Swollen wooden doors and windows that won't close! DIY fixes, plus tips to stop it happening again

Stop worrying about swollen wooden doors in the rainy season

In the rainy season or in very humid weather, many homeowners run into the problem of swollen wooden doors or windows that are hard to open and close, make noise, or sometimes won't close at all. It happens because natural wood expands as it absorbs moisture from the air. If you leave it without fixing it, the hinges may bend or the door frame may be damaged too.

1. Confirm the cause before you start repairing

Before you start sanding or trimming the wood, look closely at where the problem is, because a sticking door isn't always caused by swollen wood alone.

• Check the hinges and screws: see whether the hinge screws are loose or have come out; if the hinges can't hold the weight, the door will drop and rub against the frame
• Check where it rubs: close the door slowly and mark the edge where it rubs against the frame with a pencil, so you know exactly where to fix

2. Simple DIY fixes

If you find the wood really has expanded and the hinges are still sound, you can fix it with these steps:

• Adjust the hinges: if the door has dropped slightly, tighten the screws of the top hinge, or replace them with longer screws to grip the structure better
• Sand or plane the wood down: take the door off, lay it on a flat surface, then use coarse sandpaper or a plane to trim the wood a little at a time at the marked spots, and refit it to test the clearance
• Seal the surface with a protective coating: once the wood is sanded to the right size, immediately apply a top coat, wood varnish or sealer to close the wood grain so moisture can't get back in

Precautions and when to call a specialist

When using tools such as an electric plane or a saw, always be careful and wear protective equipment. And if the problem turns out to be bigger, such as a door frame twisted because the house structure is settling , or there is wiring and electrical equipment installed right next to the door frame, we don't recommend altering it yourself. Call a structural and carpentry specialist to inspect it, for safety and to prevent the damage spreading.