Fixing a Door That Sticks

Adjust a door that sticks

Photo 1: Adjust the top pivot bracket

Loosen the top pivot bracket setscrew with a screwdriver. Slide the bracket in the track until the door is parallel to the jamb. Tighten the setscrew firmly.

Are you frustrated with a bifold door that doesn’t close smoothly, or never opens without sticking, scraping or binding? Chances are it’s out of alignment in the door frame. The fix is usually simple and often takes less than 10 minutes.

First close the door and look along the edge of the door as it lines up with the frame (opening photo). The door edge and frame should line up nice and parallel. Even if it’s off by only 1/4 in., the door will probably bind. Most often the problem is a loosened top pivot and bracket, which allowed the door to slip sideways out of alignment (Photo 1). Open the door and then loosen the setscrew for the top bracket slightly with a screwdriver. Then close it again. Push or pull the top of the closed door to align its edge parallel to the frame. Close the door to check for smooth operation and to see how the doors meet. Open the door gently so the pivot doesn’t slip, then tighten the setscrew. You may have to repeat these steps a few times with both doors to get the “perfect” result.

If the door binds against the lower part of the frame, check the bottom pivot and bracket next. (Look for a worn edge on the door and scrape marks on the door frame.) The bottom pivot often loosens and slips. Either raise the door slightly to shift the pivot in or out, or loosen the setscrew and shift the bracket seat (Photo 2), depending on the type of hardware you have. (See “Replacement Parts” for types.) Sometimes the entire bracket comes loose because the mounting screws are stripped, broken or missing (Photo 2). You’ll need to remove the door to fix these. Test the door for smooth, non-binding operation by opening and closing it several times. You may have to readjust the top pivot bracket to make the door parallel to the frame again.

The top roller guide rarely needs attention, but make sure that it runs smoothly in the track. Apply a light coating of wax or silicone spray to eliminate any sticking.