Man Door in my garage hard to lock

[dltflt]

About 6 months ago my side door to my garage became very difficult to lock.  I have to lift the door and push on to get the dead bolt to lock.  Can someone please give me an idea of what the problem might be.  The door threshold is in pretty bead sale also, I don't know if that could be part of the problem.

 

[tjbnwi]

Sounds like the top hinge has come loose. Check the jamb and door screws. You may need to run longer screws in the top hinge.

I didn't understand your sill statement.

Pictures would help.

Tom

 

[Alan m]

sounds to me like your door isnt plumb anymore. maybe the door structure is failing  or the hindges are coming loose or the jamb has moved. maybe the locking side jamb has lifted

 

[Slappy]

My house does that twice a year , as we don't get rain here from May till November . Here's it the soil retracting for being dry & then it's the expansion of soil come rainy season .

as your in AZ most houses there are on slabs  , it could be a larger problem in  that water "might" undermining the slab 
have you gotten a lot of unusually high rain amounts lately ? 
the weather has been wacky in some places this year

 

[peter halle]

Take a look at the lock side gap between the door and jamb.  The upper portion will probably be closer to the jamb than the bottom.  If you insert a three inch screw in one of the upper most hinge holes on the jamb (choose one of the two furthest away from the hinge pin) and tighten, it will hit a stud and pull that portion closer to the stud which will lift the lock side bottom up off of the threshold.

Took longer to explain than it will take to do.

Peter

 

[dltflt]

First let me say thanks for all of the responses.  Here are a few pics I just took of the lock side of jam, threshold,and above the hinge side.  Peter I checked the lock side and the door is closer on the bottom than the top which makes no sense since I have to lift the door to lock it.  You can see how rotted out the threshold is in the pic.  I also notice the crack in the wall above the hinge side.

Thank again,
Don
 Okay I don't know why the pics rotated 90º left

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[Slappy]

that's water damage & that threshold looks like termite damage as well as the critters love soft wet wood .
I'd say the whole door & jam is sinking , that sheetrock above the door jam  is giving way as well
you've got water running down the wall from somewhere . could be rain water & a leaking gutter
You got a swampcooler on the roof ? or a A/C that is sweating near the coil & the sweat water running down the wall ?

 

[peter halle]

It does look like you have some water issues.  Would it be possible to see a few more images?
1.  From outside at driveway level with storm / screen door open
2.  From inside at floor level
3.  Inside at top corner of lock jamb
4.  Outside overall at door top

Also, how thick is your outside wall?

Peter

 

[dltflt]

Slappy no swamp cooler but the AC does drain just to the left of the door (hinge side)

Peter I will get those pics when I get home tonight.

 

[dltflt]

Peter here are the pictures you asked for I hope.  I took an extra one of the lock side at the floor because it appears to raised up.  Now I'm only saying that because the molding was off the floor far enough to get my index finger underneath.

 

[tjbnwi]

The threshold on the hinge side is gone. Place a prybar under the jamb and raise it, shim. Check door, if the problem is corrected pack under jamb with non-shrink grout. Better would be to pull the door, repair the support, rest door.

Tom

 

[Slappy]

1st figure out where the water is coming from ,  that did that damage , if you don't you be doing this repair all over again down the road  .
You might also have damage to the studs & base plate under that stucco .
that staining on the inside of door/floor  from your earlier pix looks like it's been  going on for awhile . 

 

[No Clue]

I had the exact same issue. Water was leaking into the area of the jamb and accumulating near the lower portion of the door causing it to rot. I hired an exterior siding company to diagnose it, fix the leak, and he replaced the rotted area only which was about the lower 12 inches of the jamb. Everything works well now and it was pretty cheap to do

 

[dltflt]

Thanks guys. I think this is a job for a professional.

 

[tjbnwi]

We can schedule an appointment on line. ;D

Tom

 

[dltflt]

Looking to come to some nice weather Tom.

 

[peter halle]

When you do have it repaired / parts replaced, please consider some of the composite materials.  For instance, the threshold that you have can be obtained in a composite so that you can't get swelling from the inevitable water.  Lower portions of jambs can be composites also.  If you need to have a sub threshold - ditto.

You might spend a few more dollars now, but even in Phoenix you will be ahead in the long run.

Peter

 

[tjbnwi]

Looking to come to some nice weather Tom.

I've traveled to work in Phoneix. My oldest daughter lived there from the age of 18-23. My brother in law lives there currently.

I have no issues with traveling to do a job. I get paid to see the country.

Tom

 

[Tinker]

When you do have it repaired / parts replaced, please consider some of the composite materials.  For instance, the threshold that you have can be obtained in a composite so that you can't get swelling from the inevitable water.  Lower portions of jambs can be composites also.  If you need to have a sub threshold - ditto.

You might spend a few more dollars now, but even in Phoenix you will be ahead in the long run.

Peter

1st figure out where the water is coming from ,  that did that damage , if you don't you be doing this repair all over again down the road  .
You might also have damage to the studs & base plate under that stucco .
that staining on the inside of door/floor  from your earlier pix looks like it's been  going on for awhile . 

DITTO What Peter & Slappy said.
good advise
Tinker

 

[dltflt]

Thank You gentlemen.

Tom I may take you up on that