Cracked Doorjamb Repair

Tools:

rubber gloves
safety glasses
dust mask
utility knife
hammer
five-in-one painter's tool
molding pry bar
drill
80-grit sandpaper
caulking gun
nail set
cloth
two part epoxy for wood

1. Using a utility knife, break the paint seam between the trim and doorjamb (figure A). Be careful not to damage the paint on the wall.

2. Remove the strike plate from the doorjamb.

3. Put on safety glasses and use the 5-in-1 painter's tool and a hammer to loosen the trim (figure B).

4. Pry all the trim from the walls without breaking the trim or damaging the paint. Get an opening started with the painter's tool, then bring in the pry bar to remove the trim (figure C). Take it easy to avoid breaking your trim.

5. Remove debris from the cracks in the doorjamb using the painter's tool, then come back with 80-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface and make sure it's clean (figure D).

6. Put on rubber gloves and mix your epoxy. Fill the cracks with epoxy.

7. Drill and counter sink holes for screws needed to hold jamb together, then drive screws into the doorjamb to hold the cracks together (figure E).

8. Scrape away excess epoxy then feather out the repaired area with sandpaper. Wear a dust mask while sanding.

9. Remove nails from trim and reattach the strike plate. Use screws long enough to anchor the doorjamb to the wall stud (figure F).

10. Replace the trim, drive nails through existing holes and sink beneath the surface with a nail set. Finish by applying a bead of caulk between the doorjamb and the wall (figure G). Fill nail holes with a dab of silicon caulk.

11. Wait a week before priming and painting.