Inexpensive Door Repair

• Twice a year, check every screw on every hinge of every door in your house. This will prevent premature wear and tear.

• When you remove the door for hinge repair, be sure and label each side of the door and each hinge.

• Combat sticky doors caused by moisture causes by regularly checking the bottom and top of the door to make sure there is no raw wood showing (these are often overlooked when painting or varnishing). Paint or varnish the ends of the door, both top and bottom. Wait for the swelling to go down on the door before sealing the ends in this way.

• If you have pets, check out screening that is resistant to tearing.

Fixing Damaged Wood Fiber

Inserting longer screws is just a temporary fix. For a more permanent fix, follow the steps below.

Steps:

1. Use a 3/8 drill bit and mark an inch and a half down on the bit with some tape (this is the length of the screw you will use).

2. Drill out the stripped holes to a depth of 1-1/2 inches.

3. Purchase enough 3/8-inch in diameter wooden dowels cut to 1-1/2 inches for all the stripped holes that need repairing.

4. Coat the dowel with wood glue and insert it into a newly drilled hole. You may need to tap it in with a hammer.

5. Let the glue set for 24 hours, then predrill a pilot hole in the middle of each dowel.

1. Remove the spline (figure B) around the edge of the screening material. Pull out the screen and clean out the groove.

2. Set frame on a flat surface (very important!) and make sure the corners are square.

3. Purchase new screen material at the hardware store, which is typically available on a roll. Cut out the screen so it is a couple of inches wider than the frame on each of the four sides. Lay it over the frame.

4. Keep the corners from puckering by cutting each corner on a 45-degree angle (you will be snipping off a little triangle from each corner).