How To Repair Damaged Door Casing

Download Article

Download Article

We've all encountered a door that has seen meliorate days. Prolonged h2o exposure, age, or forced entry cause harm to the door frame (also known as the door jamb), causing the door to function improperly. Repairing a door frame is a task that ranges from a simple fix to one requiring a little more handiwork, depending on how the door is damaged and how y'all intend on fixing it.

1. one

   Remove the door stop and molding. Use a chisel and hammer or putty knife to pry the door end and molding away from the frame. Beginning at the bottom of the frame and piece of work your way up.

   • Take care not to impairment the stop as you remove information technology from the frame. Place the claw end of the hammer on the side of each smash to support even removal.
   • Remove any remaining finishing nails left in the molding.

2. 2

   Remove whatsoever shims from in betwixt the door frame and the wall. Door shims are used to correct and level doors with the frame so that the door is squared, or even, between both sides of the frame. These must be removed in order to adjust the warped door frame.

   Advertisement

3. iii

   Utilise a mallet to straighten the frame. Gently hammer the frame in the direction necessary to level out both sides of the frame.

   • Make certain the door is closed while you straighten the frame. This will assistance yous measure whether the door is even or planed with the frame.
   • Use a small, thick piece of wood to cover the area you are hammering. This will evenly distribute the blows from the mallet and prevent impairment to the frame. The wood can also be used as a wedge if yous accept problem hammering in a particular direction.

4. iv

   Measure ofttimes and incrementally. Equally you straighten the frame, measure the door gaps to encounter whether the door is evenly flush on both sides of the frame, from top to bottom.^[one]

   • Retrieve that a warped frame is only an immediate trouble if it prevents the door from closing properly, or allows a large gap in between the edge of the door and the frame.
   • A warped door frame can advise a moisture problem. Double check for rotting wood on or about the frame.

5. 5

   Reinstall door shims. Supplant the door shims that were removed prior to further tighten the corrections made to the frame. Don't fully tighten shims until you are satisfied with the correction.

   • Apply new door shims if the older door shims were damaged.
   • Shims come in a variety of materials, including forest, plastic or metal. Wooden shims are the most commonly used shims and are versatile thanks to their ability to exist trimmed. Use plastic shims on whatever exterior doors as they are resistant to rotting.
   • Brand certain you place a pair of shims at hinge elevation of the door, on both sides of the frame. This helps the door stay tightly secured, every bit much of the weight of the door is transferred to the frame at these heights. ^[2]
   • Utilise a spirit level to make certain the shims are level. Use as many shims every bit necessary to ensure the frame is installed level on its entire length.
   • Open and shut the door several times to exam the security of the door. If the door still seems to be uneven with the frame, adjust the frame and shims as necessary to level out the door.
   • Always re-smash places where you added shims.

6. 6

   In one case satisfied, reinstall the door molding. If y'all used new door shims during correction, score the excess with a utility knife and snap it off.

7. 7

   Remove the door frame (optional). If the door frame is far too warped for correcting (such as through large scale h2o damage), you volition accept to supplant it. In one case the molding and screws are removed, use a crowbar to slowly pry the frame from the wall. Start at the lesser and work your way up. Once the frame is nearly removed, remove it from the top plate by pulling it away from the door with your easily. Remove any shims you encounter forth the way.

   • Yous may need to gently move the frame back and forth to nudge the frame loose from the top plate.

8. viii

   Echo the process for each side of the frame you are replacing. If you are but replacing i side of the door frame, yous may leave the top plate and healthy side of the door frame.

   • The door will have to be removed from the door frame if yous are replacing the role of the frame containing the hinges.

9. 9

   Cut or buy a new frame. If replacing simply one part of the frame, cut a piece of timber of your choosing to size.

   • Weather condition-treated pieces of 2x4 timber are the virtually commonly used type of woods used for door frames. These are available in several standard sizes at DIY stores such as Dwelling house Depot and Lowes.
   • Never use pressure-treated materials as they will twist once they dry.
   • The virtually common heights for doors are 80", 84", and 96" in height. The width of mutual doors range from xviii" to 36" wide.
   • Ask an proficient at a hardware store if you have whatsoever questions specific to your project. They can help you lot choose and cut any parts you volition need for the repair.

10. 10

    Modify the top plate if necessary. The top plate may need a modified notch for fitting the placement of the new frame. Ready the frame where it volition be placed and mark the measurement for the notch in the meridian plate using a pencil. Cutting the notch using a multitool and chisel.

    • A multitool is an electric tool that comes with a diverseness of heads that fulfill unlike tasks, ranging from cutting and sanding wood to drilling holes.

