How To Repair A Split Door Frame

Dan is a licensed electrician and has been a homeowner for 40 years. He has nearly ever done his ain repair and improvement tasks.

Door Frame Repair

I got a call from my son yesterday about how to fix a broken door frame—it seems that one of the children had encounter the door hard enough to break the door frame and he wanted to know how to go nearly repairing the damage. Upon arrival, I found that the striker plate had been driven out of the frame and a good-sized slice of the forest had been split off likewise. Luckily the sheetrock wall was undamaged and we would not accept to repair whatever holes in the drywall, but there was no way to agree the door closed even though the door was withal hung and undamaged. Nosotros decided to simply replace the broken frame rather than try to glue it back together.

Footstep One: Removal of the Damaged Frame

The first step was to remove the old frame on the side where information technology was separate. The top and hinge side of the frame were still in good condition, so our work would exist limited to the latch side of the frame. Luckily, the molding was also in good condition and would not have to be replaced, only it would have to be removed to remove the door frame, and we started there.

1. We began past advisedly prying off the molding with a small crowbar. We wanted to re-use this slice and therefore took a skillful bargain of care not to splinter or pause it - it was held in place with long pocket-sized brads or staples and came off quite easily. The molding on the inside of the door was already gone (knocked off by the children) merely was however in good shape with only one small nick on ane edge.
2. The adjacent step was to remove the door frame on the latch side, and this proved a picayune more than hard. Carpet had been laid around the door frame and it was not simply a affair of prying off the frame; the meridian stop was nailed to the pinnacle piece of frame and the bottom was cached in carpet.

• We decided to remove the door stop outset to be sure nosotros didn't harm it. This is a small piece of wood fastened to the frame, or sometimes role of information technology, that the door comes upwardly against when airtight. Ours was attached with long brads over again and we easily pried it off without damaging it and prepare it aside for re-use.
• The door frame had shims between it and the studding behind it and we were also careful to salve these shims for re-apply. These shims are there to correct any slanted or warped framing and to make the opening exactly the right size; they are thus quite necessary and they were left but as nosotros found them.
• As the door frame itself was ruined we only pried out the center area, bowing the frame piece until it would come free of the carpet at the lesser. We found the very top to exist nailed into the top frame piece simply were able to remove the side piece without damaging the 1 on the top, which we left in identify. We didn't break the door frame during removal, only if we had it wouldn't have mattered as we had already purchased another one.

Removal of the Broken Door Frame

Inside molding was broken off previously.

Step Two: Fixing the Door Frame

The next step was to install the new door frame and re-install the molding and doorstop. The new door frame (or "jamb") nosotros purchased was very slightly shorter, which worked just fine, stopping just brusque of the subfloor. It was nonetheless long enough to extend downwards just into the carpet, but non so long as to be hard to piece of work into place.

1. We held information technology firmly in place, making sure it was affluent with the finished wall on each side, and nailed through the frame and shims into the studding backside. Nosotros used two nails at each shim and added a couple more between shims while beingness careful non to drive them so far they would bend the frame.
2. The doorstop was next; we carefully aligned the peak end with the doorstop on the acme of the door frame and so closed the door and lightly pressed the bottom terminate of the doorstop confronting the door. Holding the doorstop firmly against the frame, the door was over again opened and the stop nailed onto the door frame using finishing nails. We found the doorstop to be slightly warped, but by nailing meridian and bottom we were and so able to bend the cease into the again airtight door and then that information technology followed the door all the style downwardly so nail the heart area. Six nails were sufficient to hold the stop to the frame quite well.
3. Side by side was the new strike plate. With the door closed just to the signal that the strike touched the door, we marked the heart of the strike on the edge of the door frame and transferred the mark to the face of the frame. Conscientious measurement found the center of the strike on the frame with the door closed and a 3/4" hole was started there, using a drill and spade flake. We then held the strike in position and marked effectually it; it needs to be set slightly into the frame so that information technology will exist affluent with the surface when installed. We used a hammer and chisel to chisel out the inset for the strike plate, but a router will also piece of work well if one is available. For us, the chisel was quicker and did a good chore. The door needs to be closed and the depth of the ¾" pigsty checked; ours was not quite deep enough for the lock to fully extend from the door, merely it was quick work with a cordless drill to drill it only a little deeper. The new strike plate was screwed into identify with the two wood screws provided with it and nosotros were set for the molding.
4. Side by side came the molding installation; this was a simple affair of holding the molding into identify and nailing. We chose to use longer finishing nails through the molding into the studding behind, adding but a couple of smaller finishing nails into the new door frame where the molding was bowed out from the door frame and drove one at an angle into the peak slice of molding and Voila!, the fixed door frame is set for paint. We chose to apply a coat of paint later that evening after the children were in bed so they wouldn't touch the fresh pigment.

