle which may reduce or eliminate the effect. Enlighten me. I do not fit doors. Serious question, if the door was bowed the other way would it self close? Or does this depend if the bow is closer to one hinge than the other? -- Adam |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 20:17, williamwright wrote:
On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Gravitational anomaly. Bill Indeed. Or it could be related to the fact that the north magnetic pole is leaving Canada and moving towards Siberia. Are there any iron or steel fixing on the door, and if so is it moving in the general direction of Siberia? -- Clive Page |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
Apart from a draught, sometimes wear on the top hinge does this. My garden
gate prefers to be half open because of the issue of which part of the pin is worn the most. I hate doors that do this as being blind its not funny walking into the edge of a door you know was not left half closed! How about a little draught excluder on the bottom of the door to provide enough friction to stop it swinging? Magnetic catch on the door? Magnetic catch on the open position on the end of a door stop? Brian -- ----- -- This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from... The Sofa of Brian Gaff... Blind user, so no pictures please Note this Signature is meaningless.! "Caecilius" wrote in message ... One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 20:20, ARW wrote:
On 25/05/2020 19:45, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 18:13, Caecilius wrote: On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't.Â* So I think you may have found the cause.Â* Thanks. If the door is bowed and currently sitting on 2 hinges, you could add a third hinge in the middle which may reduce or eliminate the effect. Enlighten me. I do not fit doors. Serious question, if the door was bowed the other way would it self close? Or does this depend if the bow is closer to one hinge than the other? Yes reversing the door would make it close. Think of the bow as a kind of spring, the bow is straightened as the door opens (or closes) depending on the door shape when it was hung. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On Mon, 25 May 2020 22:12:59 +0100, Clive Page wrote:
On 25/05/2020 20:17, williamwright wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Gravitational anomaly. Bill Indeed. Or it could be related to the fact that the north magnetic pole is leaving Canada and moving towards Siberia. Are there any iron or steel fixing on the door, and if so is it moving in the general direction of Siberia? I've a wardrobe door that swings shut. The wardrobe is horizontal in both planes and the top of door is horizontal at all openings. What is really strange is that it closes from 180 deg. open. It has 3 hinges, so I guess that there's stress due to a slight bow. The hinges are just screwed to the exterior faces, so there's no adjustment apart from a few mm on the slotted holes. I've tried moving the centre one a bit but if I try to move the hinges too far the door is misaligned and looks bad. -- Peter. The gods will stay away whilst religions hold sway |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On Mon, 25 May 2020 20:17:04 +0100, williamwright
wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: Any ideas on what could be causing this? Gravitational anomaly. I was suspecting that my spirit level might have gone out of spec and needed recalibration. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 26/05/2020 09:18, Caecilius wrote:
On Mon, 25 May 2020 20:17:04 +0100, williamwright wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: Any ideas on what could be causing this? Gravitational anomaly. I was suspecting that my spirit level might have gone out of spec and needed recalibration. Easily checked by rotating ends and see if bubble is in same postion. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On Monday, 25 May 2020 17:42:25 UTC+1, Caecilius wrote:
One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? the hinges not being inline. Result: the door drops fractionally as it opens. NT |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
the hinges not being inline. Result: the door drops fractionally as it opens.
Usually means repositioning of the hinges and hard to get right if the door has a bow. Richard |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote:
One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? You are right to check the level of spirits in the house if this is happening consistently. Does the room feel cold ever? As if there are draughts when there is no wind? Do you ever sense odours? or hear activity when you are not in the room? A nut & bolt on a piece of string is a perfectly good pendulum, especially if the iron has been in the vicinity for some time but use of the pendulum to determine spirit levels must be done with discretion and insight and it may be worth consulting someone gifted in its use. It is no easy thing to make sense of the movements. Tim W |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 25/05/2020 20:20, ARW wrote:
On 25/05/2020 19:45, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 18:13, Caecilius wrote: On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't.Â* So I think you may have found the cause.Â* Thanks. If the door is bowed and currently sitting on 2 hinges, you could add a third hinge in the middle which may reduce or eliminate the effect. Enlighten me. I do not fit doors. Who is going to fit your GF's new kitchen door ?. Serious question, if the door was bowed the other way would it self close? Or does this depend if the bow is closer to one hinge than the other? use a sledge hammer as a door stopper :-) |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 26/05/2020 12:34, Tricky Dicky wrote:
the hinges not being inline. Result: the door drops fractionally as it opens. Usually means repositioning of the hinges and hard to get right if the door has a bow. Richard Hard to get right, bowed or not, when repositioning hinges on an existing door. What do people do to plug the old screw holes ?. I find those dowels meant for joining wood, hammered into a slightly undersized hole with some pva does the trick. |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On Tuesday, 26 May 2020 13:39:06 UTC+1, Andrew wrote:
