Door Adjustment & Hinge Repair in Bristol

Door catching on the frame, dragging on the threshold, or not latching without lifting? These are the most common door faults we see — and they're almost always a hinge or alignment issue, not a reason to replace the door.

✓ Most repairs in one visit ✓ £135 + VAT ✓ 20 years experience ✓ Free quotes

Family-run Bristol business · 20 years trade experience · Send us an enquiry with photos and we'll get back to you

Signs your door needs realigning

  • The door scrapes or catches on the frame or threshold when you close it
  • The door closes but won't latch without lifting it slightly
  • There's a visible gap at the top or bottom of the door when it's closed
  • The door sticks in warm weather or after rain
  • The latch or lock doesn't engage cleanly when you close the door
  • The door sits unevenly in its frame — higher on one side than the other

What causes doors to drop or go out of alignment?

The most common cause is hinge wear. Front doors — particularly composite doors — are heavy, and the hinges bear the full weight every time the door opens. Over time the screws work loose or the hinge body wears, and the door drops a few millimetres. That's enough to make it catch.

The second cause is building movement. Older Bristol properties — Victorian and Edwardian terraces especially — shift slightly as the structure settles. The door frame pulls out of square, and the door no longer fits cleanly. The door itself is fine; the frame has moved around it.

Sometimes it's both: a worn hinge in a frame that has shifted. Trickier to diagnose, but still fixable without replacing the door.

How we fix it

We start by examining the hinges and the frame to identify exactly where the problem is coming from. The fix is then one or more of the following:

  • Hinge adjustment: Modern uPVC and composite door hinges have adjustment screws that allow the door position to be moved in multiple directions. Sometimes a few turns of a screwdriver is all that's needed.
  • Hinge packing: Adding shims behind the hinge to compensate for frame movement, bringing the door back into the correct plane.
  • Hinge replacement: If the hinge is physically worn and no longer holds the door correctly, we replace it. We carry a range of common uPVC and composite door hinges.

Once the door is realigned we'll test the latch, the multipoint lock (if fitted), and the overall closing action. If the keep needs adjusting to match the new door position, we do that too.

When to get in touch
  • The door won't close at all — especially a front door
  • The door closes but can't be locked or latched securely
  • You're lifting the door to close it every time
  • The problem has been getting gradually worse over weeks

What does it cost?

Door adjustment and realignment is £135 + VAT. We carry common hinge parts, so most jobs are done in a single visit.

JobPrice (+ VAT)
Door adjustment / realignment£135
Door hinge replacement£180
Keep adjustment / replacementIncluded where needed

We agree the price before starting any work. We'll tell you which repair applies after inspecting the door — there are no hidden charges.

When you might need a new door instead

Realignment repairs work in the vast majority of cases. Replacement is only worth considering if:

  • The door frame itself is severely warped — not just the hinge position
  • The door slab itself is twisted or warped (rare with modern uPVC and composite)
  • Multiple things are failing at once on an ageing door and repair is no longer cost-effective

We'll give you an honest assessment. If the door can be fixed, we'll fix it.

Door dropping, catching, or not closing properly?

Send us photos of the door and the gap around the frame — we can usually tell whether it's an adjustment, a hinge issue, or something more involved. Get a free quote below.

Part of our full door repair service in Bristol. If the door lock is also playing up, see door lock repair.

Get a Free Quote

Describe the problem and add photos if you have them. We'll reply with a diagnosis and price — usually within a few hours.

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No obligation. We'll never share your details.