While this door frame repair took the two of us about two hours, information technology could have been done easily in less than one. Nigh of the work was done by my son (I was there to propose and train) and we took time to become for a soda, play a little with my grandchildren, and become a snack as it was around lunchtime. The cost for the projection was effectually $12, including the new piece of door frame and a box of nails—bully to once again have a chamber door for Mom and Dad that would stay closed—and information technology didn't price such a sum as to require a two-earner income family. Nor did it turn out that learning only how to fix a broken door frame was such an enormous task later all.

Installation of the New Frame

Marking the center of the latch.

This article is authentic and true to the best of the author's noesis. Content is for advisory or amusement purposes just and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.

© 2022 Dan Harmon

Utsler Compound on April 22, 2022:

Dan,

Thank y'all so much for the article. We are doing some remodeling in our house and my husband was asking the full general contractor to supercede a few frames that are broken (Four boys growing were non piece of cake on our house). Just I feel confident I can do this myself later on reading your article. Now I tin use the money towards cabinets!

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on January 03, 2022:

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Yes, you can supersede just the 1 side of the frame, with a new strike plate too. If y'all go the door route, I'd suggest a pre-hung door - it's non only cheaper that manner but less work as well.

suly fr Tn on January 03, 2022:

landlord glued the door frame together even around the strike plate because it was shattered(previous tenants)..and then tried to screw in identify the door knob latch but it'due south and so damaged it wiggles. tin we but replace the frame with the strike plate? and probably a new door?

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on January 03, 2022:

@Wes: Sure, nothing wrong with multiple shims. I don't know that I would pile 4 or five of them on top of each other, but 2 or iii won't injure a affair. But brand sure you blast through the stack of shims, holding them firmly in identify.

Wes on Jan 03, 2022:

Is multiple shims ok?

A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss... on Baronial 06, 2022:

This has to be 1 of the best manufactures on how to repair a kicked in door frame in the web! We took your advice on repairing our door frame, simply we also added a Rebar DSD48 Door Reinforcer from kickproof.com to insure that our door never gets kicked in once again!

Dan Harmon (writer) from Boise, Idaho on December 17, 2022:

If the door itself is broken too badly to repair, it is probably best to supplant the entire thing with a new pre-hung door. If information technology is just the door frame, and then replacing the jamb is probably the best choice.

sam on December 17, 2022:

Me and my brother's were playing in within the house and we smashed the door and the door frame broke downwards in the middle what exercise u remember I should exercise replace the whole matter or just the side

Paul Edmondson from Burlingame, CA on June ten, 2022:

We accept a broken door frame that has a sliding door....Going to meet if this will help me fix it:)

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on May 24, 2022:

Based on your clarification, I would near likely replace simply that side. Hopefully you will be able to observe a door jamb that pretty well matches the residue, so the acme and latch side won't need replacing.

That volition be a picayune more difficult that what is shown, considering you lot volition have to advisedly measure where the hinges go and mortice out a "slot" for the hinge to go into, but still isn't a specially tough chore. I would probably hold the door in place, sitting on a shim to maintain the proper height, and mark the door jamb where the hinges become. At that betoken a little chisel work and it's ready to install.

Kelly Nimmo on May 24, 2022:

I have more of a question than a comment, I managed to break the door frame on the hinge side , both the top & lesser. The top is just split ( no trouble) only the bottom is major , my question is : Can I repair or should I replace the whole side? Information technology looks like the door frame was all ane piece because there seems to be a nail protruding up through the metal "threshold".

