Repair guide
Front Door Dropped or Catching: What to Do Next
A door that scrapes the frame, sticks at the top corner or needs lifting before the handle will move has almost always dropped. It happens gradually, so people adapt to it long before they call anyone.
The good news is that adjustment usually solves it. The warning is that leaving it eventually destroys the multipoint mechanism, which turns a cheap job into a bigger one.
Free in-person quotes. Photo estimates sometimes possible. 24 hour emergency call out.
Repair first
Replacement only when a repair is not possible
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Messages answered within 15 minutes in working hours
Free quotations
In person, with photo estimates sometimes possible
Guaranteed work
over 10 years of repair experience
Why doors drop
uPVC and composite doors are heavy, hung on three or four adjustable hinges and exposed to the weather on one face only. Seasonal expansion, day to day slamming and gradual settlement of the frame all pull the leaf slightly out of square.
Newer doors are just as prone to it as old ones. Composite doors on estates only a few years old are one of the faults we see most often, because they settle within their first few years.
What you can check yourself
- Look at the gap around the closed door: it should be even top to bottom
- Check where the paint or seal is polished or marked, which shows where it is rubbing
- Note whether the handle lifts freely with the door open but not closed
- Listen for the hooks clunking hard into the keeps rather than sliding in
How the repair works
We adjust the hinges to bring the leaf back square, reset the keeps so the locking points meet them cleanly and check the compression on the seals. That is often the whole job, with no parts needed.
Where the strain has already damaged the gearbox, or a hinge has worn beyond adjustment, we replace those parts with quality branded components and leave the door locking with one smooth movement.
Why not just replace the door?
A new door costs many times a realignment, and it will drop in time too if the frame or hinges are the underlying cause. We repair wherever practical and only recommend a replacement when the door genuinely cannot be saved.
Guidance on cost
Typical price ranges
The ranges below are guidance only, based on the sort of repairs we carry out across the North East. Prices vary with size, specification, access and the condition of the frame, so we confirm the price after inspecting the fault. In-person quotations are free.
| Work | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Door realignment and keep resetThe usual fix where the mechanism is still sound | around £70 to £120 |
| Adjustable hinge replacementPriced per set, depending on the hinge type | around £70 to £150 fitted |
| Multipoint mechanism after failureWhat a delayed realignment usually turns into | around £150 to £280 fitted |
| Weather seal renewal on the doorOften worthwhile at the same visit | around £50 to £100 |
Related repairs
Services covered in this guide
Where we carry out this work
Questions
Frequently asked
Can a dropped door be adjusted rather than replaced?
In most cases yes. uPVC and composite doors have adjustable hinges, and resetting the hinges and keeps normally restores smooth locking.
Is a door that needs lifting to lock urgent?
It is worth booking promptly. The locking points are fighting the keeps, and continuing usually snaps the gearbox, which costs considerably more to put right.
My door is only a few years old. Why has it dropped already?
New doors settle in their first few years, which is why recently built estates are among the places we carry out most realignments.
Will you try to sell me a new door instead?
No. Repairs are the heart of our business and we only recommend replacement when a repair is genuinely not possible.
Need it sorted today?
Tell us what the window or door is doing and we will arrange a free in-person quotation. Clear photographs can sometimes help us estimate sooner.