Door Installation
Interior and exterior doors installed, leveled, shimmed and trimmed to close right.
Serving Essex & Union County, NJ
Door Repair for Sticking, Sagging and Unlatched Doors
Doors that stick, rub, sag or won't latch brought back into line, usually without replacing the door.
- Written quote before any work
- Cause fixed first, not just the symptom
- Insured handyman company
Get a door repair quote
Door repair fixes doors that stick, sag, rub or won't latch by tightening or replacing hinges, adjusting the strike plate, planing the edge or fixing the track. Csiszer Property Maintenance, an insured handyman company serving Essex County and Union County, NJ, repairs doors in homes, rentals and businesses, from one bedroom door to every door in a rental. Most problems come from loose hinges, a shifted strike plate or humidity, and are fixed without replacing the door.
What Is Door Repair?
Door repair brings an existing door back into alignment so it swings freely, closes with an even gap and latches on the first push. It covers interior, exterior, sliding and closet doors, and it's one of our all door and window services.
Most door trouble starts at the top hinge. It carries most of the door's weight, so when its screws loosen in the jamb, the latch side drops a little. The door then rubs the frame at the top corner, the latch lands below the strike plate and the gap along the edge turns into a wedge. Fixing that sag is the repair; planing or moving hardware without it only hides the problem for a season.
Older homes across Essex County and Union County add their own causes: decades of settling, frames that are no longer square and layers of paint on hinges and edges. New Jersey's humid summers and dry, heated winters also make wood doors swell and shrink. A good repair accounts for all of that, so the door works in August and in January.
Loose or sagging hinges
Stripped screws reset with longer screws that reach the framing, or worn hinges replaced.
Sticking and rubbing edges
The rubbing spot planed only after the hinges are right, then sealed so it stays put.
Door won't latch
Sag corrected first, then the strike plate adjusted so the latch catches cleanly.
Sliding and closet doors
Bypass and bifold doors realigned, with worn rollers, guides or tracks replaced.
Swinging and squeaking doors
Doors that drift open or shut and noisy hinges adjusted, cleaned or swapped out.
Exterior door weatherstrip check
Alignment and seal contact checked on entry doors, so drafts get traced to the cause.
When You Need Door Repair: 6 Signs
You need door repair when a door rubs, drifts, won't latch or lets light through. These are the six we see most in Essex and Union County homes.
It rubs at the top latch corner
A worn spot high on the latch side of the frame usually means the top hinge has loosened and the door has dropped.
You lift or lean on it to latch
When the latch lands above or below the strike plate, the door won't latch without a push. The cause is almost always sag.
The gap along the edge is uneven
A gap that's wide at the bottom and tight at the top is a clear sign of sagging hinges or a frame that has shifted.
It swings open or shut by itself
A door that won't stay where you leave it has hinges out of line with each other, a common result of settling.
It only sticks in summer
Seasonal sticking is humidity swelling the wood. The fix is different from year-round sticking, so tell us when it happens.
A closet door jumps its track
Sliding and bifold doors that pop out of the track usually have worn rollers, a bent track or a missing floor guide.
How Our Door Repair Works, Step by Step
Our door repair takes five steps: photos or a description, a review, a written quote, the adjustment or repair, and a final test with cleanup.
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Send photos and your town
Text or upload a photo of the door closed showing the gap, one of the hinges and one of the latch, and say whether it sticks all year or only in summer.
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We review, or visit if needed
The gap pattern shows whether it's the hinges, the frame or swelling. If photos aren't enough, we schedule a visit first, at no charge.
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Get a written quote and pick a day
You get a written quote before anything is booked. Approve it and choose a weekday between 8 AM and 5 PM.
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Fix the cause, then fine-tune
Hinges are tightened or replaced first, then the strike plate, stops or track are adjusted, and the edge is planed only if it still rubs.
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Seal, test and clean up
Any planed wood is sealed or touched up, the door is opened, closed and latched several times, and shavings are cleaned up before we leave.
What's Included in Door Repair
Every door repair includes the alignment, the hardware adjustment and cleanup. Lock work is left out because New Jersey licenses locksmiths.