11. 11

    Replace the door shims. Place the shims 100 mm from the summit and bottom of the frame, and where the door hinges will be placed. If the previous shims are still usable and in adept status, you may use those. Otherwise, shims tin be purchased from hardware stores or home made from timber.

    • Use a spirit level to make sure the shims are level. Use as many shims as necessary to ensure the frame is installed levelly on its unabridged length.

12. 12

    Install the new door frame. Slide the frame into identify. Make sure information technology is in the notch and level confronting the shims. Hammer ii nails through the frame at each shim, securing the frame and shims in place against the wall stud.

    • Don't immediately hammer the nails all the manner. Leave some jerk room in case you need to brand an adjustment.

13. 13

    Measure the frame with the spirit level. Employ this opportunity to make sure the frame is affluent to the drywall or finished wall material. If affluent and level, use a blast punch to set the nails in place. If you take them, use a compressor and a end nail gun instead.

    • Reinstall the door to the frame at this bespeak if you removed it earlier.

14. 14

    Reinstall the door strip and molding. Have care to ensure both are flush and level.^[iii]

Advertisement

1. ane

   Identify where the damage is located. A split up can occur in a diversity of locations on the frame depending on how it was damaged.

   • The center of the frame is a common surface area to get split, peculiarly if the door is forced open or shut with as well much force. This is most often encountered during burglaries or other forced door entries.
   • A kicked door can cause a split up lower on the door frame (including harm to the door itself).

2. 2

   Remove the door strip and molding. Apply a chisel and hammer to pry the door finish and molding away from the frame. Start at the lesser of the frame and work your way up.

   • Take care not to impairment the end as yous remove it from the frame. Place the claw cease of the hammer on the side of each nail to support even removal.
   • Remove any remaining finishing nails left in the molding.

3. iii

   Measure half dozen inches (fifteen.2 cm) above and below the frame damage. Mark the measurements with a pencil. If the impairment is at the bottom of the frame, marker simply above the harm.

4. 4

   Carefully cut the damaged frame abroad at the marked measurements. Use a small mitt or ability saw to brand an authentic cut.

   • Employ screws but above and below the marked measurements to help hold the frame tight and assist guide the cutting process.
   • Be conscientious non to cutting also deep into the frame. You don't want to damage the construction of the firm.

5. 5

   Measure and cut timber. You lot want to cut the timber of the same length and width as the damaged portion removed from the frame. Utilize the same type of timber as the residual of the existing frame.

   • Weather-treated pieces of 2x4 timber are the most commonly used type of wood used for door frames. These are available at DIY stores such equally Home Depot and Lowes.
   • Never use pressure level-treated materials as they will twist one time they dry out.
   • Door frame/jamb replacement kits are available for buy that feature pre-cut selections of timber in various sizes and thicknesses. These tin be further modified to suit your needs.^[4]
   • If you believe your door frame is made from a non-standard wood, take the damaged portion to your local hardware store. Experts at that place can help you identify the type of forest that was used and supply y'all with the necessary materials.

6. half-dozen

   Glue the new timber into place. Utilise wood or carpenter's glue to affix the replacement timber into place. Once fit, allow the gum to dry.

   • Wood or carpenter'due south' glue sets thin, minimizing gaps betwixt wooden parts. This glue also comes in waterproof varieties, making them ideal for wood-based projects. ^[5]
   • Hammer two nails into the top and bottom of the new timber for a more secure fit.

7. seven

   Sand the repaired expanse smooth. Use sandpaper to sand away any glue residue or imperfections between the new and old frame.

8. eight

   Use a torso or wood filler. Mix plenty body filler, likewise chosen bondo, to cover the entirety of the repaired areas. Use and polish with a putty knife. Let to dry. The filler will fill in whatever gaps in the glue and assist maintain the repair.

   • Almost brands of body and woods filler are similar in the tasks they can handle. The eventual hardness, natural color, and malleability of each filler will differ depending on brand and ingredients. If pricing is a business, body filler tends to be cheaper than wood filler. ^[6]

9. nine

   Sand the filler. Sand the applied filler smoothen with sandpaper. Once polish, terminate with 1 coat of primer and two coats of pigment.

Advertisement

1. one

   Place the rotted areas. Wood rot oft occurs near the bottom of door frames, where water tends to pool during pelting or floods. Measure the section of door frame containing wood rot and marker the surface area with a pencil.

2. 2

   Cleave out the rotted areas. Using a chisel, dremel, or direct oscillating tool, grind out all of the rotted areas of wood on the frame. Information technology is important to go every concluding bit of rotted wood yous tin come across. If even a modest corporeality of rotted wood remains, the fungus causing the rot will go on to spread.

