If you want to know how to repair water damaged wood door frame, you came to the right place! First, you have to find out where the damage is coming from. Then, remove it and choose a good filler to shape it like the original one.
Most exterior doors are susceptible to water damage, especially during the rainy season. That’s why it’s essential to choose an excellent type of wood for your doors to prevent this from happening.
However, sometimes you can’t avoid this situation if you live in tropical countries where rain is frequent. Keep on reading to know the signs of water damaged door frames and what you can do to salvage what’s left of your door!
What Are The Signs Of A Water Damaged Door Frame?
Dark spots
Dark splotches at the bottom of your door frame mean that there’s probably mold growth underneath. This can be dangerous because it will only be a matter of time before rotting begins. According to the CDC, mold exposure can lead to breathing problems and other health issues, so be careful!
Difficulty in opening and closing
Another indication of water damaged door frames is having a hard time doing something as simple as opening and closing the door. Rotting affects the stability of your door frame, which causes jamming. This could also be a sign of a weakened wood.
Weak wood
Constant water contact with no proper airways to dry it out may impair and decrease the performance of your door frame. You can check if you have weak wood by grabbing any tool and poke your threshold. If it’s soft and it crumbles before your touch, then you have a mold infestation, and you have to fix it as soon as possible.
5 Ways On How To Fix Rotted Door Frame
Step #1. Locate the source of damage
If you don’t address the source of the damage in the first place, the problem will keep going back even if you already fixed your door frame. That’s why before making your first attempt at restoring your threshold, find the source and do something about that first.
The damage can be from broken pipes, clogged gutters, or failed storm doors. However, you must also take a look at the age of your door frame. If it’s over ten years old, the rot could also mean a lack of proper maintenance.
Step #2. Remove the rotten wood and debris
Now that you took care of what made your door frame like this, you have to remove the rotten wood next. With a chisel or saw, scrape the unsalvageable areas of your frame. You could use any tool that you’re comfortable with to make things easier for you.
After that, clean the area thoroughly. Make sure there’s no moisture or dampness left for mold to grow! This could also be a great time to measure the affected area for the next step.
Step #3. Use a filler
When you’ve finally removed the rotten parts of the door frame, you now have to pour some wood filler to fill the gap. You can do this by attaching a paint stick to the affected area. This will serve as a molder that will guide the filler to the shape closest to your door frame.
Then, fill the gaps and scrape off any excess cartridge. Leave it to dry for thirty minutes before proceeding to the next step.
Step #4. Sand and paint
You may notice that the filler may look weird, but that’s normal! In this step, you will have to take out your medium-grade sandpaper and rub the area until it looks smooth. Be extra careful while sanding, as too much force, may lead to skin burns.
When you have that nice and smooth threshold, the next thing you have to do is to paint the area. Paint it the same color as the other parts of your door frame. Put on some masks while doing so, as paint fumes can cause nausea.
Step #5. Reinforce your door with sealers
One point of doing this is to make sure that something like this should not happen every time. Choose a high-quality sealant and cover any cracks on the sill of the door frame. Then, proceed on using adhesive on every gap you can find.
A sealant will prevent any moisture from getting into the door frame. It can also give that glossy look on your threshold to make it appear new every time you see it.
Why Does Water Ruin Wood?
Before we discuss how water affects wood and its performance, let’s first talk about the relationship between the two. Wood is a type of material that can absorb moisture or water. This phenomenon is called hygroscopicity which is the tendency of a solid material to retain moisture from surrounding areas.
The damage begins when the moisture within the material can’t evaporate as quickly as the wood absorbs water. As we all know, mold thrives in damp areas. The damage happens when the mold has formed, and rotting will start to grow soon as well.
Conclusion
Learning how to repair water damaged wood door frame is not that complicated. If you’ve done everything right, you can fix your threshold in just under an hour! Just remember to locate the source of damage first and do something about that before you restore the actual door frame.
It would be best if you also remember to wear proper protective clothing when doing this. Mold can be serious and dangerous. It would be best to protect yourself while repairing your door frame.