Hey everyone, I'm new here and could really use your help! I live in a rent-stabilized unit in Brooklyn, where my landlord is pretty unmotivated for repairs, and their handyman does a bad job. The closet door handle keeps coming loose because I think it wasn't installed properly, and honestly, the door is pretty cheap too. I've tried screwing it in multiple times, but now the handles are uneven, and it just won't stay put for more than a week. I'm looking for suggestions on how to fix this without replacing the entire door. I'm 8 months pregnant, so I'm trying to avoid extra hassle and costs. I was wondering if using putty to fill in the holes and using the plastic molly screws would be effective? It seems like someone attempted that before, but it might not have worked. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I've posted a photo here: [link]. Thanks a lot!
3 Answers
From what I can see, those doors are likely hollow core, and it looks like the last attempt to fix the handles was using the veneer skin only, which isn't very strong. They added plastic anchors, but those can become loose over time. If you can find lock blocks, they would provide a solid backing for the screws. Otherwise, you could use short hollow wall anchors, but you would need to drill new holes carefully to ensure they hold the knob securely.
You could try sticking a toothpick into the holes before screwing the handle back in. Adding some wood glue or filler might help too. If that doesn't work, you might want to look for a bigger screw to use instead.
Dealing with shoddy work in rentals is the worst! Congrats on your upcoming baby! If you want a quick fix until the door can be replaced, consider using matches or wooden toothpicks in the holes before you screw the handle back on. It sounds odd, but it works wonders for stability. A tiny drop of wood glue helps too—just be careful to wipe off excess glue to avoid the door getting stuck. Good luck!
Thanks for the insight! I’m not seeing any lock blocks in this door. Maybe I’ll give toothpicks and wood glue a shot on one of the holes to see how that goes.