How to Repair & Replace a Door Jamb

A door jamb takes a lot of wear and tear over time. Slamming the door too many times can cause the door jamb to splinter or break apart. You can try to make repairs to the wood, but they don't always hold, especially if the wood is in bad shape. Door jamb replacement is a better option. If you have carpentry skills you can install a new door jamb in the time it takes to make repairs on an old one.

Things You'll Need

• Finishing nails
• Hammer
• Wood filler
• Putty knife
• Sandpaper
• Paint
• Paintbrush
• Pry bar
• Circular saw
• Hand saw
• Measuring tape
• Door jamb or 1-by-6-inch pine
• Level
• Wood shims
• 2-inch finishing nails
• Drill and drill bits
• Screwdriver
• Silicone caulking
• Caulk gun
• Weather stripping

Instructions

Repair

1. Fit the wooden pieces of the door jamb back together as best you can. Hold them in position with finishing nails. If possible, hammer the nails into solid wood.

2. Fill cracks with wood filler. Smooth the filler into cracks with a putty knife and allow the filler to dry to the touch.

3. Sand the rough edges of the wood filler away. Paint or stain the repaired door jamb to further cover the damage.

Replace

1. Remove the weather stripping on the door if the door is an exterior one. Use a pry bar to pry off the molding on the door near the door jamb. Set the molding aside to use again.

2. Hold a circular saw against the door jamb. Cut along the edge of the door frame. Cut the last few inches on each end of the door jamb with a hand saw. Pry the door jamb away from the door. Discard the old door jamb.

3. Measure the width of the door jamb. Use a ready-made door jamb if you can find one the right size. Use a piece of 1-by-6-inch pine to make a new door jamb if you can't find a ready-made jamb. Cut it to the right size with your circular saw.

4. Hold the new door jamb in place along with a level to make sure it's plumb (vertically level). If necessary, add wood shims behind the door jamb to make it plumb. Use 2-inch finishing nails to hold the door jamb in place. Nail them in several positions to hold the door jamb firmly.

5. Drill a hole for the striker plate of the door's lock. Position the striker plate over the hole. Screw the striker plate into the door jamb.

6. Caulk the door jamb with silicone caulking. Attach new weather stripping to the door jamb. Put the molding back on the door frame.

7. Paint or stain the door jamb. Allow it to dry before giving it a second coat of paint or stain.

References

• The Natural Handyman: Q&A with NH
• Hammer Zone: Repairing a Split Door Jamb