   • If the rot covers a peculiarly large area or extends beyond the door frame into the structure of the house, more than serious repairs will exist necessary to continue the rot from returning.
   • Inspect your door for wood rot. When the frame becomes rotted, the door can also rot too. An infected door tin pass the rot to the door frame and vice versa. Replace the door if it becomes rotted. ^[7]

3. 3

   Insert a wire mesh into the carved area. Purchase a folded wire mesh and place it in the gap of the frame. Lock it in identify with screws. This wire mesh will serve as a skeleton for the body filler.

4. iv

   Mix enough wood or torso filler to fill the carved out gap. Utilize a putty pocketknife to make full the mesh crenel with the mixture. Permit to set up for a few minutes and add boosted filler to fill any gaps. Remove excess filler with a chisel before it hardens.

   • Apply an epoxy-based filler for substantial repairs such as filling rotted portions of door frames. Epoxy fillers, such equally auto bondo, are much stronger than wood and body fillers, and are better suited for withstanding the habiliment and tear that doors suffer.
   • Plan out how much epoxy filler you'll demand. Once mixed, the epoxy filler dries quickly.
   • Invest in a few higher quality tools if sanding or etching epoxy filler – the filler is often sturdier than the wood itself when dry. ^[8]

5. 5

   Permit to dry out overnight. In one case dry, sand to smoothness as desired. Finish with i glaze of primer and two coats of paint.^[9]

Advertizing

1. 1

   Identify the damaged areas. Survey the frame for areas that demand to be filled. Animal bites, door keys, bed frames and other accidents tin crusade a diverseness of light dents and gouges in the door frame.

   • Gently push and pull at any visible nicks, dents or scratches to exam the severity of the harm. If pieces of wood pull away, a more complex repair might be necessary.^[x]

2. 2

   Cover gouges with filler. Smaller nicks, dents and gouges can exist filled in with a trunk or forest filler. Use a putty knife to apply the filler into the gouges.

   • Use wood or body fillers for corrective impairment such every bit slight gouges or dents. They lack the structural integrity of harder fillers such every bit epoxy, merely tend to have a more than pleasant aesthetic.
   • If y'all await the door frame to continue to have a lot of clothing and tear, use the epoxy filler to provide extra strength to the repair. The epoxy filler will have a greater resistance to future nicks and scratches than woods or body filler. You can also have canvass metal aptitude to encompass the susceptible area.
   • Alternatively, if the damage is very pocket-sized, you can sand out the damaged area rather than applying filler.

3. 3

   Dry overnight. Once dry out, sand to smoothness as desired. Finish with ane glaze of primer and ii coats of paint. ^[xi]

   • Utilize a directly edge to aid continue the filler level and in place when applying to vertical surfaces.^[12]

Advertisement

Add together New Question

• Question

  My door binds at the top right corner of the door. Practice I need to sand the pinnacle off the door off, or tin I fix it some other way?

  

  Mark Spelman is a General Contractor based in Austin, Texas. With over xxx years of construction experience, Mark specializes in amalgam interiors, project management, and project estimation. He has been a structure professional person since 1987.

  

  Construction Professional

  Skillful Answer

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert respond.

  Starting time, bank check to see if the hinges are tight, equally sometimes loose hinges can cause a door to bind. Tighten the swivel screws if they are loose. If this doesn't prepare the problem, sand the superlative of the door until information technology fits well.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to become a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Ad

• Keep all materials you lot remove in example you tin can use them again later on, such as shims.

• Install a prehung door frame if repairing a frame is also tricky. Rather than creating the door frame yourself, hardware stores sell prehung door frames (including the door itself) that are easily installed.

• Work with a friend who can assist you perform some of the more dangerous or arduous tasks.

Advertizement

• Article of clothing a face mask when sanding or handling filler to avoid inhaling dangerous particles.

• Take care when using a saw to avoid injuring yourself.

Advertisement

Things You lot'll Need

• Safety glasses
• Face mask
• Work gloves
• Cat's manus (mini crowbar) for removing molding
• Power screwdriver
• 4 inch (x.2 cm) screws
• Wire mesh
• Spirit level
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Chisel
• Saw (power or hand)
• Body or wood filler
• Woods/carpenters' glue
• Epoxy (optional)
• Primer (optional)
• Paint (optional)

Near This Commodity

Article Summary X

To repair a split door frame, remove the door strip and molding, starting at the bottom of the frame and working your fashion upward. So, measure 6 inches above and below the frame harm, and carefully cutting the damaged frame abroad at the marked measurements. In one case the damage is removed, mensurate and cut timber the same length and width equally the old sections, and glue the new timber into place. Finally, use sandpaper to smooth out any imperfections betwixt the one-time and new frame. To learn how to fix a warped door frame, keep reading!

Did this summary assist you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a folio that has been read 283,860 times.

Did this article aid you?

Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Repair-a-Door-Frame

Share this post