Why Interior Doors Stick in Memphis (And What You Can Fix Yourself)

Local Handyman Mid-South

January 31, 2025

Close-up of a modern interior door handle and latch showing alignment issues requiring adjustment or repair.

At Local Handyman Mid-South, sticking interior doors are one of the most common calls we get in Memphis—because humidity and soil movement change clearances in ways doors can’t hide.

Why Doors Suddenly Start Sticking

Most interior doors don’t fail overnight. They work fine for years, then start rubbing at the top corner, dragging along the floor, or refusing to latch after a stretch of rain. In Memphis, that timing isn’t a coincidence. Moisture loads the framing, the house shifts slightly, and tight tolerances show it first.

Doors are usually the messenger, not the problem.

Why This Happens More in Memphis Homes

Memphis homes sit on loess soil that absorbs water quickly and releases it slowly. After rain, the ground beneath the house moves just enough to affect door openings. Add high humidity, and wood components swell instead of snapping back. Interior doors don’t have much room for error, so even small changes cause friction.

That’s why doors often stick after storms, not during them.

What DIY Door Adjustment Can Actually Fix

Some door issues really are minor and DIY-friendly:

Loose hinge screws
Slight hinge compression
Minor latch alignment drift
Seasonal rubbing that comes and goes

In these cases, tightening hardware or making small hinge adjustments can restore clearance.

Where DIY Door Fixes Usually Fall Short

This is where we see repeat problems at Local Handyman Mid-South:

Sanding or planing the door without addressing movement
Adjusting the latch when the frame is out of square
Over-tightening hinges to “force” alignment
Shaving doors that only stick during humid weather
Fixing one door when several show the same pattern

In Memphis, removing material is often permanent—but the movement is seasonal.

Hand using a screwdriver to adjust door hinges on an interior door to fix alignment and sticking issues.

When DIY Is Reasonable

DIY adjustment may be worth trying when:

The door only sticks slightly
The issue appeared recently
Hinges are visibly loose
The problem improves during dry weather
No cracks or trim separation are nearby

If those conditions line up, small adjustments can help.

When It’s Not Worth Chasing Yourself

It’s usually time to stop DIY when:

The door sticks year-round
Multiple doors are affected
Cracks appear near door corners
The latch misses even after adjustment
The door frame looks twisted or separated

At that point, the issue isn’t the door—it’s the opening.

What Pros Look At That DIY Misses

When we adjust doors, we’re checking:

Frame alignment relative to the floor
Hinge-side vs latch-side movement
Signs of settlement or soil response
Whether the fix will survive the next humid cycle

That’s why some doors get adjusted once and others keep needing attention.

Safety and Reality Check

Aggressive sanding, cutting, or planing can permanently damage doors that only need clearance management. Once material is removed, it can’t be put back when conditions change.

What “Fixed Right” Looks Like

A properly adjusted door swings freely, latches without force, and behaves the same in dry and humid weather. When that happens, the door stops being the symptom.