That chalk trick is underrated—saves a ton of trial and error. I’ve tried it with pencil marks too, but chalk’s easier to see. I usually start by checking the hinges first, though. Sometimes the screws are just barely hanging on, especially in older frames, and tightening them can make a bigger difference than you’d think. Ever noticed how humidity messes with things seasonally? I swear my back door needs attention every spring... Drives me nuts, but I’d rather fuss with it than start shaving wood right away. Way less risk of making an expensive mistake.
I get what you mean about tightening the hinges first, but in my experience with these old houses, sometimes that's just a temporary fix.
I hear you, but if the door’s been sticking for years, a little careful planing might actually solve it for good. I’ve put it off before and ended up with a warped edge that was way harder to fix later. Humidity’s a pain, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and trim a hair off.“I’d rather fuss with it than start shaving wood right away. Way less risk of making an expensive mistake.”
Yeah, tightening the hinges is fine for a quick fix, but with these old doors, it’s almost always the wood swelling or warping. I’ve been there—spent weeks messing with screws and shims before finally grabbing a plane. Took off just a sliver and suddenly it swung like new. Sometimes you gotta trust your gut and go for it... just take it slow. Worst case, you sand a bit more later.
I get where you’re coming from with the plane, but honestly, I’d be nervous about shaving down the door unless I was totally sure it’s not just a seasonal thing. My place is old too, and last summer the bathroom door stuck like crazy—thought about sanding it, but a friend told me to wait until winter. Sure enough, once the humidity dropped, it fit fine again.
Here’s what I did instead: checked the hinges for loose screws (tightened a couple), then ran a dehumidifier in the hallway for a few days. It actually helped more than I expected. If you take off too much wood, you can’t put it back... so maybe try some climate control first? Worst case, you’re only out a bit of time and electricity. Just my two cents—sometimes patience pays off with these old houses.
I’ve been burned by jumping the gun with a plane before—took off too much from a sticky closet door in July, and by December it was gappy enough to let in a draft. Old houses really do have a mind of their own when it comes to swelling and shrinking. I get wanting to fix it right away (locked out drama is no joke), but I’d lean toward your approach: tighten up the hinges, maybe even try a fan or dehumidifier for a bit. If it’s still sticking after the weather changes, then maybe grab the plane. Patience is tough, but sometimes it saves you from making things worse.
