The trick is in removing the old without collateral damage. The answer is a multitool with a carbide blade.
Today, Paul is going to fix a door jamb for a friend of his Mother-in-Law's, saving her a hefty repair bill quoted by a less-than-scrupulous handyman. This video is about how to repair a door frame, not how to replace an exterior door frame.
Step by step:
- Cut the caulk bead between the brick molding and the door jamb.
- Pry the brick mold off using two prybars and patience. The miter joint is probably nailed together, so use a multitool to cut the nail.
- Remove the strike plates.
- Remove the interior trim leg, just like the brick molding was removed.
- Remove the rotted jamb by tapping it away from the head jamb and cutting the nails.
- Measure and cut the replacement jamb to length. Measure from the threshold to the bottom of the door stop.
- Use a scrap of the door jamb to scribe the threshold angle, transfer the angle to the door stop on the replacement jamb, and notch the jamb.
- Slip the new jamb in place,
- Test the door by closing.
- Shim tight using solid plywood behind the strike plate and at the top and bottom. This plywood gives solid backing to screw the strike plate into, making it more secure.
- Nail off using galvanized or stainless steel nails.
- Replace the exterior brick mold trim
In the next video of this two-part series, Paul installs the strike plate to be resistant to being kicked in
"I'm a fireman and I kick doors in all the time when we have to get into a house and make entry, and very seldom do we have one that gives us a lot of trouble."
A solid kick to the strike plate area will usually split the jamb, and the door will fly open.
