A. While your wife’s solution would work for a short period of time and provide immediate gratification, it is not the long term solution. The problem is that the structural integrity of your door has been compromised and now needs to be restored. Here is a fun and simplistic method of repair that once made will have your wife forever referring to you as “the oracle of saw dust.”
1. Prepare a work area near the door, then place a drop cloth over said area.
2. Close door (this will take the pressure off the hinges) using a slotted head (regular, to most) screwdriver and hammer. Pop up the hinge pins and remove.
3. Carefully open the door and lay it up against a wall on the edge opposite the hinges.
4. Using a Phillips screwdriver (for newer doors, older ones require a slotted head screwdriver) remove the hinges that are attached to the door.
5. Fire up your power drill (I recommend a battery operated 3/8-inch DeWalt drill. My recommendation for buying tools is to always buy tools your skill sets can grow into not out of), insert a 3/8-inch drill bit, drill out the old screw holes to a depth of 1 1/2 inches. (mark the drill bit at 1 1/2 inches by wrapping masking tape around it.)
6. Cut a 3/8-inch diameter wooden dowel into several 1 1/2-inch long pieces. Apply a generous application of wood glue to the dowels and insert them into the newly drilled holes. Be sure the end of the dowel is flush with the edge of the door. Let set for 2 or 3 hours.
7. Place the hinge into position and mark the center of each hole using a lead pencil.
8. Using a pilot drill bit (1/8-inch or smaller) drill 1-inch deep holes into the center of each dowel. This will insure you do not split the wood when you insert screws.
9. Set the hinge back into place and insert screws, place door back into position and reinsert hinge bins.
10. Clean up your work area and take pride in the fact you have restored the structural integrity of your wooden door. Just think, you probable only have another 12 doors waiting for your service!
Kaile Warren is CEO/Founder of the national handyman franchise Rent-A-Husband. Kaile is also a national home improvement expert for the CBS Early Show, HGTV and Parade Magazine. When not on the road or working the Windham resident spends his time teaching his newly adopted white shepherd, Maintenance, how-to ... Send your questions for Kaile to editor@themaineswitch.com.