A door that sticks, drags, or won't latch is usually a small adjustment away from working again. Find where it's binding before you reach for a plane.

Find the rub

Find the rub — How to Fix a Sticking Door

Open and close the door slowly and watch where it touches the frame, or slide a piece of paper around the gap to find the tight spot. Seasonal humidity, settling, and loose hinges are the usual causes.

Try the easy fixes first

Try the easy fixes first — How to Fix a Sticking Door

Often a door sags because hinge screws have loosened — tighten them, and replace a stripped screw with a longer one that bites into the framing. This alone fixes many sticking doors by pulling the door back into alignment.

Plane as a last resort

Plane as a last resort — How to Fix a Sticking Door

If the door still rubs, lightly sand or plane the binding edge, removing just a little at a time, then seal the bare wood so it doesn't absorb moisture and swell again. If the latch misses, adjust or move the strike plate.