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How To Stop Doors From Slamming: Easy To Install Materials At Home To Prevent Damage

hand closing an apartment door

Last Updated: June 23, 2021

You are in the living room enjoying yourself, watching your favorite TV show while nibbling on some chips.

And then...

A loud thud disturbs the peaceful atmosphere.

There goes your door again, going crazy. It bangs itself once, sometimes twice, but whatever the case is, you’d surely want it to shut up.

If you find yourself in or similar to the situation above, keep reading to discover practical ways how to stop a door from slamming.

Why Do Our Doors Slam?

Based on our experience themselves, doors slam to several factors such as:

  • Strong hands or effect of intensified emotions (usually from children)
  • Strong winds from open windows
  • Out of the plumb door, meaning the door is tilted or not vertically aligned
  • Old door

Effects Of Slamming Doors

Physically, the repetition of slamming of doors can cause heavy damage to both the door and the wall around it. Hinges can get loose, and the doorjamb could also be affected.

Worst case scenario, the door would be beyond repair, and you would have to buy a new one. While it’s early and you’re already experiencing a problem, it’s wise to find ways to prevent the door from slamming further.

Convenient Tools To Keep A Door From Slamming

Strong Hinges

door hinge on a wood door

When trying to figure out how to stop a door from slamming, it’s best to observe the hinges first.

Just as continuous slamming can weaken them, loose or weak hinges can cause the door to tilt, making it more vulnerable to slams.

To check the hinges, open the door to an angle of around 90 degrees. Afterward, use a leveling tool to check if the door is vertically upright and firm. If wobbly, tighten the hinges with a screwdriver.

If the hinges are too old or weak, it may be time to replace them. No need to bring down your entire door, don’t worry! There’s an easier way to do it.

Start with either the top or bottom hinge. Unscrew and remove it, and place a new hinge while using a leveling tool for alignment. Then, do the same with the rest of the hinges.

Doorstops

If you’re looking for a tool to stop your door from slamming while open, a doorstop is a good choice. It’s famous for being the most affordable anti-slammer there is.

The best thing is, you can choose many aesthetic & durable doorstops from stores.

It may not be for you if you want slam-free sounds while also being able to close your door. But it is effective when you need to keep your door open during a windy day, like when you’re moving boxes into your home.

Felt Pads

3 felt pad attached to a wooden door

Felt pads are those soft, comfy little things commonly used to prevent the rough rubbing of furniture on the floor.

For door slams, felt pads effectively decrease the impact of the door by cushioning.

Their advantage is that they come with a self-adhesive surface that can be easily attached to different materials.

You use felt pads by sticking them along the door frame, preventing slams when the door closes. There is no limit to how many felt pads you want to use. Most reviews suggest at least two, one at the top and one at the bottom of the strike plate.

Weather Stripping And Foam Strips/Foam Tapes

There may be some occasions when felt pads aren’t enough, especially when the door is massive and heavy.

A weatherstripping kit can be your next option. It can even serve twice the intended purpose, as an anti-door slammer and a soundproofing tool, even to soundproof hollow doors.

You can use many different materials for weather stripping, usually felt, foam, or rubber. Most people consider rubber as the best material, but the foam isn’t that bad either.

The V-Seal weather stripper type is a good choice because of its affordability and ease to use.

Foam strips are like felt pads but in tape form. Many people wouldn't classify foam tapes as weather strips, but they're a good option if you're looking for a combination of quality and cost-effectiveness.

To set them up, simply stick the tape down the door frame, and remove the paper covering the foam.

man putting strips for door

Rubber Bands

How to prevent a door from slamming but with something affordable and accessible? You can use plain but instrumental rubber bands.

If you want a door to stop closing on you, especially when you’re carrying heavy objects, rubber bands are a good choice.

It is easy to use them. Just wrap the bands around the doorknob, then extend it until it reaches the knob on the other side. The rubber band should securely cover the portion where the lock will click.

The rubber band is like an improvised bumper. It stops the door from slamming shut when the door meets the frame, an important thing also on how to soundproof an apartment door.

Although, it is essential to consider the quality of the band. Make sure it is elastic and firm enough to be stretched and uneasily damaged.

Anti Door Slam Devices

Hydraulic And Pneumatic Door Closers

hydraulics for door

If you’ve been to fancy offices or hotels, you might come across this anti-door slam device on glass doors. You might have seen them as usually metal objects attached from the top edge of the entrance door to the wall.

These door closers use air-filled pistons to automatically and gradually close the door whenever it opens. It is one of the highly effective devices to stop a door from slamming.

However, it can be pretty expensive. It’s efficient if you're planning to use it for a heavy door in your house or building. You can use it for wood, metal, and commercial glass doors.

Pinch Guards

Pinch guards can be compared to door stops, slightly varying in terms of purpose and efficiency. Like doorstops, they aren't the anti-slammers for you if you'd want the door fully closed.

The pinch guard comes in a small C-shape foam. It acts as a soft barrier between the door and the frame to prevent a full shut slam.

For use, you can place, or rather, pinch it either on the top or side edge of the door, depending on your preference.

Pinch guards lack efficiency for some users because they don't allow the door to close fully. However, they are convenient for children and toddlers. The door will be baby-proofed, as their fingers are no longer in danger from accidentally getting stuck in the doorway.

Door Silencer

A door silencer is your best answer if you're looking for an easy-to-install device that is also affordable and effective.

The device is small, slightly larger than a marble, with a cone-shaped rubber material attached to a flat, circular, wheel-like piece.

The typical placement of a door silencer is at the frame of the wall, right beside the lock near the strike plate.

To install, drill a 0.25-in hole in the mentioned area. Place the rubber cone portion of the door silencer securely into the hole, leaving the flat part bulging at the frame. The flat section will be your "slam shock absorber."

More Guides And Tips For Efficiency Of Tools

  • Doorstops, pinch guards, or door silencers will be your best bet if you want a balance between quality and affordability.
  • Undecided whether to use felt pads, foam strips, or weather strips? Felt pads are more convenient for lighter doors, while the latter two for heavier.
  • If your door isn't that hard to fix, you may use rubber bands. You may also use rags or towels to substitute for felt pads, but they are only for temporary use.
  • For baby proofing, pinch guards would be the best option, but door stops could also work.

Here's a video for you on how to effectively quiet a slamming door:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you stop a door from slamming noise?

Creating a soft barrier between the frame and the door can help lessen the impact. Felt pads, weather stripping, and pinch guards usually do the trick. A door silencer is an anti-slam door device that you can easily install for this kind of purpose.

What is a door silencer?

A door silencer is a device with a cone-shaped rubber material attached to a flat, circular, wheel-like piece. The cone part is drilled into the frame, while the dull section will serve as the shock absorber when the door closes.

How do I stop my child from slamming doors?

You can use doorstops to keep the door wide open for the continuous passage of your child or toddler.

There are also some devices available such as pinch guards. They provide a cushion between the door and the frame to prevent the slam and secure your children’s fingers from accidentally getting squished.

Does slamming House doors cause damage?

Yes, it can cause damage. Apart from the disturbance it inflicts, continuous slamming can also damage the door and frame. It can also cause loose hinges.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering how to keep a door from slamming, simple everyday materials can do it so. Many people commonly use products such as doorstops, felt pads, and weather strippings.

If you would like devices specially made for anti-slamming, door silencers, pinch guards, and automatic door closers would be ideal.

Unless your door has severe damage to the point of replacement, those tools would be practical.

But sometimes, the best way to prevent the noise and potential destruction from occurring is simple. We just need to be cooperative family members and explicitly respect each others’ ears and our beloved door itself.

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