Fix a door that sticks or won't latch

Tom Hanks, owner, 24/7 Express Handyman Service · Updated September 2026

24/7 Express Handyman Service frees sticking doors in Salt Lake, Park City and Heber. 7% moisture content is about right for wood used inside heated buildings; wetter wood swells. (Oregon State University Extension, EM 8600: Wood and Moisture Relationships)

What sticking door costs

Salt Lake City & Millcreek	from $205
Park City & Summit County	from $225
Heber Valley & Wasatch County	from $225

Sticking door in Salt Lake City & Millcreek starts at $205: the 2-hour minimum at $95/hour ($190) plus the $15 fuel surcharge, with no dispatch fee. Time past 2 hours is billed in 30-minute steps. Larger parts are billed at cost plus 25%.

Full price sheet and estimator

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(801) 999-0827 Text photos

Answered 24/7 by Tom or his dispatcher.

24/7 Express Handyman Service confirms the address, the zone rate and the dispatch fee, and takes a card, before rolling.

Quick answers

Why does my door stick in some seasons and not others?

Wood swells as it gains moisture and shrinks as it loses it, so a door that fits in one season can rub in another. Oregon State University Extension notes that even dried wood products shrink and swell as they lose or gain moisture.

Should I plane a sticking door?

Plane a door only after ruling out loose or sagging hinges, since tightening hinge screws often fixes the rub. If you do plane, seal the bare edge afterward; OSU Extension advises sealing all surfaces of wood products, not just the top and sides.

Why won't my door latch even though it closes?

The latch is usually missing the strike plate opening because the door has sagged or the frame has shifted. Tightening the hinges, moving the strike plate, or enlarging its opening slightly normally brings the latch back into line.

Door edge with a freshly chiseled hinge mortise — Photo: Tomwsulcer, CC0

What 24/7 Express Handyman Service does on site

Loose hinge screws replaced with longer screws that reach the framing so a sagging door pulls back into line
Strike plate moved or its opening filed so the latch catches cleanly
Rubbing edges planed or sanded, then sealed so bare wood does not soak up moisture

How it works

Check the gap around the door to see where it rubs and whether the hinges have sagged
Tighten or upgrade hinge screws and shim hinges before removing any wood
Plane only what is needed, seal the cut edge, and adjust the strike for a clean latch
Referred out: a door that sticks because the wall or floor is moving, such as a racked opening or settling foundation, goes to a licensed general contractor or structural engineer

When to stop and call

If an exterior door will not close or lock, the home is not secure. 24/7 Express Handyman Service can adjust or trim the door so it latches again.

What happens next

The written scope and price come first; the door is diagnosed before any wood comes off.
Photograph the damage before anything is moved and keep every receipt; 24/7 Express Handyman Service provides an itemised invoice your insurer may ask for. The dispatch fee and job cost are paid by you on the day.

Every job 24/7 Express Handyman Service takes on is under $3,000 including labor, materials and any change orders (Utah Code §58-55-305); a change that would push a job over that line is referred to a licensed contractor, not written up as a second job. plumbing, electrical, HVAC, gas appliance / combustion system work is referred to a licensed trade.

Sources

Oregon State University Extension, EM 8600: Wood and Moisture Relationships — retrieved 2026-09-23
Seattle Police Crime Prevention Bulletin: Home Security, Door Security — retrieved 2026-09-23

All sources