Hey everyone, I'm a DIY enthusiast and have recently bought four different sizes of interior doors along with their door jamb kits. This is my first time installing doors, and I thought it would be a breeze with all the YouTube guidance. However, I've hit a major roadblock!
After hanging my first door, I noticed there's more than a 1/4" gap between the door and the lock jamb side—it's consistent from top to bottom. I tried putting really slim shims under the hinges, but that didn't help much. I've since installed two more doors, and the last one is the worst—check out the pictures!
The gap on that door is about 1/2", even though everything looks plumb and square. I've made sure the header jamb size is correct (the door is 36" and the header jamb is 37-3/4", with a stop of 36-3/8"). I'm at a loss for how to fix this gap. Should I shorten the jamb, and what steps should I take to eliminate it? Thanks for any tips!
1 Answer
It sounds like you need to adjust the latch side of the door. If the hinge side is plumb, then it's crucial to bring the latch side in to get an even gap all around. Focus on how the jamb fits against the door, not just the wall.
I get that! If the gap is consistent from top to bottom, it usually means the jamb is not positioned right. Yes, you might need to move the side jambs in closer, but cutting the header could be necessary if everything is too wide. It's tricky, hang in there!