Door Won't Close or Latch
A door that won't close or latch has one of four things happening. The door or frame has swollen from humidity and the panel is too tight in the opening. The door has sagged from hinge wear and is no longer aligned with the strike plate. The strike plate has shifted from heat-related frame movement or seismic activity. Or the door panel has warped and is no longer flat enough to close evenly against the door stop. CDW identifies which of these applies before performing any repair, because trimming a door that's only tight from seasonal humidity produces a door that gaps in the dry season.
Door Dragging on the Floor or Threshold
A door that drags on the floor when it never did before has dropped from hinge wear, swollen from humidity to a larger size, or is sitting in a frame that has shifted. In California's coastal areas, humidity-related panel swelling is the most common cause of summer dragging. A door that drags in all seasons has most likely dropped from hinge wear or frame movement. CDW identifies whether the cause is seasonal before performing any trim or adjustment.
Door Sticking in Summer
A door that sticks in California's summer but loosens in cooler months is responding to the climate's thermal and humidity patterns. Coastal humidity swells wood panels and frames during the marine layer season. Inland heat expands frames enough to tighten the door's fit. Both are seasonal phenomena that require a repair approach calibrated to the seasonal movement range rather than a fixed-position trim.
Door Frame Damaged or Broken
A damaged door frame is a security vulnerability and a functional problem. Storm damage, forced entry, and sustained moisture exposure are common causes in California. A frame cracked from forced entry no longer holds hinge and lock hardware at the correct alignment. A frame with moisture damage may be structurally compromised. CDW assesses the specific frame damage before recommending any repair approach.
Door Panel Cracked or Damaged
A door panel that has cracked, split, or been physically damaged compromises security and structural integrity. Wooden door panels can crack from California's humidity cycling. Steel door panels can dent from impact. Fiberglass panels can crack from severe impact or from UV-related brittleness over time. CDW assesses the extent of panel damage and determines whether repair or panel replacement is the correct approach.
Door Hinges Worn or Loose
Worn hinge pins allow the door to sag, changing its alignment in the frame and preventing correct latching. Loose hinge screws allow the hinge to pull away from the frame, producing the same sag. California's humidity cycling causes wooden frames to expand and contract around hinge screws seasonally, which can loosen screws faster than in drier climates. CDW repairs and replaces door hinges and addresses the underlying cause of hinge failure where applicable.
Door Letting in Drafts
A door that lets drafts through the closed frame is losing conditioned air continuously. In California's summer, that means air conditioning loss. The cause is almost always deteriorated weatherstripping around the frame, a failed door sweep at the bottom, a warped panel that doesn't seal evenly, or a damaged threshold. California's UV exposure and heat cycling degrade door weatherstripping faster than in milder climates. CDW inspects all four potential sources before recommending any seal replacement.
Door Won't Stay Open
A door that swings closed on its own rather than staying in an open position typically has hinge misalignment causing the door to be out of plumb. When a door's hinges are out of plumb, gravity pulls it toward whatever position it naturally falls to. CDW realigns the hinges to bring the door to plumb so it stays in any position it's placed.
Door Rattling in the Frame
A door that rattles when closed or in wind has a clearance gap between the door panel and its frame. Worn weatherstripping that no longer fills the gap, a door that has dropped from hinge wear and is sitting lower than designed, or a frame that has shifted slightly are the most common causes. CDW identifies the specific source of the rattle before recommending any repair.
Door Weatherstripping Deteriorated
California's climate is particularly hard on door weatherstripping. UV exposure hardens and cracks rubber and foam seals faster than in northern climates. Coastal humidity promotes mold growth in foam weatherstripping that degrades the material further. And the annual temperature cycling between California's hot summers and cooler winters fatigues weatherstripping compounds faster than in more temperate states. CDW replaces door weatherstripping with material rated for California's UV exposure and temperature range.