On 26/05/2020 12:34, Tricky Dicky wrote: the hinges not being inline. Result: the door drops fractionally as it opens. Usually means repositioning of the hinges and hard to get right if the door has a bow. Richard Hard to get right, bowed or not, when repositioning hinges on an existing door. If the upper hinge is further out, the door swings open. If further in, it swings shut. Just imagine what would happen if the situatoin were exaggerated. Shouldn't be hard to sort. What do people do to plug the old screw holes ?. I find those dowels meant for joining wood, hammered into a slightly undersized hole with some pva does the trick. matches, a bit chiselled off an offuct, filler, nothing, etc. Matches most often. NT |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:42:22 +0100, in uk.d-i-y Caecilius wrote:
One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? It does not take much mis-alignment of the hinges from true vertical to cause this, and it's difficult to prove mis-alignment with plum-bobs due to the door and frame getting in the way of the bob. However, for this to happen the hinge axis must be leaning from the vertical towards the opened edge. You may also notice that the bottom far corner of the door gets closer to the floor as it swings open, a sure sign the hinges aren't quite vertical (assuming the floor is horizontal!). I have just fixed the same problem of a self-opening door in my Victorian house where the frame must have shifted a bit over the years causing misalignment. Let the door swing to its open position. To fix it the top hinge axis needs to be moved away from the door, to slightly lift the far edge. Alternatively the bottom hinge can be moved the other way (or both moved a bit). This will require you to drill out and plug the existing screw holes with 6mm dowel plugs. Also, moving the hinge positions will likely require the door-stopping to be taken off and re-nailed afterwards. The way I did mine was to confirm the far edge of the door drops as it swings open, then anticipating that the hinges were to loosened/removed, I clamped a couple of my largest tri-squares to the door edge to stop it leaning over. Next I knocked 4 wedges tightly under the door, 2 each side, to take its weight (this was a heavy solid wooden door), then loosened the bottom hinge screws and completely removed those from the top hinge. Also prised the hinge blade free from its rebate - taking care the door didn't start to lean over! I then carefully knocked the wedges further in, lifting the edge of the door till the edges were vertical and the top horizontal. Next I drilled out the screw-holes and glued in 6mm dowel plugs. I had to widen the hinge rebate by about 3mm because the hinge blade will be moved a bit further over. Then its a matter of accurately centring new holes for the screws. I did this by finding one of those wood drill bits with a sharp pointy end that is close to the hole diameter in the hinge blade. Carefully tap this drill through the hinge hole to make a small starter hole. Then flip back the hinge and finish drilling the screw holes, ideally with a proper screw-sink bit. When satisfied with the door swing, re-fit the door-stopping (and touch-up paintwork!) It might also be necessary to pack out the hinges if the door isn't square in the frame. Phil |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 26/05/2020 08:25, Andy Bennet wrote:
On 25/05/2020 20:20, ARW wrote: On 25/05/2020 19:45, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 18:13, Caecilius wrote: On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't.Â* So I think you may have found the cause.Â* Thanks. If the door is bowed and currently sitting on 2 hinges, you could add a third hinge in the middle which may reduce or eliminate the effect. Enlighten me. I do not fit doors. Serious question, if the door was bowed the other way would it self close? Or does this depend if the bow is closer to one hinge than the other? Yes reversing the door would make it close. Think of the bow as a kind of spring, the bow is straightened as the door opens (or closes) depending on the door shape when it was hung. Thanks. -- Adam |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 26/05/2020 13:34, Andrew wrote:
On 25/05/2020 20:20, ARW wrote: On 25/05/2020 19:45, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 18:13, Caecilius wrote: On Mon, 25 May 2020 17:52:48 +0100, Andy Bennet wrote: On 25/05/2020 17:42, Caecilius wrote: One of my internal doors slowly swings fully open unless it's latched closed. None of the other identical doors do this so I think it's something to do with how it's hung, but I can't find any obvious problems. It's a solid hardwood door (so pretty heavy) hung on two brass hinges. A spirit level shows that the door frame on the hinge side is vertical, and the hinge side of the door is vertical as well. A plumb bob made from a nut&bolt on a piece of string shows that the two hinges are in line vertically. Any ideas on what could be causing this? Either a bowed door or wind. It's not wind, as it happens in still air. But a check with a straight edge shows that the door is bowed slightly, and the others that don't swing open aren't.Â* So I think you may have found the cause.Â* Thanks. If the door is bowed and currently sitting on 2 hinges, you could add a third hinge in the middle which may reduce or eliminate the effect. Enlighten me. I do not fit doors. Who is going to fit your GF's new kitchen door ?. Her brother in law who is a retired joiner. I just have to pay for the new door as I have been told it was my fault she broke it. -- Adam |
Fixing an internal door that swings open by itself
On 26/05/2020 13:25, TimW wrote:
You are right to check the level of spirits in the house if this is happening consistently. Does the room feel cold ever? As if there are draughts when there is no wind? Do you ever sense odours? or hear activity when you are not in the room? If you don't sense odours that probably means you have COVID... We have a bathroom door that is either open or shut. Put it half way and it goes to one or the other. It works for us - wide open, and the light comes onto the landing in the day. Shut and the light _doesn't_ get onto the landing and wake us up at 4am... I assume that the frame isn't vertical. But then in this house nothing has been vertical since the frame warped as it dried out. A couple of hundred years ago. Andy |
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