I'm back,,,..One thing after another! Fixable?

[Paper Roses]

My house is old and nothing is square any more. Recently, the aluminum storm door, the one I use daily, has been sticking near the top for about 8 inches; heavy friction. Only a good whack will open it. Last night the handle fell apart. I can fix that but I am wondering if this arrangement I saw yesterday will be able to square off the door again. I will get out there with a square this AM and see how off square I am.

I noticed a door yesterday that had, inside, a heavy duty diagonal rod from top right to bottom left. There was a turnbuckle in the mid-section to cinch it tight. I may be wrong but I thought it was to help keep the door square.
The full length hinges on the left(as you look at it from the exterior) are worn after 40 years. It should probably be replaced but $$ is a problem right now. I'd love to find some kind of a stop-gap measure to get me through this winter.

Any thoughts?

[troubleinwinter]

1. Are you sure it's the DOOR that is out of square?

If your old house is settling, it could be that the door FRAME is out of square. If so, you'd need a carpenter to put in a new doorframe. Not a real expensive job, but you might want to determine this before buying a new door.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

2. What you describe seems like swelling

or yer frame is not tight. Can you tighten up your storm door frame into the casing at the top? There is a product called Elmer's slide all ,the company that makes the glue. It's for windows that stick and doors! It is better than wd40 because it leaves a film . Check the screws at the top of the strom door frame, take a hammer and give it a tap at the top, than see if it makes any difference. Tighten it up! Get some Elmer's slide all ,should get ya through the winter!

Good luck.

[Warpy]

3. While aluminum storm doors have a limited life

if it's been wet lately, you could just be experiencing changes in the door frame that will resolve when things dry out a bit.

It would be impossible to tell the difference without seeing them both.

The worst case scenario is that your house is settling and the frame is so far out of square no door will work, but since it seems to have happened fairly suddenly, I doubt this is the case.

Usually when an aluminum door is old enough for the handle to fall apart, it's got other, hidden problems from years of use.

You can either put up with the problem or replace it, IMO. In the meantime, giving it a smack at the top where it's sticking will help release it.

Never underestimate the power or percussive maintenance.

[Paper Roses]

4. Today, now that it hit 40 degrees was my "fix-the-door"day.

I get out my trusty square and things seem to be at fairly right angles. Had to tighten some sheet metal screws. Needed a size just a tiny but thicker in diameter. No point in replacing same with same. No-one carries this size. Needs to be about half inch long by--whatever thicker thread but with a smallish head. They have to fit in a channel.

Second lumberyard sent me to the recycle to see of someone threw away an old door. Why didn't I think of that. Get the right screws. I have had to sand down the top edge of the aluminum door and frame. No matter what I did, it would not close. I'm 100% sure the full length hinges are on their last leg and I don't know how to fix that. Tomorrow I'll finish my rasp/sand deal and put a new draftdodger at the top. There is a gap. The one at the base is OK,

Wasted the whole day on this but I have no option. I keep changing my "Notes to Self". Major jobs popping up but I must study and choose Medicare supplement. Only have a few more days to do it. If I could only get away from one catsasstrophe(my spelling) after another.

[Warpy]

5. When the hinges go, it's time for a new door

because that's the Achille's heel of the damned things. Replacing them just never works, BTDT, by the time you notice the problem, stress has managed to screw up the frame.

It's actually a much easier job to take down the old door and frame and screw in a new one. Good news? Aluminum is recyclable.

"He's dead, Jim."

[Paper Roses]

6. I know what I'm doing is a jury rig but it is too cold now and

my wallet is too thin. What I'm trying to do is just get through the winter. Take good measurements and keep checking Craigslist. I'm a do-it-yourselfer so the job will not intimidate me. What does intimidate me is the several hundreds of dollars a contractor wants to replace the door.

[Warpy]

7. You can do the job yourself with a decent level

although it helps if you get somebody to hold the sucker in place when you drive that first screw.

Propping up the bottom on phone books works but it sucks. BTDT too. Those phone books should be used just to approximate things and a friend to hold it in the final position.

[Paper Roses]

8. Rested yesterday. Door job done. Best part?

I got the right size screws and a door handle at the recycle. The lumberyard was right. Several of the doors were in great condition. If I knew the size I would eventually need, I would have taken one for a spring project.

It amazes me what people throw away. If the doors were mine, I would have listed them free on Craigslist so someone could save some hard earned money.

Good thing I did it Tuesday at 42 degrees, it is 13 this AM.

[Jersey Devil]

9. Had a similar problem and found out it was not the door

Termites had invaded the sill under the door and caused the door to shift. Before doing anything you should make sure that the support under the door has not been compromised by bugs, water rot, etc.