I’ve found that sometimes a small hinge tweak makes a world of difference for those new locks.
Yeah, I can second that. My 1920s front door needed a shim after the smart lock install, but then the paint line looked off from certain angles—drives me nuts. Humidity’s a real pain too; last summer the door swelled enough that the deadbolt wouldn’t seat. I ended up sanding just a hair off one edge and it’s been better, but it’s always something with these old houses.
I totally get the frustration with old doors and smart locks. When I put in my keyless deadbolt, I thought it’d be a quick swap—nope. The mortise was just a hair too tight, so I had to chisel it out a bit, and then the strike plate didn’t line up right because the door frame’s not square (thanks, 1935 construction). Ended up fiddling with the hinges and adding a thin cardboard shim behind one, which helped, but now the door sits ever so slightly crooked. Drives me a little nuts if I stare at it too long.
Humidity’s brutal here too. In July, the lock sometimes sticks unless I pull the door hard while turning. I keep thinking about planing the edge, but I’m worried I’ll take off too much and end up with a draft in winter. It’s like a never-ending balancing act—fix one thing and something else pops up. Old houses definitely keep you on your toes...
“I keep thinking about planing the edge, but I’m worried I’ll take off too much and end up with a draft in winter. It’s like a never-ending balancing act—fix one thing and something else pops up.”
That’s the classic old house struggle—nothing’s ever quite square or plumb, and every fix seems to create a new quirk. Here’s a few things I’ve seen work in similar situations:
- Before planing, try tightening the screws on the top hinge or swapping them for longer ones that bite into the framing. Sometimes that’ll pull the door just enough to help with sticking.
- If you do end up planing, take off the bare minimum—like, a hair at a time. Mark where it sticks with chalk or lipstick so you’re only shaving what’s needed.
- For drafts, weatherstripping is your friend. Even if you have to plane a bit, you can usually close up any gap with a good adhesive strip.
- Humidity’s always going to mess with old wood. A dehumidifier near the entryway in summer can help a surprising amount.
Honestly, I’ve seen doors that look a little crooked but work perfectly. Sometimes it’s better to live with a bit of “character” than chase perfect lines and end up with bigger headaches.
Honestly, you nailed it with the “never-ending balancing act” bit. I’ve been there more times than I care to admit—fix one thing, and suddenly you’re dealing with a door that sticks in July and lets in a breeze come January. It’s like these old houses have a sense of humor.
I’ll say this: you’re not overthinking it. Being cautious about planing is smart, especially if you live somewhere with real winters. I’ve seen folks get aggressive with the hand plane, only to regret it when the cold air starts sneaking in around the edges. The chalk trick is underrated, by the way—makes it so much easier to see exactly where you need to shave a bit.
I’m a big fan of weatherstripping, too. Even if you end up with a slightly bigger gap than you’d like, a decent adhesive strip can save you from drafts without making the door impossible to close. It’s not always pretty, but it works.
One thing I’d add: don’t underestimate how much those hinge screws matter. I swapped mine for 3-inchers last year and it pulled the door back into alignment way more than I expected. Sometimes it’s the little tweaks that make the biggest difference.
And honestly, a door with a little “character” isn’t the end of the world. Perfectly square doors are overrated—half the time, nobody but you will notice if it’s off by a hair. If it opens, closes, and keeps most of the weather out, that’s a win in my book.
You’re doing all the right things by thinking it through before taking tools to wood. That kind of attention to detail is what keeps these old places feeling solid instead of falling apart at the seams.
Totally relate to the “character” comment—seems like every old door has its own quirks. I was nervous about planing too, but taking it slow made a difference. Your attention to detail is spot on and honestly, that’s what keeps things working in the long run. Don’t stress the small stuff—if it functions, you’re ahead of the game.
