How To Shim A Door Hinge To Stay Open

Open the door step in to the opening and turn to face the hinges.

How to shim a door hinge to stay open.

When a door won t stay open the casing is probably leaning slightly in the wall frame. When the hinges are plumb the door should remain in whatever position it is placed. Test to make sure your door is now level or that it is level enough to stay open and not close on. Place it on a hard surface and whack it in the middle with a hammer.

It only closes in the winter during the heating season. Use cardboard or premade pre drilled shims. I am sure that i can shim one or more of the hinges. This door is hinged on the left and opens into the laundry room.

Place that piece of cardboard on the door frame where the hinge will be screwed back into place. If the door still won t stay open without assistance remove the screws from the top hinge first. The goal is to restore the hinges to plumb. Place the shim on the wall where your hinge rests then screw your hinge into place over the shim.

This should give it a slight bend which will add tension to the hinge when you re install it. Cut a piece of thin cardboard to the size and shape of the hinge side piece. Open the door and support it with a wedge while you remove the hinge that needs to come out and slip the shim behind it. Rather than remove and rehang it try removing one of the hinge pins.

I want it to stay open so that i don t walk into it in the dark. If the top hinge is to the left or right of the bottom hinge the door is going to swing in the direction of the top hinge. We all have these kinds of doors you open it and it swings itself mostly shut.