Included
- Tightening or replacing hinges and hinge screws
- Planing sticking edges and sealing the bare wood
- Strike plate and door stop adjustment
- Sliding and closet door track fixes, plus a weatherstrip check
Not included: needs a licensed or specialized pro
- Installing, rekeying or repairing locks: a licensed locksmith
- Smart locks, keypads and electronic locks: a licensed locksmith
- Garage door springs and cables: a garage door specialist
New Jersey law defines locksmithing services to include repairing, recoding, adjusting and installing locking devices (N.J.S.A. 45:5A-2), and the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs licenses locksmiths through its Fire Alarm, Burglar Alarm and Locksmith Advisory Committee.
How Much Does Door Repair Cost?
Door repair cost depends on the number of doors, the door type, the parts it needs and any paint touch-up after planing. Photos help us review the job, and the price is in writing before anything is scheduled.
Most door adjustments are priced by the job, so the quote covers the diagnosis, the fix, any sealing and cleanup. The biggest swings come from what the door needs: tightening screws is quicker than replacing a set of hinges, and a sliding door with a bent track needs parts that a swinging door doesn't.
Doors are easy to group. If the bedroom door rubs, the closet slider jumps its track and the back door won't latch, include all three in one request. A landlord can do the same for every unit in a building and get one quote.
| Factor | How it affects the price | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Number of doors | Several doors in one visit spread the trip across more work | Three sticking doors on one floor |
| Door type | Exterior, solid wood and sliding doors take more setup than hollow interior doors | A front entry door vs. a closet door |
| Parts | New hinges, rollers, guides or track add material | Replacing a bent bypass track |
| Paint touch-up | A planed edge needs sealing; painted doors may need the edge repainted | A clear-sealed edge vs. a painted edge |
| Condition of the frame | Paint buildup, stripped screw holes and settled frames add steps | A 1920s door vs. a newer prehung door |
| Other jobs in the same visit | Grouping small jobs gets more done for one trip | A door repair plus a window screen |
Weighing a new door instead? Read repair or replace interior door for the signs that point to each option.
Door Repair Mistakes That Bring the Problem Back
Most door fixes fail because the symptom was treated instead of the cause. Here's what to avoid, how to choose between a repair and a new door, and how to get ready.
Six Common Door Repair Mistakes
Six mistakes cause most door repairs that don't last: planing before checking the hinges, short screws in a stripped hole, taking too much off in August, leaving the planed edge bare, moving the strike instead of fixing the sag and painting over the hinges.
Planing before checking hinges
If the door has sagged, planing the top corner removes wood the door will need once the hinges are tightened.
Short screws in a stripped hole
Screws that only grip the thin jamb pull loose again. Longer screws that reach the framing hold the weight.
Taking too much off in August
A door planed to fit while swollen in summer can leave a wide, drafty gap once it shrinks in a heated winter.
Leaving the planed edge bare
Raw wood soaks up moisture fast, so an unsealed edge swells and sticks again the next humid week.
Moving the strike instead of the sag
Filing or moving the strike plate lets the door latch, but the rubbing and uneven gap stay until the sag is fixed.
Painting over the hinges
Paint on hinge knuckles and door edges builds up over the years until the door binds. Hardware is masked or removed first.
Repair or Replace the Door: How to Decide
Repair when the door itself is solid; replace it when the slab is damaged or the frame is past adjusting. New doors are handled as door installation.
Repair it when
- The door sticks, sags or won't latch
- The slab is flat, solid and not split
- Sticking comes and goes with the seasons
- The frame is close to square
Replace it when
- A hollow-core door has a hole or split face
- The door is warped enough to rock in the frame
- An exterior door is soft or rotted at the bottom
- You want a different size, style or swing
Before Your Door Repair Visit: A Quick Checklist
Six small things make the visit faster. If a door only acts up in humid months, read door sticking in summer first.
