Shim Hinges

Shimming adds material behind a hinge leaf to push the door into a better position. This technique handles alignment issues that screw tightening alone cannot correct.

Steps

Determine which direction the door needs to move. To raise the latch side, place thin cardboard shims behind the bottom hinge. To lower it, shim the top hinge. To push the door closer to the stop, shim behind all hinges. Remove the hinge screws on the jamb side, cut a shim from thin cardboard to match the hinge leaf shape, place it behind the leaf, and re-drive the screws.

When to Use This Fix

Shimming is most effective when the hinge mortise was originally cut too deep or when the gap between the door and frame is uneven. It is a good complement to the 3-inch screw fix when finer adjustment is still needed.