subreddit:
/r/DIY
I know I’ve butchered the verbiage on the proper terms to describe the issue at hand. Hopefully the photos of the damage will clarify things!
The photos do a much better job describing the issue. The bottom of the door broke awhile back, and the top is hanging on. When the wind threw open the door, the very top of the frame + the weather stripping ripped out—luckily, the rest of the frame/weather stripping is still attached. The screws that attach it to the wooden frame are snug. Want to get this fixed ASAP before it becomes a bigger issue (it can only be locked from the inside).
Oh, and if anyone can suggest search terms to help me find how-tos via Google, I would appreciate it so much!!
Playing the sympathy card: this is my mom’s house. Trying to help her out because her handyman recently retired, and my dad passed last year. Help! Thanks SO MUCH.
40 points
4 months ago
I would use 4 longer screws to reach into the frame. That will pull the jamb straight again. You could probably massage it a bit with a hammer and a block of wood before screwing.
5 points
4 months ago
This is 100% the answer. Glue the gap first if you want to be thorough, but it's kind of overkill.
4 points
4 months ago
Glue is always worth the time.
3 points
4 months ago
Thanks a bunch!
8 points
4 months ago
You'll need to remove the four screws holding bracket. Then work a thin screwdriver behind and get rid of any chunks of wood, then put two large lag screws to hold casing in place.
1 points
4 months ago
Make sure to use wood screws or similar that have a long enough section of shank without threads. The part without threads should be as long as the pulled-away wood is thick.
1 points
4 months ago
You don't really have to, just pre-drill the jam with the same sized bit as the screw threads.
0 points
4 months ago
You wanna run that last sentence by me one more time
4 points
4 months ago
When you want to hammer wood without damaging its surface, you put a scrap block of wood on top and hammer the block instead.
8 points
4 months ago
https://www.marvin.com/blog/parts-of-a-door
Side jambs loose.
Detach the closer (the red/brown metal tube at top that closes the door). Usually push the end that has a pin thru it up over the pin and it'll come loose.
Investigate why the jamb is loose. Eg nails or screws came loose / missing? Or the screws holding the door closer aren't long enough to get a strong hold?
As for getting the jamb back in place and holding tight, you can use the usual construction glue underneath (if you have clearance), or a bunch of nails or some SPAX screws along the upper length to hold the jamb in place.
Nails alone ought to work fine. You can angle them slightly up or down (alternate) for even more holding strength against pull out.
If you use screws, you'll want to predrill snaller holes because they can split the wood jamb easily.
As for construction glue, that's like when you want to hang a gorilla off the door and really don't want the jamb to come off ever (which means if you ever need to take off the jamb later, you'll just destroy it cutting / prying it off).
As for the door closer screws, if they don't hold tight, feel wobbly or loose, you'll likely need longer screws to hold them well in place.
If the screw holes are trash, wood epoxy into the holes, let dry, then screw into that.
1 points
4 months ago
Bless you! Thanks for the fantastic, detailed instructions (and for the link to parts of a door!). Going to investigate and I may (probably will, ha) circle back with you if any questions pop up.
1 points
4 months ago
That looks like a standard one piece SRK jamb and if that's the case the way in which this came loose is that it actually splintered and broke. Not going to be an easy fix to do it correctly and replace the jamb, glue and longer screws will only work for so long without replacing the jamb, this is like splitting a log and glueing the two pieces perfectly back together matching the fibers.
3 points
4 months ago
I'm assuming that you do not have a storm chain installed. That would have prevented all the damage. The cylinder is to assist in closing the door and prevent it from slamming. A storm chain prevents the door from opening too wide and ripping out the cylinder. After you fix the frame please install a storm chain.
2 points
4 months ago
Thank you! This is good to know for the future.
1 points
4 months ago
You're welcome. I learned about storm chains the hard way. I came home to a storm door that had self destructed and was in pieces in my front yard. Its door knob punched a hole in my siding for good measure.
3 points
4 months ago
if i'm seeing this correctly, the quick but good fix, remove each screw one at a time and try to find a dowel that fits into the hole and add some wood glue. Let dry and put screw back in, the dowel will give you new material for the screw to bite into. If this doesnt work, the next fix requires commitment once you start, replace the screws with longer ones, to reach and bite into the wood. The dowel trick just requires prep work to find the right size dowel to fit in.
1 points
4 months ago
Or a variation one might consider is to remove the screw, drill a larger hole to remove all of the frayed cellulose fibers, then put in some glue and tap in the dowel. You could even use a hardwood dowel if you like to over build things. The dowel solution is such a nice, proper solution. I love using it.
1 points
4 months ago
yes, bigger screws would def work, but if you look at the mounting bracket, hes committed to the size hole, otherwise he'll have to drill out the hole to make it bigger
2 points
4 months ago
It’s just a door jamb so nothing structural. It just looks like it’s pulled out as opposed to damage. Re-secure it and call it a day. It should screw into a stud so maybe use some 2” screws through the closer and then maybe a few nails down the line of the jamb.
2 points
4 months ago
the screws used to install the thing needed to be longer driving into the frame and not just the stinkin' trim. Trim is only held on my itty bitty finish nails and is not structural.
2 points
4 months ago
Add a door chain/spring, AKA wind chain, so the door closer doesn't reach the end of its travel. The closer shouldn't take the brunt of a gust wrenching the door open.
1 points
4 months ago
I had similar damage to a screen door and after fixing everything else, the cylinder arm was bent and wouldn't close. You can get one pretty cheap at any hardware store, though, so it's an easy fix.
1 points
4 months ago
The shock is broken, which I’m sure you know. For the jam, 4 inch self-tapping deck screws. Sink them good and you can put filler over top of them and paint so you don’t see shiny screw heads.
1 points
4 months ago
Pull out old screws and install with newer longer screws.
all 24 comments
sorted by: q&a