A door that will not latch may have moved somewhere else
Loose or worn hinges, stripped fasteners, slab sag, frame movement, strike position, latch wear, threshold interference, and seasonal clearance changes can all prevent reliable latching. Moving the strike alone can hide the reason the relationship changed.
Note whether lifting the handle, pushing the slab, changing weather, or reaching a certain point in the swing changes the symptom. Those observations help distinguish hardware from geometry.
- Hinge and fastener condition
- Door clearances
- Frame geometry
- Latch and strike relationship
- Threshold or floor interference
- Seasonal pattern
Rubbing, drafts, and water need different checks
Rubbing can involve slab position, hinges, frame, floor, weather seals, impact, or building movement. Drafts can occur at panel-to-frame seals or at the frame-to-wall perimeter. Replacing weatherstrip cannot correct every air path.
Water at the threshold or lower jamb can arrive from the sill, perimeter, adjacent cladding, exterior grade, or above the opening. Record the weather and first visible location rather than repeatedly sealing the interior edge.
Repair, component work, or replacement
Adjustment or localized repair is more promising when the slab and frame are sound and the defect is limited. Broad deterioration, repeated water, severe distortion, impact, compromised security, or a needed configuration change can support replacement.
A-1 does not represent garage-door service, 24/7 or emergency response, locksmith work, automatic sliding doors, storefront glazing or glass, low-voltage, or fire-door inspection and certification.
Fort Collins project information and jurisdiction
Send the project address, residential or commercial context, door location, full-opening photos, hinges, latch or exit device, threshold, frame, damage, and notes about when the symptom occurs.
Permit or inspection needs depend on the address and scope, especially when the work changes the opening or affects an applicable egress, accessibility, rated, structural, or safety-glazing condition.
