A door is a precise fit in an imprecise opening, and small changes show. Hinges loosen, frames shift as the house settles, wood swells in a wet winter and shrinks in a dry summer. Most door problems are adjustments: tightening or shimming hinges, moving a strike plate, planing an edge. Replacing a door is a bigger job, and hanging a slab into an existing frame is one of the more exacting tasks in finish carpentry.

  • Sticking, rubbing and sagging doors adjusted
  • Latches, strike plates, knobs and deadbolts fixed or replaced
  • Interior doors hung, including pre-hung units and slabs
  • Weatherstripping, thresholds and door sweeps replaced
  • Sliding, closet and pocket doors repaired

Why doors stick and how they are fixed

Start with the hinges: loose screws let the door drop toward the latch side, so it rubs at the top corner. Longer screws driven into the framing behind the jamb often cure it. A door that binds along its length in winter and frees up in summer is swelling with humidity and may need a light planing and sealing of its edges. A door that will not latch usually has a strike plate out of line with the latch, which is a quick adjustment.

Slab or pre-hung?

A slab is the door alone. It is cheaper to buy but has to be trimmed to the opening, mortised for hinges and bored for hardware to match the existing frame. A pre-hung door comes mounted in its own frame, which makes for a better fit when the old frame is damaged or out of square, but it requires removing the old frame and re-doing the trim. Hanging time is the main cost in either case.

Exterior doors

Replacing weatherstripping, a sweep or a threshold is ordinary handyman work and makes a real difference to drafts and summer cooling bills. Replacing an exterior door and frame is larger. Depending on the scope it can exceed the handyman limit and may need a permit, so confirm before starting.

Common door repair & installation situations in Sacramento

  • A door that rubs the frame or the floor
  • A door that will not stay closed or will not latch
  • A deadbolt that no longer lines up
  • Daylight and drafts around an exterior door
  • A closet door off its track

Door Repair & Installation FAQs

How much does it cost to hang a door?

Labor is the main cost. At HomeAdvisor's handyman rates of $60 to $125 an hour, a pre-hung interior door in a sound opening typically takes one to three hours; fitting a slab to an old frame can take longer. The door, hardware, paint and any trim repair are additional.

Can a handyman install an exterior door?

A handyman can do it where the total project stays under $1,000 and no permit is required. A new exterior door with its frame, hardware and installation often exceeds that, in which case a licensed contractor is needed.

This content is reviewed by the Sacramento CA Handyman editorial team and informed by licensed-contractor sourcing, manufacturer documentation, and established industry standards for Handyman. Read our editorial standards.