I recently had a prehung door installed in my home built in 1948 after struggling for years with a broken doorknob. The contractor completed the installation, but now the door won't latch unless I use the deadlock, and there are significant gaps around it causing light to seep through. This situation is unacceptable, especially as winter approaches. The contractor is aware of the issues, but I'm at a loss on how to fix this. What are my options?
3 Answers
You might just need a simple adjustment on the strike plate. Moving it up just a bit might help the latch bolt engage properly. By the way, is this an all-wood door?
Honestly, this isn’t acceptable at all. You should definitely request the contractor to fix his work. If he’s claiming there’s nothing to be done, you might want to consider reporting him to consumer affairs or the BBB. Don't let it slide!
I appreciate the advice! Unfortunately, I didn’t choose the contractor myself due to the program I'm in. They sent inspectors to review the work, but I missed him when he came to check.
It sounds like the jambs might not be square. If this is a prehung door that was properly sized, squaring it up should definitely be part of the installation. If it was just a slab door, sometimes the installation requirements aren't clearly communicated to the contractor.
No, it's actually a fiberglass door. It was selected for me through a home improvement program.