Step 1: Identify the Binding Location
Close the door slowly and observe where it makes contact with the frame. For the adjustment covered in this guide, the door will be hitting or rubbing at the top of the frame, typically near the top corner on the latch side.
• Check the reveal around the entire door perimeter. If the reveal at the bottom of the door is consistent and adequate but the top is tight or making contact, the issue is confirmed as a top hinge problem.
• Verify that the frame is plumb and level. If the frame is true, the binding is caused by the door position relative to the hinges, not the frame itself.
Step 2: Determine Which Hinge to Adjust
When a door binds at the top of the frame, only the top hinge requires adjustment. Do not adjust the middle or bottom hinge. Adjusting all three hinges simultaneously will put the door in a bind, creating new problems rather than solving the original one.
The top hinge controls the position of the upper portion of the door. By modifying the top hinge cup on the frame side, the top of the door is pulled slightly back toward the hinge jamb, opening up the reveal at the top of the frame.
Step 3: Remove the Top Hinge Leaf from the Frame
Support the door with a wedge or shims at the bottom to prevent it from dropping when the top hinge leaf is detached. Remove the screws securing the top hinge leaf to the frame only. Leave the hinge leaf attached to the door.
The hinge leaf on the door side does not need to be disturbed. The adjustment is made entirely on the frame-side hinge cup where the dimples (also called bulbs) are located.
Step 4: Grind the Three Outer Dimples
The hinge cup on the frame contains five dimples (raised bumps) that position the hinge leaf. Three dimples are on the outer edge of the cup, and two dimples are on the inner edge.
• Using an angle grinder, grind down only the three outer dimples. Leave the two inner dimples intact.
• The two remaining inner dimples act as a shim force, keeping the hinge leaf bent back slightly when reinstalled. This offset pulls the top of the door back toward the hinge jamb.
• On heavyweight hinges, all five dimples are typically ground down to seat the hinge fully. In this troubleshooting application, the two inner dimples are intentionally preserved to create the corrective offset.
The dimples are small, and the grinding operation takes only a few seconds per dimple. Grind them flush with the surface of the hinge cup. Do not grind into the cup itself.
Step 5: Reinstall the Top Hinge Leaf
After grinding, reattach the top hinge leaf to the frame using the original screws. The two remaining inner dimples will hold the hinge leaf at a slight offset, which is the intended result. Tighten all screws securely.
Step 6: Test Door Operation
Remove the door wedge or shims and test the door by opening and closing it several times. Verify the following.
• The door no longer contacts the top of the frame when closing.
• The reveal is consistent along the latch side, from bottom to top.
• The reveal across the top of the frame is even and matches the bottom reveal.
• The door latches properly without excessive force.
• The door does not swing open or closed on its own (which would indicate an over-correction or a separate plumb issue).
If the door still binds after adjustment, verify that the frame is plumb and that the middle and bottom hinges are properly seated. In rare cases, hinge wear or a damaged hinge knuckle may require hinge replacement rather than cup adjustment.
