You know the drill. You push the door open, it creeps back, or you close it gently and it swings wide again. A door that will not stay put is annoying, but it is almost never a new door problem. It is a hinge problem.

Start With the Top Hinge Screws

Most drifting doors are caused by a loose top hinge. Open the door and check the screws on the top hinge, both in the door and in the frame. Tighten anything that wiggles. Nine times out of ten, this is the whole fix.

Stripped Screw Holes

If a screw spins freely, the hole is stripped. My fix: fill the hole with wood glue and a few toothpicks, let it dry, then drive the screw back in. The fresh wood grips the threads again. I have fixed three doors in my house this way and none have loosened since.

If the Door Creeps Open on Its Own

A door that swings open by itself usually means the frame is tilted. Check the bottom hinge screws too. If everything is tight and it still drifts, shim the bottom hinge with a thin cardboard shim behind the hinge plate to push the door the other way.

When the Latch Will Not Catch

If the door closes but will not stay shut, the latch is missing the strike plate. Look at the plate on the door frame. File the hole slightly larger in the direction the latch needs to go, or move the plate with a chisel and re-screw it. A few strokes with a metal file is usually enough.

Check the Weather Seal Too

If the door drifts because of drafts, not hinges, the weatherstripping may be worn. Replace it while you are at it. A tight seal helps the latch hold and cuts your heating bill.

Forty minutes and one screwdriver, and every door in my house stays exactly where I leave it.