What to check first
Open and close the door slowly and watch where it catches. If it drags along the bottom corner nearest the hinges, the door has dropped on that side. If it catches only on the top or bottom corner opposite the hinges, look at the frame rather than the door.
Check the hinge screws. Loose screws are the single easiest thing to rule out yourself — a screwdriver and two minutes tells you whether tightening them closes the gap.
Note when the problem started. A sudden jam after renovation works nearby, or after a heavy rain spell, points you toward a shifted frame or swollen wood rather than simple hinge wear.
The likely causes, in order
Worn or loosened hinges (most common). The most common cause is worn or loosened hinges. Screws work loose over years of daily use, and the door drops slightly on its hinge side, which is why it starts catching on the frame or the floor.
A shifted door frame. The second cause is a frame that has shifted, which happens as an HDB flat settles over years or after nearby renovation works disturb the wall. A door that used to close square and now catches only on one corner points to the frame, not the door panel.
A swollen panel from humidity. The third cause is a wooden panel that has swelled with Singapore's humidity, especially into the wetter months. This shows up as a door that sticks along one edge and eases up again once conditions dry out, rather than a fault that is getting steadily worse.
When to call, and who
Tightening a loose hinge screw is a fair DIY attempt; planing a door edge, rehanging a panel, or adjusting a frame is a handyman job. If the fix needs the door taken off its hinges, treat it as a booking, not a weekend project.
Stop and call now if the door is a fire-rated entrance door with a door closer fitted, and the closer itself is not working. HDB states the door closer "must not be removed" because it keeps the door shut during a fire, so a faulty closer on that door is a safety fault, not a convenience issue. Do not disable or remove a door closer to make a sticking door easier to shut.
What it costs
Ask two or three for a written quote instead.
When you ask, describe what you found: which corner the door catches on, whether hinge screws are loose, and roughly how old the flat is. A provider quoting "door repair" with no detail is quoting blind.
Ask whether the quote is a flat call-out plus hourly rate, or a fixed price for the job, and whether that includes minor hardware (screws, a new hinge) or bills them separately.
If the door fix turns out to need renovation-level work — reinstating a damaged frame, for instance, rather than adjusting hinges — HDB requires that only contractors from its Directory of Renovation Contractors be engaged for renovations in your flat; routine hinge, plane or realignment work does not need this.
Who to call, and how to judge them
Routine door repair (hinges, planing, realignment) isn't checked against BCA's Contractors Registration System either — that register is for construction firms that hire foreign construction workers or bid for public-sector projects, not handyman-level jobs. Judge a handyman the same way regardless: ACRA registration, a written scope, and reviews you can verify.
An ACRA registration confirms the business exists, nothing more. Prefer a provider who asks what you found before quoting over one who quotes a flat "door repair" fee sight-unseen.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my door suddenly not close properly?
A jammed or misaligned door is one that no longer closes, latches or swings the way it did when installed — it drags on the frame or floor, needs force to shut, or leaves a visible gap on one side. Most of the time it comes down to the hinges, the frame, or humidity swelling the panel.
Is a sticking fire door dangerous?
Stop and call now if the door is a fire-rated entrance door with a door closer fitted, and the closer itself is not working. HDB states the door closer "must not be removed" because it keeps the door shut during a fire, so a faulty closer on that door is a safety fault, not a convenience issue.
Sources
- HDB, "Gate and Door" home care guide (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- HDB, "Important Information on Renovations" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
- BCA, "Contractors Registration System (CRS)" (fetched 15 Sep 2026)
Compare handyman providers and give each the same details: which corner the door catches on, and whether hinge screws are loose.
