Plane down a swollen front door, seal the bare edges, and rehang it so it opens and closes freely again.
FD-01Work out why the door sticksSwollen timber usually gets tight along the top and the closing edge after wet weather, and eases off again in summer. Push the door to and check whether it's rubbing on the frame or dragging on the floor. If it sticks all year round, the hinges may have dropped rather than the wood swelling — that's a different fix.
FD-02Mark the tight spotsClose the door as far as it will go and slide a piece of paper or a thin pencil along the edges. Where it snags or won't slide through, mark the door with a pencil line. Do this on both faces so you know exactly how much needs to come off.
FD-03Take the door off its hingesGet someone to support the weight while you unscrew the hinge leaves from the frame — start at the bottom hinge, then the top. A front door is heavy and awkward for one person alone. Lay it flat on trestles or a padded floor so it can't slip.
FD-04Plane the marked edgesSet a sharp hand plane to take a fine shaving and work in long strokes along the grain, never across it. Stop often and check against a straightedge — take off little and often, it's easy to remove too much. Only plane the edges you marked; don't touch the hinge or lock edges unless they're the problem.
FD-05Sand the planed edges smoothUse medium then fine sandpaper to smooth the planed surface and knock off any sharp corners. Wipe away all dust with a dry cloth before painting — dust trapped under paint will show and won't seal properly.
FD-06Seal the bare timber before rehangingAny wood you've exposed by planing must be primed and painted or varnished on all faces, including the top and bottom edges — bare timber is what let moisture in and caused the swelling in the first place. Let each coat dry fully according to the tin before handling the door again.
FD-07Check the hinges while the door is offTighten any loose hinge screws. If a screw spins without biting, the hole has worn — pack it with a few wood splinters or a cocktail stick dipped in PVA glue, let it dry, then re-drive the same screw so it grips again. Don't fix hinges into a stud wall frame with wall plugs — hinge screws go into the timber door frame itself.
FD-08Rehang and test the doorWith help, lift the door back onto the hinges and screw the top hinge first, then the bottom. Open and close it several times, checking it swings freely and the latch meets the keep properly. If it still catches anywhere, mark that spot and take off one more fine shaving.
FD-09Tidy upSweep up shavings and sanding dust and put them in general waste. Clean the plane blade and brush, and seal the paint tin properly for next time. Wash your hands — wood dust and old paint can irritate skin.