How To Shim A Door Hinge To Stay Open

Cut a piece of thin cardboard to the size and shape of the hinge side piece.

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. 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. If your door is leaning and the screws on all hinges are tight you may need to shim one of the hinges to get the door level again. Or you close it to within an inch of the frame and it swings itself open.

It only closes in the winter during the heating season. If the door still won t stay open without assistance remove the screws from the top hinge first. We all have these kinds of doors you open it and it swings itself mostly shut. When the hinges are plumb the door should remain in whatever position it is placed.

Use cardboard or premade pre drilled shims. Test to make sure your door is now level or that it is level enough to stay open and not close on. I want it to stay open so that i don t walk into it in the dark. This door is fine for 9 months of the year.

This should give it a slight bend which will add tension to the hinge when you re install it. Open the door step in to the opening and turn to face the hinges. Place that piece of cardboard on the door frame where the hinge will be screwed back into place. Rather than remove and rehang it try removing one of the hinge pins.

I am sure that i can shim one or more of the hinges. Place the shim on the wall where your hinge rests then screw your hinge into place over the shim. Place it on a hard surface and whack it in the middle with a hammer.