How to repair a rotted door frame

It is common for door frames to rot at the bottom corner at the point where they intersect with the door sill. This usually happens when the caulk fails to protect the door from rain water intrusion. There are some steps involved in the door repair. This guide will help you realize what the whole procedure entails.

Assess the Soundness of the Door Sill

In all doors, the jambs are fastened to the door sill. This gives it partial stability. However, this is not the case when the jamb is rotted. Do your assessment by wiggling the outside edge of the door. Ensure that the sill is not loose. If the sill is loose, then you will have to stabilize it. You can achieve this by filling it with expanding foam or caulk. For more information about door repair give us a call today.

What is the extent of the Wood Rot?

In most instances, the wood rot might appear simple. However, this could be deceiving. The moment water begins to intrude, it will obviously rot. The soleplate of the door and the subfloor will also rot. This will also affect the joist and the sill plate. Probe the extent of the rot using a wood chisel. If the wood is soft and crumbed, then your door has rotted. You will have to arm yourself with the right tools to address this rot effectively.

Get a claw hammer, a pry bar, and a tape measure. You should also get a combination square, a putty knife (1 inch wide) and a three in one caulk tool. Get a pencil and a wood chisel together with a flat-head screwdriver. You should also have needle-nose pliers. This will help you in pulling wood staples and nails out of the sill. Further, you will have to get an air compressor and a compound miter saw. You should also get the required materials.

Saw out the Rotted Door Jamb

First, pull off the door weatherstrip off the jamb. Pry off the brick mold in order to install the new jamb splice. The utility knife will help you cut the caulk line on both sides of the molding.

Mark and Saw the Rotted Door Frame

Mark horizontal lines on the door jamb. The combination square will help you achieve this. Do it a few inches above the rotten area as you avoid nail heads as they might damage the saw blade. When cutting this, ensure that you do it in a straight line along the pencil line. Do this with precision.

Make a second cut above the sill. Use a flat head screwdriver and hammer to split the jamb into smaller sections. Pull out the pieces. Remove any rusted staples on the side of the sill using pliers. Scrape out any rotten wood.

Remove the brick mold then saw the jamb to wiggle out the rotted piece. Remove the old molding too. Shave the remaining caulk off using a wood chisel to a smooth surface. The door jambs are available in both wood and plastic PVC. The best alternative is the PVC because it is rot proof. It also proofs insect and water.