Repairing Split Door Frame Hinge

Drill out the old holes.

Repairing split door frame hinge.

You don t want to damage the structure of the house. Pull off any small splinters. Apply carpenter s glue to broken wood pieces and glue them back onto the jamb. Since you say that the wood under the hinge and around the hinge screw holes has split and gone soft it pays to check the wood of the door jamb adjacent to the hinge mount location as well.

Serious splits in door frames. Carefully remove broken split pieces of wood from bottom of the side jamb. This may include covering over any wood stains left by the hinge. Here s how to repair just the split or broken frame area to look as good as new.

Be careful not to cut too deep into the frame. For a more serious split you may be able to glue and clamp the door. Take the trim off the door on both sides using a flat pry bar. At this point you may need to decide if you will be happy with the patched up door frame when you are done.

Once the wood is the right size glue the inward facing side and then press it into place. Scrape the dried glue from the side of the door using the side of the putty knife. The hinge mortise is a shallow recess the hinge fits. The dowel i bought was 48 long so i cut off three pieces that were around 1 5 long.

Use wood putty to fill the crack and paint or varnish the door as needed. Carefully cut the damaged frame away at the marked measurements. Clean the dried glue out of the hinge mortise using a chisel. Hold until the glue starts to dry.

Take a plain piece of wood the width of your door and cut it down until it fits into the shape left by your former door hinge. Dry fit your dowels to make. Using your 3 8 drill bit drill out the old screw holes. A broken door frame doesn t require removal and replacement of the whole thing.

Apply screws just above and below the marked measurements to help hold the frame tight and help guide the cutting. Use a clamp with rubber edges for a sturdier grip and also to prevent damaging the door frame.