Nothing’s worse than the startling sound of a slamming door while you’re still half-asleep in bed, are in a meeting, are practicing meditation, or when you’ve finally put the baby to sleep. Not to mention the mini heart attack it can cause when your front door is blown shut forcefully by strong winds.
If this is an ongoing issue with your doors at home, then this article is for you. From practical tips like installing a door closer to smart DIY projects, we share the best ways to stop your doors from potential damage to their alignment, frames and windows as a result of excessive slamming.
Keep on reading to learn more!
What Causes Slamming Doors?
There are several reasons why your doors are slamming on their own. These include doors that are not levelled or out of plumb, problems with the door hinges or a sudden air pressure change. The first couple of issues frequently arise in old houses or due to faulty installation of replacement door units.
Ways to Stop Your Door From Slamming
1. Install a Door Closer
Door closers are one of the most effective ways to stop your door from suddenly slamming shut. They are adjustable and spring-loaded mechanisms that automatically close a door firmly every time someone opens it.
Door closers are a perfect solution for slamming doors because they work in a controlled and almost soundless manner. Most self-closing doors usually come with door closers that are operated with either an air-filled piston or a spring tension modulated by hydraulic pressure.
Many residential and commercial property owners install door closers for the following reasons:
- To prevent severe injuries from heavy doors suddenly closing on an individual
- To keep kids or pets from running out of the house, which can happen when someone forgets to close the door on their way out
- To add an extra layer of security, deterring unauthorized people from entering the property
- To ensure fire doors are sealed shut, so the fire protection mechanism is not compromised
If you are in the process of getting a new replacement door or exterior door, ask your provider if they also have door closers available for installation. If you’re looking to install one yourself, they are likely available for purchase at your local hardware store.
2. Use a Door Stopper
Door stoppers are common in households for interior doors to prevent the door handle from hitting walls if accidentally flung open. For external doors, stoppers can be used to wedge between the frame to hold the door open. Luckily, this low-tech solution does not have to be an eyesore or ruin your interiors because of the many decorative door stoppers on the market.
3. Inspect Your Door’s Hinges
The cause of slamming doors can also be due to faulty installation or maintenance issues. Old or improperly installed exterior and interior doors can have loose or unbalanced hinges that could be causing them to shut on their own. Double-check your door’s hinges by opening it at a 90-degree angle. Put a level against the latch to determine whether the door is out of plumb. Address the issue by tightening the screws around the hinges or replacing the hinges entirely.
4. Attach Felt Pads to Your Door
If nothing happens after you’ve adjusted the hinges and you’re still not willing to invest in a door closer, you can try sticking felt pads as a quick DIY solution to your slamming doors. These felt pads are the self-adhesive stick-ons usually used on furniture to prevent scratching and damaging wooden floors.
All you need to do is attach a few pieces of felt pads to the edges of your door frame and strike plate, both the top and bottom parts. The idea is that the felt pads will provide soft padding against your door when it closes and prevent it from making a disturbing sound.
5. Try Foam Weatherstripping for Heavier Doors
For heavy, solid wood doors, foam weatherstripping may be a sturdier anti-slam solution than felt pads. The idea behind this solution is the same – the foam weatherstripping will slow down the door as it closes and will muffle the sound of it closing. Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to attach weatherstripping to your door:
- Clean the inside edges of your door frame, wiping dust and debris that could hinder the adhesive from sticking properly.
- Cut the foam weatherstripping according to the size of the door frame edges that you will cover.
- Stick it to the door frame edges and press firmly into place.
6. Put a Pinch Guard on Your Door
Technically, pinch guards are installed to protect fingers from getting hurt when the doors suddenly slam shut by physically preventing them from fully closing. As an added benefit, it also eliminates the offending noise. Pinch guards are a cost-effective way to solve loud slamming doors because they are sold in packs, an excellent solution if you have multiple entrances to fix.
Elegant Custom Doors by Clera
Clera Windows + Doors carries a wide range of stylish interior and exterior doors that can be customized according to your specific needs, including services such as professionally installed door closers and door stops.
For more detailed information about our premium quality products and services, or to request a free home estimate, please contact us today!