This old house

[rhltechie]

Hi All,

I know a lot of you know a hell of a lot about woodworking, obviously from all the tear work I have seen. This is a question non tear related, hence the off topic. I have a spot on the outside of my house that is a door frame where my ever so loved puppy has chewed away the wood. I am having my house appraised soon for a refinance and want to do everything possible to not take away from it. What’s the best solution for a chewed up door frame? It’s a small spot at the bottom, cannot decide if wood filler and sanding is the answer or what. As always…thanks for any input.

[Bristol Delica]

Hi

Filler would be a short term solution (with which you may be satisfied as you are selling anyway), if you want it done properly it would be best to scarfe (not sure if that's the term you guys use that side of the pond) in a new piece of wood. That is to saw/chisel back to good wood making clean, square cuts and then cut a piece of the same type of wood to match and fit this using a good quality adhesive and perhaps lost head nails if needed. Then fill, sand and paint or varnish. Done well this kind of repair can make things good as new.

Best of luck

IanJ

[starleen2]

If the door fame is painted, then do a spot repair with wood filler and try to match the paint as close as possible - then blend the color into each other with long strokes. If it's natural wood - they make tintable wood filler that can be stained - It all depends on the damage and type of finish - maybe post a pict?

[rhltechie]

hmm..yeah..i kind of thought that "replacing" the wood was the better solution...but i have a feeling i wont have time for it. I am not selling, i am just getting another appraisal for the house.

I'll try to get a good pic of it tonight.

[toypusher]

If it is just the molding around the door, then just replace it. Should be qick and pretty cheap.

Pictures would be ever so helpful here!!

[rhltechie]

I'm not sure its just the molding, i think its the actual door frame..but, i will get a pic for sure as i am in no position to be able to truly say.

[tinksdad]

The brick molding around the frame is an easy replacement. If it's the frame itself, depending on the damage, use a filler or scarf in a piece as all ready suggested. If you need to replace the frame itself, you can get a knock down replacement frame from a good lumber yard (not the box places); but that is a bit more involved. I had to replace two door frames on my house for insurance purposes when I bought it 2 1/2 years ago. At the time it was more convenient and financially opportunistic to get two new pre-hung doors from the "surplus" store located in town and replace them rather than repair them. The tricky part was reversing them so they opened out instead of in!!

[Walt M]

Mandy, there is an epoxy putty you can get at the big box stores,it's a two part system that can work wonders. Use it only if your painting over it. I believe it's made by Minwax and they tout it for rotted wood. By all means a "dutchman" is a good way to go but it is a bit of work and probably won't be any better for a painted Jamb. I hope this helps. Walt

[S. Heisley]

Hi, Mandy:

If your pup is still chewing, I think I'd do a temporary fix with epoxy fill until the puppy is out of the chewing stage. Otherwise, you may end up replacing the wood more than once!

[Steve_Cox]

I had a couple of places on the fascia of my house where where end grain on the boards had absorbed water and started to rot. This was an area about 1" or so into the 1X6 board. I dug out all the soft wood, (this was before I had any rot doctor) and filled the hole with epoxy filled with enough fine sawdust to make a peanut butter consistency. I filled the spaces with the mixture and got it smooth enough with a plastic putty knife it didn't need to be sanded when cured. Painted it and you can't tell it was patched.

[Lgboro]

I've been in my house for over 20 years and have replaced and repaired a couple of different windows that had character spots. I replaced the wood on one and epoxy patched the other and I would not turn around the difference in the two over time. I don't think anyone except a really good woodworker could tell where either were patched so I would do the easiest one. A projected as large as a house will never be perfect.

[rhltechie]

Thanks for all the replies. I think you are spot on with the using of epoxy patch. I am pressed for time and not to mention it just seems way easier! I will go a lookin' at the big box for somethign to fill this in...



Why in the world...would this taste good to my pup, I have no idea. but he has since grown out of it. he still chews, but not door frames. thank god.

[toypusher]

Thanks for all the replies. I think you are spot on with the using of epoxy patch. I am pressed for time and not to mention it just seems way easier! I will go a lookin' at the big box for somethign to fill this in...



Why in the world...would this taste good to my pup, I have no idea. but he has since grown out of it. he still chews, but not door frames. thank god.

I would get the wood filler/putty vs the epoxy because it will be easier to sand and paint.

[rainjer]

At Lowes they carry Bondo wood filler. It is almost the same as the Bondo you use on a car but grey in color. It will fill large areas and sands up nice. One trick is when it is almost cured but not rock hard, hit it with a rasp to knock down any high areas.