How to Repair a Door Casing & Jamb Damage

Use a circular saw to cut out the damaged area

There is no feeling like walking up to the door of your home or office to find that it has been kicked in and your personal space violated. Repairing the door jamb after this happens can actually improve the security of the door. Replacing hardware and screws with heavier parts and securing your lock plates to the jack stud behind the jamb will greatly improve your chances of the door surviving the next attack.

Things You'll Need

• Quick square
• Tape measure
• Circular saw
• Plywood or hardwood backer
• Hardwood lumber for jamb repair
• Hammer and finish nails
• Drill
• 1-inch paddle bit
• Heavy-duty striker plates
• 3-inch screws

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Instructions

Prepping the Jamb

1. Remove the striker plate and lock striker if they are still attached. Discard plates and screws. Replace with heavy-duty striker plates, available with door-repair hardware in hardware stores.

2. Remove the door casing on the lock side of the door. Use a pry bar to gently pry the trim away from the wall. If the casing is damaged take it with you for comparison and purchase a matching piece of trim.

3. Mark a straight line horizontally across the inside of the jamb just above the top of the deadbolt striker plate, or the split in the jamb, whichever is higher. Mark a second line below the knob striker plate or the split in the jamb, whichever is lower.

4. Cut along both lines up to the door stop. The door stop is the flat, vertical trim running up the center of the jamb that your door closes against. Use a circular saw set to a depth equal to the thickness of the jamb to make the cuts.

5. Set the saw to a depth equal to the jamb combined with the thickness of the door stop. Cut vertically between the horizontal cuts against the door edge of the stop. Use a chisel to complete the cuts in both corners. Remove the rectangle of jamb material.

Repairing the Jamb

1. Trim the drywall away to give access to the stud behind the jamb. Cut a piece of plywood the thickness of the space between the stud and jamb, the same length and width as the piece of jamb you removed. Nail it to the stud.

2. Cut a piece of pine or hardwood the same thickness as the jamb, typically 3/4 inch, to the same length and width as the removed piece. Nail it to the face of the piece attached to the stud.

3. Turn your deadbolt to the locked position. Close the door until the striker and deadbolt are against the jamb. Mark the center of the deadbolt and striker on the jamb. Mark across the jamb at the center lines of deadbolt and striker. Measure from the door stop to the edge of the jamb along each line and mark center.

4. Drill a 5/8 inch deep hole on each center mark with a 1-inch paddle bit. Test the striker and deadbolt for proper function, use the chisel to make any adjustments needed to the holes.

   Mark the outline of the new striker plate. Cut around the line with a utility knife and use a chisel to remove the wood inside the line to 1/8 inch deep. Attach plates with 3-inch screws.

5. Replace casing, or cut new casing to fit using the original as a template and nail in place. Caulk the edges of the casing and seams in the jamb repair before painting or staining to match.

References

• "Replacing and Installing Doors and Windows;" T. Jeff Williams, Sally W. Smith; 1987
• Hammerzone: Repairing a Split Door Jamb