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Door alignment · Alexandria, Arlington & Fairfax

Deadbolt and Strike Plate Alignment

For doors that won't latch or lock smoothly in Alexandria, VA

A deadbolt should not require you to lift, pull or push the door every time you lock it. When the bolt misses its receiving opening, the door and surrounding hardware need attention as a system.

Call (571) 202-6721 Request service
See where the bolt is catching
Homes & apartmentsOffices & storefrontsDeadbolts & latches
Where does it catch?

Five ways a bolt misses the strike

Where the bolt or latch meets the frame says a lot about what has moved. Choose the one that matches your door to see what it usually means and what to tell us.

Door edgeFrame and strike

The bolt hits below the opening

Usually
The door has dropped at the latch side, often because the screws in the top hinge have worked loose. If lifting the handle helps the door lock, that is a useful clue.
Often adjusted by
Tightening or adjusting the hinges so the door sits level again, then checking how the bolt meets the strike.
Tell us
Whether lifting the door makes it lock, and whether the gap along the top of the door looks uneven.
Door edgeFrame and strike

The bolt hits above the opening

Usually
The latch side sits higher than the strike. A swollen door, movement in the frame, or a strike fitted slightly low can all cause it.
Often adjusted by
Moving the strike or adjusting the hinges, depending on which part has shifted.
Tell us
Whether pressing down on the handle helps, and whether the door rubs at a top corner.
Door and sealFrame and strike

The door does not close far enough

Usually
Something holds the door short of the frame, such as new or thick weather stripping, fresh paint on the edges, or a strike set too far back.
Often adjusted by
Repositioning the strike, or adjusting the stop and weather stripping so the door closes fully.
Tell us
Whether you push the door in to lock it, and whether the weather stripping or paint is new.
Door and latchFrame and strike

The latch will not catch and the door swings back

Usually
The spring latch is hitting the lip of its strike instead of dropping in, or the strike opening is too shallow for it.
Often adjusted by
Adjusting or replacing the latch strike so the latch can drop in as the door closes.
Tell us
Whether the door stays shut when you close it gently, and whether the latch pulls back smoothly when you turn the handle.
Dry monthsHumid months (dashed)

It changes with the seasons

Usually
Wood doors and frames swell in humid weather and shrink when it is dry, moving the door a little against the strike.
Often adjusted by
A small strike or hinge adjustment that leaves room for that seasonal movement.
Tell us
Which months it is worse, and whether the door also sticks in its frame at those times.
The whole opening

Alignment involves more than the strike plate

The assessment may include hinges, door position, weather stripping and the opening that receives the bolt. Moving one part without checking the others can leave the door difficult to close or create a different fit problem.

Hinges

Loose or worn hinge screws let the latch side of the door drop, which moves the bolt away from its opening.

Door position

A door that has shifted in its frame changes where the bolt and the latch meet the strike, even if nothing on the lock has changed.

Weather stripping

New or thicker seals can hold the door away from the frame, so the bolt reaches the strike before the door has fully closed.

The strike and its opening

The strike plate and the hole behind it need the right position and enough depth for the bolt to go fully in.

What changed?

Tell us what changed before the trouble started

Explain whether the issue is constant or varies with the season. Tell the technician if the door has recently been repainted, had weather stripping added, or suffered visible damage. These details help establish what changed.

Homeowners in Rosemont and nearby Alexandria neighborhoods can keep a simple record of recurring problems: when the door misbehaves, how it has to be moved, and whether the weather plays a part.

  1. The season

    Humid summers and dry winters move wood doors and frames.

  2. Fresh paint

    Paint on the door edge and stop adds thickness where the door meets the frame.

  3. New weather stripping

    Fresh seals push the door outward until they settle or are adjusted.

  4. A new lock or strike

    Hardware fitted in a slightly different position from the old set.

  5. Visible damage

    An impact or forced entry can bend the strike or split the frame around it.

Know the limits

Separate adjustment from structural repair

Some conditions may suit hardware adjustment; others require a door or frame repair beyond locksmith work. Knowing which is which keeps the right person on the job.

