"maybe try weather stripping first? Helped me a ton—cheap fix and stopped humidity messing with alignment."
Weather stripping's a solid suggestion, but I'd also recommend checking hinge screws. Had a similar issue with my old oak door—humidity kept shifting it slightly, messing up the smart lock alignment. Swapped out the original short screws for longer 3-inch ones that bit into the framing studs. Door hasn't budged since, and no more lockouts... Might save you some headaches before you consider pricier solutions.
Door hasn't budged since, and no more lockouts... Might save you some headaches before you consider pricier solutions.
Weather stripping can help, but honestly it might just mask the real issue. Had a similar problem myself—humidity was making my door swell slightly, throwing off the lock alignment. Turned out the strike plate needed adjusting. Took me maybe 10 mins to file it down a bit and reposition it slightly... hasn't acted up since. Worth checking before you start drilling into studs or buying extra materials.
Yeah, adjusting the strike plate is usually the sweet spot. Weather stripping can help temporarily, but like you said, it doesn't really fix the underlying issue. Had a client last summer whose door kept sticking every time it rained—humidity was wreaking havoc on the alignment. We ended up tweaking the strike plate just a hair and sanding down the edge of the door slightly. Took maybe 15 minutes tops, and they haven't had a problem since.
Honestly, doors can be finicky like that... sometimes it's just a tiny adjustment that makes all the difference. Glad you figured it out without having to go overboard with expensive fixes or drilling into studs. Always feels good when it's something simple!
Had a similar issue last winter—door swelled up from moisture and the smart lock wouldn't latch properly. Ended up sanding it down slightly, but now I'm wondering if sealing the edges would've been better long-term... anyone tried that?
"Ended up sanding it down slightly, but now I'm wondering if sealing the edges would've been better long-term... anyone tried that?"
Had pretty much the same issue with my back door last year. Sanding definitely helped short-term, but I ended up sealing the edges afterward, and it made a noticeable difference. You might wanna try a good quality exterior-grade sealant or primer designed specifically for wood doors. It prevents moisture from soaking in, so the swelling doesn't happen as easily during wet seasons.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first—thought it might just be a temporary fix—but it's been over a year now, and the door hasn't acted up again. I guess sealing is more of a preventive measure, whereas sanding just deals with the symptom. Might be worth giving it a shot before winter hits again...
