Repairing Split Door Frame Hinge

Attach the clamp onto the cracked door frame.

Repairing split door frame hinge.

Dry fit your dowels to make. 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. You don t want to damage the structure of the house. Take the trim off the door on both sides using a flat pry bar.

Carefully cut the damaged frame away at the marked measurements. The dowel i bought was 48 long so i cut off three pieces that were around 1 5 long. Hold until the glue starts to dry. The hinge mortise is a shallow recess the hinge fits.

Using your 3 8 drill bit drill out the old screw holes. This may include covering over any wood stains left by the hinge. Drill out the old holes. Once the wood is the right size glue the inward facing side and then press it into place.

Use a clamp with rubber edges for a sturdier grip and also to prevent damaging the door frame. Use wood putty to fill the crack and paint or varnish the door as needed. At this point you may need to decide if you will be happy with the patched up door frame when you are done. Apply screws just above and below the marked measurements to help hold the frame tight and help guide the cutting.

If the wood there is not sound then you are likely looking forward to some more serious repair such as replacement of the jamb side board or the whole jamb. Pull off any small splinters. Clean the dried glue out of the hinge mortise using a chisel. 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.

A broken door frame doesn t require removal and replacement of the whole thing. For a more serious split you may be able to glue and clamp the door. Serious splits in door frames. Here s how to repair just the split or broken frame area to look as good as new.

How to repair stripped screw holes for a door hinge. Be careful not to cut too deep into the frame.