Often a hardware adjustment

  • hinge screws that have worked loose
  • a strike plate slightly out of position
  • a latch or bolt rubbing on the strike
  • a commercial door closer that needs adjusting

Beyond locksmith work

  • a rotted or split door frame
  • a warped door that no longer fits its opening
  • movement in the wall or floor around the frame
  • a door that needs trimming or rehanging

Ask what the proposed correction includes and whether the bolt will be tested with the door closed. If the door or frame needs repair first, a carpenter or door contractor may need to do that before the hardware is adjusted.

Why it is worth fixing

Forcing the door wears out the lock

Every time a door has to be lifted, pushed or slammed to lock, the bolt, the cylinder and the key take the strain. Over time that turns an alignment problem into a lock problem.

  • the bolt and strike wear where they rub
  • the cylinder starts to feel stiff
  • keys bend, crack or snap under the extra force
  • smart lock motors strain and drain their batteries

If a key has already snapped, see what to do when a key breaks inside a lock. Electronic locks are especially sensitive to a door under pressure: our smart locks page covers them. If the deadbolt itself is worn out or the wrong fit, see deadbolt installation.

Office or storefront door not latching?

Commercial doors add closers, pivots and exit devices to the picture. Our commercial locksmith page covers business doors, and our panic bar repair page covers exit hardware.

Commercial locksmith
Before you call

What to tell us about the door

A few details help separate a simple adjustment from a door that needs more work.

  • Where the property is, and whether it is a home or a business
  • Which door it is, and what it is made of if you know
  • Whether the problem is with the deadbolt, the latch or both
  • Whether the bolt turns freely while the door is standing open
  • Anything that changed recently: paint, seals, a new lock or damage
  • Whether the problem comes and goes with the weather
Call Navy Locksmith (571) 202-6721

Call Navy Locksmith at (571) 202-6721 to discuss alignment support. Provide your address and describe how you currently have to move the door to make it lock.

Hours: Sunday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. Saturday, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

Pricing

What affects the cost of door alignment

There is no flat price for alignment work, because the cause differs from one door to the next.

Ask what the proposed work covers and whether any part, such as a new strike, is included.

What is out of lineHinges, door position, seals or the strike itself
Whether parts are neededA new strike, longer screws or a replacement latch
The type of doorWood, steel, fiberglass or a commercial door with a closer
How many doorsOne door, or several with the same problem
Where we work

Door alignment help across Alexandria

Navy Locksmith helps with deadbolt and latch alignment problems throughout Alexandria, and in Arlington and Fairfax.

Old Town Alexandria Del Ray Potomac Yard Rosemont Seminary Hill Landmark Carlyle & Eisenhower West End Alexandria North Ridge Arlandria Arlington Fairfax
Questions

Frequently asked questions

Why does my deadbolt only lock when I push or pull the door?

The bolt and the strike have moved out of line, so pushing or pulling the door lines them up for a moment. The hinges, the door position or the strike usually need adjusting.

Why does my door latch in winter but not in summer?

Wood doors and frames swell in humid weather and shrink when it is dry, which moves the door against the strike. Mention that the problem is seasonal when you call.

Can a strike plate just be moved?

Sometimes, if the door is sound and only slightly out of line. If the door has dropped or the frame is damaged, moving the strike alone may only hide the problem.

Is a door that will not latch a locksmith job or a carpenter job?

It depends on the cause. Hinge, strike and latch adjustments are hardware work. A split frame, a warped door or rot needs a door or frame repair first.

Will forcing the door damage the lock?

It can. Lifting, pushing or slamming a door to lock it strains the bolt, the cylinder and the key, and a key can snap under that strain.

How much does door alignment cost?

There is no flat price. It depends on what is out of line, whether parts are needed, the type of door and how many doors are involved. Describe how the door behaves when you call.

Door alignment in Alexandria, VA

Door won't latch? Call Navy Locksmith

Tell us how the door behaves, what changed recently and whether it is a home or a business. We can talk through whether an adjustment is likely to solve it.

Call (571) 202-6721 Request service

Hours: Sunday to Friday, 8:00 am to 11:00 pm. Saturday, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm.