You walk into your house and notice that one of the doors is slightly askew. You might not think much of it at first glance, but after a few more seconds you realize just how crooked the doorframe is. It’s more than just a slight lean — it’s a major tilt in one direction. There’s no obvious explanation for why this happened, but you can only assume that something must have shifted when you were moving furniture around or had contractors working on the place. Whatever the case may be, it’s an eyesore that needs to be fixed immediately. Thankfully, fixing a doorframe with wood filler is one of the easiest DIY projects out there and doesn’t take very long to get done either.
How To Repair A Door Frame With Wood Filler
What You’ll Need
- Utility knife This will help you cut the frame to size.
- Measuring tape This will come in handy to help you determine the frame’s exact dimensions.
- Wood putty This will help you fill in the damaged areas.
- Paintbrush This will come in handy to help you apply the wood filler.
- Paint This will help you finish off your project.
- Sandpaper This will help you sand the wood filler.
Determine The Cause
Before you do anything, you need to figure out why the frame is damaged, to begin with. A doorframe can be damaged in a number of ways, but the most common damage is caused by water. If water is leaking through the frame, it will cause mold and rot, which will damage the wood significantly. Another reason that the frame may be damaged is due to termites. If you see discoloration in the frame and/or signs of termites, you should definitely get it fixed as soon as possible. If termites are eating away at your frame, there’s a very good chance that they’re also eating away at your walls.
Cut The Frame
Once you know what’s causing the damage to the frame, you’ll need to cut the frame down to size. The first step is to mark where you need to cut with your knife. You’ll want to make sure the frame is cut to the correct length and width. Once you’re done marking the frame, use your knife to cut through the wood. It’s a good idea to wear protective gloves when doing this to avoid cutting yourself. After cutting the frame down to size, you’ll need to sand the edges of the frame. You’ll want to use coarse grit sandpaper so that you can quickly smooth out the rough edges. Make sure to sand all of the edges so that they’re smooth to the touch.
Dry Fit The Frame
Now that you’ve cut the frame down to size, you can dry fit it to see if it fits properly. You can do this by attaching the frame to the wall with some nails. Once you’ve nailed the frame to the wall, you can make sure it fits properly. If it doesn’t fit properly, you can carefully remove it and make some minor adjustments. After making adjustments to the frame, you’ll want to use your wood putty to fill in any holes or gaps. Make sure to use a putty that is high quality and won’t sag after drying.
Apply The Wood Filler
After sanding the wood putty, you can apply the wood filler to the damaged areas. First, you’ll need to scrape off the excess putty with a putty knife. The next step is to paint the wood filler on the damaged areas of the frame. You’ll want to use a paintbrush to apply the wood filler. Make sure to use a nice, even stroke so that the wood filler is applied evenly. After applying the wood filler, you’ll need to let it dry. The dry time will depend on the brand of wood filler that you use, so make sure to read the instructions carefully. While the wood filler is drying, you’ll want to sand the excess wood filler off. You can do this with some fine-grit sandpaper to make sure the wood filler is even and flush with the frame.
Repairing A Door Frame With Wood Filler
After letting the wood filler dry, you can paint the frame to finish the project. You’ll want to make sure you pick a color that matches the current paint job of your house. If the frame is stained, you can use a stain that matches the stain on your house. Once the paint has dried, you can put the frame back on the wall. This will help you make sure that it’s level and lines up with the rest of the frame.
Step One: Find The Leak
Before you replace wood that is rotted, you’ll want to make sure there isn’t a leak above the wood. If you find water pooled on top of the wood, you know that there is a leak above it and you don’t want to replace it until you fix the leak. If you’re not sure if there’s a leak above the wood, you can use a moisture meter to check the wood. If the moisture meter shows a reading, there is a leak above the wood and you want to find and fix it before replacing the wood.
Step Two: Cut Out The Rotting Wood
If the wood is completely rotted, you’ll want to cut out the rotten wood and then apply wood filler to seal up the damage. Depending on the level of damage, you may want to get new wood and install a new frame as well. If there are just a few spots where the wood is rotted, you can just apply wood filler to seal up the damage and then paint it to match the rest of the frame.
Step Three: Mix Up Some Wood Filler
For the wood that needs to be replaced, you’ll want to use wood filler to get the wood back to its original level. You want to make sure you apply the wood filler to both sides of the frame, so the frame is level again. After the wood filler has dried, sand it down and then paint the frame to make sure it blends in with the rest of the wall. Once you’re done, you won’t even notice there was ever a misalignment in the frame.
Conclusion
Broken frames can be frustrating to deal with, but they don’t have to be. All it takes is a little bit of effort and patience to repair a door frame with wood filler and get the frame back to its original state. If the frame is completely broken, you can also replace it completely and get a new frame installed.
FAQ:
Q: How long does it take to repair a door frame?
A: It depends on the level of damage, but you can expect to spend about an hour repairing a door frame.
Q: What should I use to repair a door frame?
A: You can use wood filler or wood putty depending on the level of damage. Wood filler is easier to apply and it’s less messy, but wood putty is stronger and will hold up better in the long run.
Q: What tools do I need for repairing a door frame?
A: You’ll need a paintbrush, paint, sandpaper, and wood filler or wood putty.
