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https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/croydon-window-hinge-repairs-near-me/

How to Fix a Loose Door Hinge Most homeowners can fix hinges that are loose However if the screw holes are damaged and cant hold screws you might have to use dowels and wood glue before you can put back the hinge Before you do that however you should clean off any surface rust replace window hinges will help the dowels remain in place and provide them a solid base to hold onto Take off the Hinges A lot of door hinges are removable which makes it easier to move the door from one side to another or to take the entire door off of the frame if needed The removal of the hinges is easy for anyone with patience although you need to know how to do it properly If the hinges have been painted it is necessary to remove the paint before you attempt to remove the pins If you do not the paint may be smashed off and scratch your door when you attempt to lift it Place the hinges in the stainless steel pot and fill it up with water until the hinges are completely submerged Let the hinges rest in the pan for about 30 minutes The heat from the water should soften the paint and make it easier to remove the pins Once the pins are loosened you can remove the hinges from the frame and door You can employ a screwdriver for the job done however it is recommended that you use a magnetic screwdriver for this task This type of screwdriver was created to pick up screws made of steel and can make the work speed up Before you attempt to remove the hinges it is a good idea to spray them with some lubricant A simple lubricant will help you to move the process along faster and remove the pins and screws more easily You can find this type of lubricant in most hardware and home improvement stores The number of hinges needed will also differ based on the type of door you have and the way it is set up Heavier and solidcored doors will require more hinges whereas hollowcored doors that are lighter may only need two or three Understanding the different kinds of hinges will help determine which one is best for your needs Exterior hinges are typically designed to support the weight of the door and interior hinges require to support lighter loads Reattaching the Hinges Over time the hinges on doors can become loose and start to hang crooked or sag This can cause problems however its usually simple to solve Retightening the screw will typically solve the problem If the screw holes have been stripped out it may be difficult to do However there is a method to make these holes back to their original size that utilizes a wood dowel Start by drilling the hole with a drill bit close to the new screw size normally 38 Then you can use wood glue and dowels made of wood to fill in the hole The dowel should be cut to a length exactly the same as the screw to ensure a tight fit Install the screw again and tighten it to the desired degree of tightness If the door continues to bind up you can insert another dowel into the gap Repeat the procedure Make sure to close the door slowly in order to verify the clearances at the perimeter after each adjustment You can also use a wooden plug instead of the dowel This will work as well however it may take a bit longer to install Simply whittle a chunk of wood to the appropriate size for a comfortable fit and then insert it into the hole If you dont own an instrument for woodworking or toothpicks you can make use of toothpicks or wooden matchsticks Make use of a countersink to make the hole smaller for the head of screw after you have installed it This will prevent the screw from hitting the edge of the doors as they are opened and closed This will make it easier to tighten the screw when reinstalling the hinge Once you have reinstalled the hinge make sure to lubricate it with a dry lubricant to ensure that it doesnt get stuck in the future You can apply products such as PB Blaster and Liquid Wrench Apply a thin layer and allow it to penetrate the hinge barrel for around 15 minutes Refinishing the Hinges If youre not yet ready to replace your hinges you can try a few fixes Check that the screws that attach the hinge plate to both the door frame and the frame are in good condition If theyre loose tighten them with an electric drill or screwdriver Be careful not to tighten the screws so much that they begin to create gaps in the trim joints or worse strip the threads If the issue is that the hinge plates are breaking you can reattach the plates by putting wood glue to the back of them and then inserting toothpicks or wooden dowels into the holes Dowels and toothpicks provide a solid base for the screws and prevent the plates from shifting as you push them in Let the glue dry before reattaching your hinge Another reason that causes loose hinges is that the screws are damaged or gone This problem can be fixed by replacing the screws Make sure you use the correct drill bit for the size of the screw hole to avoid drilling into other parts of the hinge or jamb After youve reattached your hinge shut the door and check the gap between the door and the frame It should be around the thickness of one nickel all the way around or less if theres a gap caused by a door that was not properly hang If the hinges were installed properly this shouldnt be an issue If the hinges are still loose try adding an extra thick hinge between the surface of the hinge plate and the mounting surface This will allow the hinges more space You can also take off the hinge pin and then pound it down with a heavy hammer to tighten it or install a new hinge It is also possible to lubricate the hinges with mineral or jojoba oil to decrease friction and assist in keeping their position Lubricating your hinges regularly can prevent them from becoming stiff and squeaky and can also prolong their life Cleaning the Hinges The constant movement of a hinge creates friction which attracts dust particles If there is no regular cleaning or lubrication these particles become stuck in the moving parts of a hinge for doors and build up over time As a result the hinge becomes stiff and creaky and its appearance can get worse Regular cleaning lubrication and inspection will preserve the quality and function of hinges that are attached to doors Check the hinges for corrosion If the corrosion has reached the point of destroying surface of the barrel or screw holes you will require replacement of the hinges If you can save the hinges clean any loose rust by using steel wool and wire brush Apply a commercial rustremoving product or homemade solutions like lemon juice on the hinge Allow the rustremoving solution to remain on the hinges for a few minutes to penetrate and dissolve the remaining rust If you dont want to spend the money and time replacing your hinges simply retightening the screws will bring back the hinges functionality If you have stripped the screws however it might be necessary to attach a wooden dowel or shim to the hinge Dowels made of wood are square pieces of wood in the form of rods which are available in different lengths and diameters You can find them at home improvement stores woodworking supply and craft shops or on the internet A shim could also be made from plastic or metal depending on the kind of hinge you have To make a dowel cut a piece of wood dowel or any other durable material to the desired size You can then dip the dowel in carpenters glue before inserting it into the hole that you have stripped and let the glue hold the dowel in the right position Before cleaning the hinges lay down a paper cloth or towel to protect your flooring from spills After the area has been secured and dry clean the hinges with an absorbent sponge or a soft cloth that has been soaked in mild cleaner or vinegar to get rid of dirt grime and tarnish You can make use of a toothbrush or a small brush to get into difficulttoreach areas in crevices and tight areas

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