Can this door be saved?

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by Natalie Ward, Jan 16, 2021.

  1. Natalie Ward

    Natalie Ward New Member

    The door was knocked off its hinges at my MILs - it’s not a solid door - can it be repaired or best to find out what door it is and replace it? Many thanks
     

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  2. Robot Enthusiast

    Robot Enthusiast Active Member

    Looks like one of those semi solid door with areas that are hollow. The thing appears to have ripped though to the void. Rehanging it would require moving the hinge up or down to a new position and hoping that there is a solid portion to secure the hinge too. You would then need to fill, sand, paint the damaged area. If you are doing it yourself to save cash and as a lockedown project with time on your hands, then give it a shot. Personally I would just get a new door, a similar or equivalent one is not that expensive - but a solid one will allow you to rehang easily if this were to ever happen again.
     
  3. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Well.......it depends I would say;

    If diy'ing the repair, the yes 100%

    If getting a pro in, probably not cost effective as these hollow doors are cheap to buy, but then you have to weigh up fitting and supply costs

    Doors tend to not simply fit the frame 'off the shelf'

    But if diy'ing, then;

    These doors have a thin, batten frame arounds all 4 edges, something like 20mm thick, may be even thinner if door has been planned to fit frame
    Then a hardboard face on both sides - this you can see on the hinge cut out where its unpainted - a darker 4mm (ish section)

    Cut through frame and take out all damaged and cracked section, go 50mm either side of damage section
    Either a sharp chisel or multi tool works here
    Frame batten is just glued in-between the hardboard faces, run a knife between batten and hardboard using a steel ruler (if you have) and should separate fairly easily

    Cut new timber batten to fit inside door, depth doesn't matter if deeper as door is hollow, might just be cardboard stuff inside you can push back if need be
    Obviously thickness of batten needs to be exact

    Apply plenty of wood glue to both sides of batten and push into door
    Knock in a few fine panel pins through door faces in batten and punch just below surface, these will secure batten and add strength as your just piecing in a section of frame
    These can then be filled over
    Wipe away excess glue and allow to dry

    Cut new hinge pocket, pilot drill and fit hinge
    Door is now ready to hang

    Others will say don't bother :)

    But, clearly its up to you ;)
     
  4. Natalie Ward

    Natalie Ward New Member

    Thanks so much for both replies, much appreciated.
     
  5. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    That’s fine and hope the answers have helped

    One thing though, please let the forum know what you decide and if a repair, did it work out ok

    The vast, vast majority of questions receive answers and solutions, all trying to help the OP to the best of our knowledge

    Unfortunately, only a tiny percentage of OP’s ever report back to let the forum now how the job has turned out, shame really

    It’s like take the free advice offered and run :mad:

    All the best
     
    Natalie Ward likes this.
  6. sparko69

    sparko69 Screwfix Select

    A bit of gorilla glue and a bit of wood and that hinge can get put back on stronger than it was in the first place. Definitely no need to replace the door
     
    nigel willson likes this.
  7. The Happy Builder

    The Happy Builder Screwfix Select

    Throw it away.

    It a cheap door that was hung the wrong way around.
     
    Astramax likes this.
  8. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    ‘hung the wrong way around’

    Interesting (to me at least)

    Could you explain please, always happy to learn
     
  9. sparko69

    sparko69 Screwfix Select

    Its in the mother in laws home so it might be advisable to keep cost and disruption to a minimum for obvious reasons. Throwing the door away might be better for you but not necessarily best for the client
     
  10. RolandK

    RolandK Screwfix Select

    I'd say it would be worth repairing to save the hassle and cost of starting from scratch with a new door. But need to consider if you or a friend or family can do the repair (strictly adhering to Covid guidelines of course!) and had the tools. Say, for example, you need to buy a multi tool it's cost might make the repair not viable. Don't know what your situation is.
     
  11. The Happy Builder

    The Happy Builder Screwfix Select

    I have literally hung thousands of them on piecework.

    They are marked to show which side the lock and handles go with the hinges being on the opposite side.

    There are blocks of wood inside the door to fit the lock, handles and hinges to. Looking at the picture they are all the wrong way around, so chances are the same could happen again with the other hinge or the handles could pull off.

    If you’re intending to repair it, open the end of the door up by making a hole in it, then quietly drive a long piece of wood with some glue on it in behind the damaged edge and screw though to secure it, then fix the patch when that backing piece is secured.

    If you’re paying someone they should be able to hang a new door in the time it takes to repair the old one.
     
    dray likes this.
  12. sparko69

    sparko69 Screwfix Select

    As most others have said the door can easily be repaired with glue,wood and screws in about an hour.
    A new door would need to be bought and have the hinges cut into it,the handles putting on,need cutting planing and painting .
    How do you think the 2 solutions would take the same amount of time?

    'If you’re paying someone they should be able to hang a new door in the time it takes to repair the old one.'
     
  13. The Happy Builder

    The Happy Builder Screwfix Select

  14. The Happy Builder

    The Happy Builder Screwfix Select

    Seventeen internal doors per day on piecework in a four bed house.

    That’s cutting the hinges and latches in by hand with chisels.
     
  15. Jord86

    Jord86 Screwfix Select


    "In a four bed house" with brand new linings where you adjust the lining to suit the door, rods/gauge stick with hinges marked at the ready, no or minimal planing, your workstation/bench/rig is all set up ready with everything as you want it to hand, no carpets, no finish floor or painted walls or pictures on the walls to be wary of etc etc.

    Site speed is a different animal to private domestic speed, the two aren't comparable.

    Anyways, to the OP, yes it can be repaired easily enough, but if you have to pay someone to do that then you'd probably be better off with a new door fitted for not a lot more money.
     
    Robot Enthusiast and RolandK like this.
  16. The Happy Builder

    The Happy Builder Screwfix Select

    Agreed, hanging a door as an one off in an occupied house isn’t going to go as quickly as on a site.

    But don’t get too carried away with how long it is going to take compared with repairing the existing door.

    One way or another someone is going spend a couple of hours sorting this out.
     
  17. Natalie Ward

    Natalie Ward New Member

    Better late then never but we decided to repair the door doing as suggested and it worked perfectly! Thanks so much for all the advice!
     
  18. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Thanks for the update and pleased the repair worked out well, not such a hard job once you know how - that’s what the Forum
    is for after all :)
     

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