Internal Doors Sorted — Creaks, Catches and Dropping Fixed in Edgbaston

The everyday faults we see

Internal doors collect small failures: a hinge that squeaks every time, a door that swings shut on its own, a latch that no longer catches, a handle that droops, a door that catches on the new carpet. None of these is urgent on its own, but together they make a home feel shabby, and each one tends to get slightly worse for being ignored. The good news is that most internal door faults are honest, mechanical problems with straightforward fixes — once you know which part has actually failed.

What we check on arrival

We start with the door working: swing it, latch it, listen. Loose or squealing hinges come next — often a matter of worn screws in oversized holes, or hinges that were never properly tightened after the door was hung years ago. We check the latch and strike alignment, the handle and spindle for wear, and the gap under the door against the floor covering. A door that was fine on floorboards may bind badly once a thick carpet or new laminate goes in, and that fix is different from a hinge problem, so the diagnosis matters before the tools come out.

Repairs we carry out

Most internal door faults are quick, careful work. Hinges get cleaned, tightened or replaced; worn screw holes are plugged and re-screwed so the hinge holds properly rather than being forced into a bigger hole. Failed latches are swapped out — latch sizes are standard enough that a replacement is usually straightforward. Droopy handles usually mean a worn spindle or a tired latch spring, and we replace the part that has actually failed rather than the whole set. A door that binds gets eased with a plane, minimally, and the raw edge is sealed straight away. A door that swings shut on its own often needs a hinge re-set rather than a wedge in the frame.

Where repair ends and replacement begins

Some doors are not worth repairing, and we will say so. A split bottom rail, a delaminated hollow-core panel, water damage that has swelled the whole leaf — these are replacement conversations, and pretending otherwise wastes your money. There is also a limit to planing: a door eased too often becomes too small for its frame and rattles in the draught it now lets past. When we reach that point we stop and discuss options rather than making the problem smaller and worse. Any replacement is quoted separately, and you decide before anything is ordered.

Caring for internal doors

A drop of oil on hinges and latch tongues twice a year prevents most squeaks and stiffness. Do not slam doors — it is the fastest way to crack a latch and loosen hinges. If you are redecorating, take the handles off rather than painting around them, and seal any planed edges immediately so moisture cannot get in. And when you change floor coverings, check the door clearances the same week; a carpet fitter will not do that adjustment for you, and a door that binds chews its own bottom edge.

Booking

Whether it is one sticking bedroom door or every door in the house, we cover the West Midlands and same-day slots may be available depending on when you book. A booking fee is paid when you reserve the slot, the hourly labour rate depends on how soon you need the visit, and the full cost is quoted and approved by you before work starts. If several doors need attention, list them when you book so the visit can be planned and nothing gets missed.