Door problems we fix
| What you notice | Likely cause | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Door won’t latch | Misaligned latch, sagging door or weak closer | Adjust or replace the latch or closer; square the door |
| Door slams or won’t close | Closer worn out or out of adjustment | Adjust or replace the closer |
| Door drags on the deck | Worn hinges, loose hinge screws or a sagging frame | New hinges or fasteners; a new door if the frame is bent |
| Handle or latch broken | Worn hardware | New handle and latch set |
| Rust streaks at hinges and screws | Fasteners corroding | Replace with corrosion-resistant fasteners |
| Door frame bent or cracked | Impact or long wear | Replace the door |
If the door is part of your pool barrier
Many enclosure doors lead from the yard to the pool, which makes them part of the pool barrier. Under the Florida Building Code, gates in a pool barrier must open outward, away from the pool, and be self-closing and self-latching, with the latch release placed so a young child can’t reach it from outside. Replacement hardware should keep the door working that way.
We can’t certify barrier compliance; your building department decides. We will tell you if something about a door looks like it wouldn’t pass.
Closers, hinges and latches
Door closers range from spring hinges to adjustable closers that control closing speed. The right one depends on the door’s weight, how often it’s used, and whether it must self-close. Latches can be keyed or keyless; on barrier doors, where the release sits matters as much as the latch itself.
Rusty screws aren’t just cosmetic
Rust streaks around screws mean fasteners are corroding. On a door, that can loosen hinges and latches; elsewhere in an enclosure it can weaken connections. Replacing a few corroded fasteners is routine maintenance, but widespread corrosion at posts, beams or the house attachment is a structural question. See enclosure replacement and restoration.
Illustrative renderWhen a new door makes more sense
Bent frames, cracked corners and doors that have been repaired again and again are usually better replaced. A new door is sized to the opening and finished to match the frame, with a kick plate, push bar and hardware chosen for how the door is used.
