How can I fix a door with a corner sticking out?

Question

I just moved into a rent house that was built in 2020. There are a few signs of the builders rushing to finish, but one I don’t know how to solve is that the right corner of the door seems to be bent inwards leaving a gap between the door and the weather strips. This allows heat and humidity to get in from outside, and I can see light from outside over a fairly large region inside the door frame.

Also, we have to push or pull the door for the deadbolt to latch properly. It seems that at the top right, the door about a half inch too far out. Living in Florida, rain and mold are also a concern with the gap, Is there a simple fix for this?

Answer 1

Take the door off the frame. Remove the middle and top hinges from the frame. Insert one layer of cut-to-size cardboard under the middle hinge and two layers under the top hinge. Reinstall the hinges and the door. This should fix it.

Otherwise, as others have said, either the door is warped, or the jambs are not plumb and square. One of the two issues will have to be corrected.

Answer 2

I have had issues like that happen before with existing conditions. Maybe not as bad as yours but the fix I have in mind may work.

I use backer rod, the material that is used when caulking large gaps, it is stuffed into the gap and minimizes the amount of caulk needed among other benefits. Backer rod comes in a number of different diameters, 1/2" 3/8" and 1/4". There are larger sizes too but I don't think you will need to go any bigger.

It is available at hardware stores in possibly the weatherstripping or caulk section.

Backer rod link

I made a little sketch that shows where it will go. What it does is fill in behind the weatherstripping you have so it hold it out farther away from the door stop, so it will met the door where the gap is now. You will need to try a few diffwerent sizes and it will not need to go all the way up and down. Only where it is needed.

I have had trouble before, when the backer rod is too big, keeping it in place. So if the smaller of the sizes will work, that will be better.