Filling screw holes in a door to screw handle back on

by **pooziewoo** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 4:42 pm

I had a carpet put down and due to there not being enough room at the bottom of my door there was extra strain on the handle where there was friction between the bottom of the door and the carpet. all the screws that held the door handle on have now come away from the door so the handle has come off. What is the best way to fill the holes where the screws were in order to re screw the handle back on? The handle cannot be moved to a different positon as there is a lock so the the handle has to be screwed in exactly the same place. Also what would be the strongest way to screw the handle back on? thank you for your help

by **ALDA** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:47 pm

P,

PLUG THE EXISTING HOLES WITH USED MATCH STICKS OR COCKTAIL STICKS.
TAP IN AS MANY AS REQUIRED WITH WOOD GLUE TO FILL SECURELY, INTO EACH HOLE AND MAKE FLUSH AT SURFACE.
LEAVE TO SET.
RE-USE EXISTING SCREWS TO SECURE HANDLE.

THE ROOT PROBLEM OF THE DOOR FOULING ON THE FLOORING SHOULD BE REMEDIED.

REMOVE DOOR AND TAKE SOME OFF BOTTOM EDGE.(PLANE OR SAND).

IF THERE ISN'T A LOT TO COME OFF, YOU COULD JUST FEED SOME COURSE SAND PAPER UNDER THE HUNG DOOR AND SWING DOOR TO AND FRO OVER PAPER TO REMOVE EXCESS FROM BOTTOM EDGE.

ALDA.

by **rosebery** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:23 pm

Is it a solid door? If so spot of wood glue in the holes. Plug them up with matchsticks. Allow to dry. Trim off the excess. Drill small pilot holes so that the screws go in centrally for the handle to be in the correct place. Refit handle and screws.

Having done that you now need to treat the cause rather than the effect.

Either replace the hinges with rising butts so that as the door opens it lifts up off the carpet or, alternatively, keep the existing hinges but take the door off and trim the bottom of the door to the extent that it no longer drags on the carpet. Refit door.

If you don't do either of these not only will the handle come off again eventually but you'll also wreck the carpet.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

by **rosebery** » Wed Mar 12, 2008 10:24 pm

and if you don't feel confident enough to do that yourself get someone in. Should cost you in the region of Â£ 25 - Â£ 30 I'm guessing.

Cheers.

by **pooziewoo** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 12:03 am

thanks for the tips, is there any kind of filler i could use rather than matchsticks?

by **ALDA** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:42 pm

P,

YES THERE ARE WOOD FILLERS AVAILABLE BUT TO USE ONE OF THESE WILL MEAN YOU WILL HAVE TO OPEN UP EXISTING HOLES IN ORDER TO ENSURE A LARGE AMOUNT OF FILLER CAN BE APPLIED.
ALSO NEW PILOT HOLES WILL NEED TO BE DRILLED TO ACCEPT SCREWS.
(ITS POINLESS JUST PUTTING A LITTLE FILLER IN EXISTING HOLES, AS THERE WILL BE EVEN LESS FILLER LEFT IN THE HOLES AFTER YOU HAVE DRILLED THE PILOTS AND WHATS LEFT AFTER THAT WILL BE STRIPPED AWAY WHEN SCREWS ARE TIGHTENED).

IF THIS IS THE WAY YOU WANT TO GO, THEN DO SO!
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOOSE?
EXPERIMENT A LITTLE. ITS ALL GOOD EXPERIENCE.

DONT FORGET TO ADJUST DOOR BOTTOM THOUGH!!!

A.