A door that scrapes the frame or is hard to lock hasn't broken — it has simply dropped, and it can usually be adjusted back.
Classic signs include the door scraping along the bottom of the frame or floor, the handle needing extra lifting force before it will turn, the top corner of the door catching on the frame while the bottom gap widens, and the multi-point lock requiring the door to be physically lifted or pushed into the frame before it will engage. These symptoms point to hinge-side drop rather than a fault with the door panel itself.
Every time a door is opened and closed, its full weight is carried by the hinges. Over years of daily use, hinge screws can loosen slightly in the frame, and the door gradually settles a millimetre or two lower than its original position. Heavier composite doors are more prone to this than lightweight uPVC panel doors simply because there is more weight for the hinges to support.
Most modern uPVC and composite doors use adjustable flag hinges with small adjustment screws that allow the door to be raised, lowered, or shifted laterally within the frame without removing anything. A fitter can usually correct a drop of several millimetres in minutes using an Allen key, restoring correct alignment with the keeps and locking points.
If the hinges have been adjusted to their limit and the door still drops, the hinge screws may have stripped their fixing holes in the frame, requiring longer screws or packing to reseat them properly. In rare cases where the frame itself has warped or the door has swollen due to water ingress, replacement of the door or frame becomes the more sensible option.
Avoid slamming the door, don't hang heavy items such as bags or coats directly on the handle, and have hinges checked and lubricated annually. Catching a small drop early with a quick adjustment prevents it from developing into a bigger problem with the locking mechanism or frame.
It's primarily a functional and security issue — a dropped door often won't lock fully, which compromises security, and forcing it can damage the handle or hinges further. It's worth fixing promptly rather than living with it.
Hinge adjustment is a quick, low-cost job for an experienced fitter in most cases, since it uses the existing adjustable hinges rather than requiring new parts.
If your hinges have visible Allen key adjustment points, small adjustments are possible yourself, but it's easy to over-adjust and create new alignment problems, so many homeowners prefer to have a fitter do it correctly first time.
It can over time, as hinge screws naturally work loose with years of use, but annual checks and avoiding excessive force on the handle significantly reduce how often adjustment is needed.
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Book a visit and we'll assess whether your door needs a simple hinge adjustment or a closer look at the frame.
