Why Your Front Door Won’t Close in Detroit Winters

If you live in Detroit, you know exactly what I’m talking about. One minute your front door shuts like a dream, and the next, it’s sticking so bad you’re practically pushing the whole house. Winter in Detroit can be brutal on doors, and if yours won’t close, there’s usually a very simple reason. I’m going to break down exactly why this happens, what you can do, and when it’s time to call in a pro.

1. Wood Swelling from Cold and Moisture

Detroit winters are cold and wet. When moisture gets into a wooden door, it can swell, which makes it tough—or sometimes impossible—to close. Even doors that fit perfectly in the summer can start sticking once temperatures drop below freezing.

A swollen door often gets tight along the edges or jams at the top or bottom. You might notice a visible gap along one side while the other side is stuck. That’s the wood expanding unevenly because of humidity and freezing temperatures.

Quick tip: Check the edges of your door for swelling. If it’s minor, sometimes sanding down the problem spots is enough. But be careful—remove just a little at a time. You don’t want to ruin the door.

2. Door Frame Shifts

Detroit homes, especially older ones, settle over time. During the winter, the cold can make the wood in your frame contract, and if it shifts even slightly, your door won’t close properly.

Frames can twist or sag, which causes misalignment with your latch and strike plate. When that happens, your door might scrape the jamb or refuse to latch at all.

Quick tip: Open and close your door slowly and look for places where it rubs. Sometimes adjusting the hinges or tightening screws is all it takes to get your door back in alignment.

3. Weather Stripping Interference

Winter means cold air. Most of us slap on extra weather stripping to keep the heat in and the cold out. But if your weather stripping is too thick or installed unevenly, it can prevent the door from closing fully.

Even brand-new stripping can get hard and stiff in freezing Detroit temps. That added rigidity can make it impossible to push the door all the way into the frame.

Quick tip: Check the weather stripping around your door. If it’s blocking the door from closing, you can trim it slightly or replace it with a more flexible option.

4. Loose or Damaged Hinges

Cold weather isn’t usually the first thing people think about when their door won’t close, but loose or sagging hinges can make a door stick. Detroit winters can make metal contract, and if your hinges aren’t tight, your door can sag and misalign with the frame.

Check the screws on your hinges. If any are loose, tighten them. Sometimes, though, the screw holes have worn out, and the screws just spin. In that case, you’ll need longer screws or to fill the old holes before reattaching the hinge.

5. Latch or Strike Plate Problems

If your door closes but doesn’t latch, the strike plate might be the culprit. Over time, screws can loosen, or the metal can bend, especially with the frequent slamming and shifting that comes with winter weather.

A misaligned strike plate will make it feel like your door is sticking even though it’s just not catching properly.

Quick tip: Close the door slowly and watch how the latch hits the plate. If it’s off, you can often adjust the plate or move it slightly to make it line up again.

6. Ice or Snow Build-Up

Yes, sometimes the culprit is as simple as ice or snow. Detroit winters are notorious for freezing rain and heavy snow. If your doorstep is icy, it can push the bottom of the door up, making it impossible to shut completely.

Even a small ridge of ice under the door can throw everything off.

Quick tip: Keep your entryway clear of ice and snow. A small handheld shovel or a bag of ice melt can save you hours of frustration.

7. When to Call a Professional

Some of these problems are DIY-friendly, but others aren’t worth risking damage to your door or frame. If you’ve tried sanding, adjusting hinges, and clearing snow, and your door still won’t close, it’s time to call a pro.

A licensed handyman in Detroit can quickly diagnose and fix everything from swollen doors to misaligned frames. They’ll make sure your door closes perfectly without damaging your home or your hardware.

DIY vs Professional Fixes

Issue	DIY Possible?	Professional Recommended?
Swollen wood	Yes (sanding)	Yes (if severe)
Misaligned frame	Sometimes	Often
Thick weather stripping	Yes	Optional
Loose hinges	Yes	Optional
Strike plate adjustment	Yes	Optional
Ice/snow	Yes	No
Major door sag	No	Yes

8. Prevention Tips for Detroit Winters

1. Lubricate hinges – Cold makes metal stiff. Use a silicone spray to keep things moving.
2. Check weather stripping early – Replace or trim before winter hits.
3. Inspect your frame – Look for gaps or sagging before it gets too cold.
4. Clear snow and ice – Keep your doorway safe and functional.
5. Schedule regular maintenance – A small fix now can prevent a costly replacement later.

Your front door is the first line of defense against Detroit’s cold, and if it won’t close, it’s more than an annoyance—it’s a security issue. Whether it’s swelling, a misaligned frame, or winter weather interference, the fix is usually straightforward if handled promptly.

Common Mistakes Detroit Homeowners Make

A lot of Detroit homeowners try to force a stuck door closed in the middle of a freezing morning, and that’s usually when the door or frame gets damaged. Hitting, pushing, or slamming a swollen door can split the wood, ruin paint, or even crack your jamb. I’ve seen it a hundred times—people try to “muscle it” and end up calling me for a repair that could have been avoided with a little patience.

Another mistake is ignoring small gaps. Even a tiny misalignment or rubbing spot in the fall can turn into a full-blown sticking problem once the snow flies. If you notice your door starting to bind in October or November, take care of it immediately. Waiting until January in Detroit is asking for trouble.

The Role of Temperature Fluctuations

Detroit winters don’t just get cold—they swing. One day it’s 20 degrees with biting wind, the next it’s slightly above freezing. These temperature swings make wood expand and contract constantly. A door that shuts fine at 10 a.m. might refuse to close by 3 p.m. because the cold has contracted your frame and stiffened your hinges.

Even metal doors aren’t immune. The cold makes steel and aluminum contract slightly, and if your weather stripping is pressed tightly, it can prevent a clean latch. It’s a small thing, but in Detroit, small things matter.

How a Pro Can Save You Time and Money

I get it—DIY feels good. But sometimes, calling a professional actually saves money. A handyman can check hinge alignment, tighten screws into solid wood, plane a swollen door evenly, and adjust the strike plate perfectly—all without taking off half your paint or ruining your frame.

Plus, a pro can spot early warning signs of bigger problems, like rotting wood at the bottom of the door or a frame that’s settling too much. Catching it early means your door lasts longer, keeps the heat in, and keeps the cold out.

 Extra Preventative Tip

If you want to go one step further, consider installing a door sweep at the bottom. It seals the gap without adding friction on the sides and keeps snow, ice, and drafts from pushing up your door. Even a cheap sweep can make a huge difference in a Detroit winter.