Door repairs cost around $250 on average but can range from $50 to $700 depending on the type of door, type of repair, materials, and project scope.
How to Fix a Warped Door in 7 Steps
Snap a warped door back into shape with this quick guide
Get quotes from door pros near you
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Get quotes from door pros near you
No obligation · 100% free
SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
COMPLETION TIME
3 days
COST
$100–$150
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
- Screwdriver
- Paintbrush
- Heavy towels or a large camping blanket
- Washcloth
- Dust mask or respirator
SUPPLIES
- 50-pound sandbag
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Varnish or wood paint
- Water
Moisture, excessive heat and humidity, and other factors can cause doors to warp over time. The good news is you don't necessarily have to toss a door just because it has signs of warping. If you're stuck between a DIY door repair and hiring someone who repairs doors, learn how to fix a warped door yourself to decide if it's worth the effort.
Prepare the Area
To prepare to fix a warped door, lay down your large towel or camping blanket to create an area where you can place your door after you've taken it off its hinges. This can be a garage, driveway, or lawn.
Assess the Door
Photo: Sinenkiy / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty ImagesIt's a good idea to assess your door while it's still in place to get back and front views easily. Note if the warping is characterized by bowing, cupping, or twisting. More severe warping may require additional weight compared to regular bowing.
Remove the Door From the Hinges
Using your screwdriver, remove the door from its hinges to bring it to your workstation. Ask someone to help you carry the door to your work area if it's heavy.
Apply Moisture to the Door
Use a wet cloth to dampen the side of your warped door that is curving outward. The purpose of this step is that moisture actually helps to relax and loosen the fibers in your door to make them more malleable. However, this is where the waiting game happens. It's recommended that you leave the door to acclimate to the moisture for at least a day.
Add Pressure to the Door
Once exposure to moisture has loosened your door fibers, you can reverse the warping using pressure. Lay a 50-pound sandbag across the warped area. Leave it there for 24 hours. If warping is still visible after 24 hours, consider adding more weight.
One option is to gradually add five to 10 pounds daily while also laying wet towels across the warped area until you see that the area is completely straight. Fully dry off the door once you are satisfied.
Sand and Refinish the Door
Photo: sturti / E+ / Getty ImagesAfter you've applied moisture to your door, it's important to add varnish to prevent your door from warping again. Put on personal protective equipment like a dust mask or respirator and eye protection, then sand the door down with fine-grit sandpaper to remove all imperfections. Next, apply a wood finish or paint of your choice.
Rehang the Door
If you're satisfied with the results, rehang your door on its hinges using the same hardware. Confirm that the door is secure and swinging smoothly before cleaning up your work area.
Mistakes to Avoid When Fixing a Warped Door
While this task can be pretty straightforward, small mistakes can leave your door in worse shape in the long run if you're not careful. Here are some mistakes that DIYers commonly make when first learning how to straighten a warped door:
Sanding too much: Taking off too much of the door's surface when sanding can actually thin out the door to make it more susceptible to warping in the future. Avoid coarse grits or electric sanders.
Working in extreme weather: Avoid doing this project on hot, humid days or cold, frigid days. Your results may not be true if the door is expanding or contracting. Your workspace should be a dry area with stable temperatures.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
The average door repair cost falls between $130 and $370. For homeowners who are handy enough to know how to hang a door or sand wood surfaces, popping a door off its hinges for a DIY repair could be worth it to save money.
However, hiring a professional can give the peace of mind of knowing that they’re properly addressing the warping. A door repair professional near you can also address any door-frame repairs, hardware upgrades, or other functional or cosmetic issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Door services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.8★ avg. • 25 total reviews
- Sue B.
Terrible experience. Walls/trim/floors/cabinets/doors all have drip marks, overspray, etc. Tiling at the fireplace had to be redone by another vendor due to incorrect and shoddy install by Profect. Contractor had his children in our house while he was on site without prior authorization or...
Profect painting & exteriors - Maggie M.
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLC - Thomas S.
Company came to look at my garage door that was off track. They also said I needed a brace on the other garage door. They put the door back on track, and I paid to install the brace. The technician told me I needed a new garage door opener, and it would cost $1000. Red flags went off in...
Precision Overhead Garage Door Service - Lisa S.
On Sunday 2/26 I requested quotes via Angi from 4 refrigerator repair businesses. Northwest Appliance responded to me Monday morning (2/27) and my refrigerator was repaired by noon the same day. Great communication, they did everything they said they would. The technician had the parts on...
- Warren C.
Excellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Matthew L.
Called ahead and worked quickly to install keyless locks on vintage wooden doors.
Expert Lock and Key, LLC - Lori M.
Scott did not get appropriate access to the property prior to the scheduled inspection which required us to come back later in the day to complete it. He also, unprofessionally, knocked on a neighbor?s door in his attempts to reach someone with access. His overall report was fine though the...
Security First Home Inspections - Gary K.
Door Depot was very responsive - they came out the day after my call to assess my needs, then returned at my convenience to complete the work. They arrived early, and the work was completed in a shorter period of time than estimated. Very pleased with the results. I would definitely use them...
Door Depot LLC - Jim L.
Replace garage doors: Fast response, competitive estimate, timely work done well.
Village Garage Door - Dana M.
Jeremiah did an awesome job cleaning 28 windows inside and out! He was fast, efficient and now I have a beautiful view again. This was a Groupon for $139 for 20 windows, but I had 28 windows/doors cleaned, so there was an extra $6 per window. Totally worth it.
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