Doors do not only serve functional purposes but also provide aesthetic to every home. Wooden doors are commonly used not only for its longevity but also for its overall design elevation. However, exposure to many temperature extremes and long-term use may pose some damages to your wooden door. Fortunately, some repairs can easily be done in the comfort of your own home. Read further on to learn about simple repairs for your wooden door.
Repairing cracks and splits on the wood
The constant expansion and shrinking of your wooden door due to differences in temperature and humidity may eventually lead to cracks. One of the most commonly encountered issues would be hairline cracks. While these can easily be fixed, there are several ways to do so, depending on what door you have.
1. Painted wooden doors
Painted wooden doors are easier to repair, as you have the opportunity to paint over the door to camouflage the repair. Use a wood filler to fill in the crack and wait for it to harden. Sand it down afterwards and then paint over the repair, matching the door’s colour. You can also choose to paint over the whole door for a uniform coat.
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2. Natural or varnished doors
This type of wooden door is more difficult to repair simply because it is hard to match the wood’s appearance. The best way to remedy this is to force the two halves of the door to close in on the crack. Clean through the cracks carefully; be mindful of stripping any of the wood itself. A hole can be drilled through and filled with wood glue, then insert a dowel that can go through the hole. Push the dowel in until the panels are stuck together. Wait for the glue to dry, and then trim off the excess dowel and sand it down until smooth.
Repairing loose door frames
Door frames can also loosen over time. These repairs require more skill and craftsmanship, but the main point to take into consideration would be what wall it is attached to. For masonry walls, use an appropriate drill bit that matches the size of the plugs. Drill three holes, at the top, centre, and bottom of each side of the frame. You may choose to drill it in and use wood filler to be able to paint over it. For a stud wall, drive three long screws, around 80-100mm long, through the frames at the top, middle, and bottom sections, then paint it over to finish.
Rotten wood
This repair may be applicable only for small rots around the joints or edges. However, if the rotten sections become too large, it is better to consider replacing the door. Use a sharp chisel to cut away the rotten sections. Be sure not to leave out any of it. Dry it out using a hot air gun or a hairdryer as a substitute. Wood fillers can be used to fill out the removed area, then dry it out and sand it down. Paint over the repaired patch to match the door.
While these are simple tasks that can be done at home, some mistakes can become costly. For a perfect finish for your door, you may choose to contact your trusted restoration company to ensure the best results.
You might also want to check out: How much would it cost to refinish wooden doors?

Pieter Boyce
Wooden Window and Door Specialist
This article was written on behalf of The Wooden Door Company by Pieter Boyce. Pieter has an intense passion for English Architectural history and has been specialising in the conservation of original wooden windows and doors for decades. His exceptional knowledge of timber windows and doors, both listed or non-listed, is attributed to his hands-on approach to learning all aspects of the complete restoration of original features as well as having personally surveyed thousands of items throughout his long tenure as a head surveyor for one of the largest window and door restoration companies in the UK. He now runs a boutique wooden window and door consultancy and fervently champions the retention of original windows and doors. To learn more of Pieter’s services, visit his website at www.boultonboyce.co.uk.