- Photograph each problem door closed, with the gap visible
- Note whether it sticks all year or only in summer
- Note which doors are exterior and which are interior
- Count every door that sticks, swings or won't latch
- Mention lock problems so a locksmith can be lined up
- Clear a few feet on both sides of each door
Why Choose Csiszer Property Maintenance for Door Repair
Choose us for door repair because the cause gets fixed before the symptom, by one insured team, with the price in writing first.
Insured in occupied homes
Doors in homes, rentals and offices are repaired by an insured handyman company.
Every door in one quote
Each sticking, sagging or rubbing door goes on one written quote before work starts.
Hinges before the plane
Sag and alignment are checked first, so wood is only removed when the door truly needs it.
Built for NJ seasons
Clearances are set with summer swelling and winter shrinking in mind, and bare wood is sealed.
Clear about lock work
Lock problems are flagged in your quote so a licensed locksmith can handle them, with no guesswork.
Long screws into the framing
Loose top hinges get longer screws driven into the framing, so the sag doesn't come back.
Door Repair Questions, Answered Straight
These are the questions people ask most before a door repair. For other door and window jobs, see all our door and window services.
How much does door repair cost in New Jersey?
It depends on the number of doors, the type of door, the parts it needs and whether a planed edge needs paint afterward. Send photos of the door closed, the hinges and the latch, or describe the problem. If the photos show enough, you get a written quote; if the door needs a closer look, we visit first, at no charge. Either way, the price is in writing before anything is scheduled.
Should I repair or replace an interior door?
Usually not. Most sticking, sagging and latching problems come from the hinges, the strike plate or humidity, and the door itself is fine. Our guide on whether to repair or replace an interior door covers the signs that a door is truly done.
Why does my door only stick in summer?
That's humidity. Wood takes on moisture in humid New Jersey summers and swells, then shrinks back in dry, heated winters. See door sticking in summer for how to tell swelling apart from a sagging hinge.
Can you change or rekey my lock?
No. New Jersey licenses locksmith work, and state law counts repairing, rekeying and installing locks as locksmithing services. We don't do lock work, so lock changes and rekeys go to a licensed locksmith.
Can you fix a door that won't latch?
Yes. A door that won't latch has usually dropped on its hinges, so the latch misses the strike plate. We fix the sag first, then adjust the strike plate so the door latches on the first push.
Do you repair sliding and closet doors?
Yes. Sliding, bypass and bifold doors are realigned, and worn rollers, guides and tracks are replaced when the parts are available. A door that keeps jumping its track usually has a bent track or a missing floor guide.
Will planing damage my door's finish?
Only if the edge is left bare. Planing is kept to the rubbing spot, and the fresh wood is sealed or painted so it doesn't soak up moisture and swell again. If the door is stained, the edge is sealed with a clear finish instead.
Can you fix an exterior door that lets in drafts?
Yes. A drafty exterior door is often out of alignment, so the weatherstrip never gets pressed evenly. The door is adjusted first, then the weatherstrip and sweep are checked, and worn seals are noted in your quote.
Do you fix windows too?
Yes. Sticking sashes, broken balances and torn screens are handled under window repair, and new windows under window installation. Add them to the same request and they're quoted together.
Who repairs doors for homes and rentals in Essex County, NJ?
Csiszer Property Maintenance, an insured handyman company serving Essex County and Union County, NJ. Landlords can list each problem door with the unit number, add a photo if they have one, and every door is reviewed and quoted together.
Still have a question about your door?
Send it with a photo. We answer by phone, text or email, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Related Door and Window Services
If the door is past repair or the windows need attention too, one of these fits better.
Window Repair
Sticking sashes, broken balances, sash cords and torn screens repaired in place.
Window Installation
Replacement windows installed, insulated, sealed and trimmed for a tight fit.
Request a Free Door Repair Quote in Essex & Union County
Send a photo of the door closed, one of the hinges, one of the latch and your town, or describe the problem, and request your free door repair quote. We review it: if the photos show enough, you get a written quote; if the door needs a closer look, we schedule a visit first, at no charge.
- Call or text (551) 343-7074
- Text photos to (551) 343-7074
- csiszerpm@gmail.com
- Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Insured
Request a door repair quote