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on October 24, 2022:

While this is non really an exterior door, letting real cold in, you should probably be prepared to hang a blanket or something over it in case the job takes longer than expected. If the molding is badly damaged you volition take to replace it all the way around the door unless yous can match it exactly; if the abode is adequately new in that location is a good adventure you can practise that.

Outside of those two things, yous should be able to do just what was done in this directive; remove and supplant the door jamb (frame) and molding. You will demand to drill and chisel for placement of the striker plate. We didn't even accept to remove the door from the frame to replace just the 1 side of the frame, which was nice.

Do you have the tools necessary for the work? If not do yous take a friend that has done some woodwork that could assistance out for a couple of hours and has tools? This is not a difficult job, but some tools are necessary.

Emily on October 23, 2022:

We have the aforementioned state of affairs at the moment, the door was kicked in sort of, not on purpose simply crude housing and the only side affected was the latch side and mostly where the door locks, only the framing and the molding was messed upward, and im trying to either fix information technology myself (im a teenage daughter) or become someone else to come do it professionally, anything y'all'd recommend ? the door is the one leading into the garage just is like the bedroom doors.

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on January 04, 2022:

You are most welcome; I'm glad you lot found it useful.

Thank you for the annotate.

proscourcefloors1 from U.s.a. of America on Jan 04, 2022:

Very useful tips for homeowners. Cheers for sharing!

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on Jan 04, 2022:

You are certainly welcome. It can be a little difficult when doing dwelling repairs for the start time and not really knowing how to practice the task - I hope this helps when (and if) you demand to repair a broken door frame.

WallStickerDecals from US on Jan 04, 2022:

My married man is not at domicile and so often, so I have to know how repairing things goes, thank you for the tips.

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on December 08, 2022:

Yes information technology is important. Further harm will near certainly happen as habiliment or other things snag on protruding bits of wood, and injury can result as well. It'due south a good thing it isn't unremarkably a difficult chore.

Thanks for the comment.

whitton on December 08, 2022:

Nice Hub! I love these DIY tips for fixing or repairing a door frame. I agree that fixing the door frames when they demand to be is very important in order to avert whatever future damage or accidents.

Dan Harmon (writer) from Boise, Idaho on October 29, 2022:

You are certainly welcome to the tips. I never thought virtually it, not hiring professionals, but you're right in that some noesis of the job would be valuable when hiring someone to do the work.

PR_am from Oregon on October 29, 2022:

Every home owner needs such home improvement tips. It pays to have some noesis of dwelling house repairs, even when you decide to hire professionals for the task to avoid getting ripped off on a minor repair.

Thanks for sharing such informative DIY tips. Best wishes to you!

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on October xiv, 2022:

Cheers for the compliment, and I'thousand glad you constitute it useful. You are also certainly right about the safety bending - jagged and cleaved molding and frames are certainly a gamble, especially to smaller children.

MsCookM on October 14, 2022:

Nice DIY tip and the pictures helped a lot. I must besides add together that fixing door frames is very important to avoid whatever farther accidents, especially when you have kids effectually.

Dan Harmon (author) from Boise, Idaho on September 02, 2022:

At least it's not a circuitous or difficult task, not does it take a long time to exercise. I'thou sure you'll have no problems. Good luck with the job!

Anti-Dolt on September 02, 2022:

It was fun to read this article on "how to fix or repair a broken door frame" because it brings back many memories. I often have a bad addiction of running my 'fist of fury' and my 'kung fu kicks' through random doors (within or outside) when angered, but I never had much trouble with the framework itself. Simply recently, I side-kicked a locked door so hard, not only did I "accidentally" annihilate the actual door, the little "striker plate" that you spoke about in this article, went flight off upon my initial strike, likewise. Hence forth...I landing on your informative mail service about broken doors, striker plate installation, the repair therein, and all that good stuff that rectifies the ramifications of my rage. Thanks a lot, bro. I got some fixin' to practise! Ha-ha!

Source: https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/How-to-Fix-a-Broken-Door-Frame

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