Door jamb repair.

[dodge man]

A revisit. I’ve hung doors before but they were interior ones. In my picture above it seems like where you see pink insulation there should be lumber? It seems like where the drywall is would be flapping in the breeze so to speak. This may also be why the plate for the deadbolt only has 2 screws, there is nothing for them to screw into. I think this is why /Pine is saying to fir out with a piece of lumber. Thanks for the advice.

 

[mrmikey]

If the broken piece is complete and not missing any part, you could use a waterproof glue like titebond to glue the door jam back together.

That would be my approach and reinforce as required with screws into the studs and suitable blocking as required

 

[2manyrocks]

Hard to tell from the picture if the insulation is just enough to cover the gap between the door frame and the stud or if there is a major gap. Typically, the door studs will be oversized just a bit to make it easier to insert the prefab door & frame into the opening in the wall where the door goes. The amount of the oversizing depends on the measuring for the height and width of the opening versus the prefab door frame as well as whether the studs and floor are truly level.

This is why the previous posters were recommending that you take some shims with you because you never know how much the gap is going to be. Shims are a quick way of taking up that gap between the studs and the door frame to make the door frame installation that more secure.

8 in. Pine Shims (12-Pack) WSSHW08 - The Home Depot

Complete all your home improvement projects with the addition of this Unbranded Wood Shims.

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It can be a PITA to hand nail and get the shims just right. So....my suggestion is to buy some trim screws that won't look terrible, but would allow you to back the screw out and try again if you see them pulling the door frame too far away from the door.

Be sure you have the correct bit to drive these or check the trim screw package to see if it includes the correct bit. Also...predrill the hole so the trim doesn't tend to split.

Grip-Rite #6 x 1-5/8 in. Phosphate Coated Square Drive Flat Undercut Trim Head Drywall Screws 1 lb. Box 158STHDW1 - The Home Depot

Find the Grip Rite #6 x 1-5/8 in. Fine Steel Square Trim Screws (1 lb. Pack) 158STHDW1, coated for better holding power they are for attaching wood trim and base over gypsum board to wood substrate of

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Moving on to the door latch, typically there are only two short screws holding the latch to the prefab door frame. The screws are short because they are shipping these door assemblies and don't want any protruding screws to stab someone.

When it comes to the actual installation of the door, the finish carpenters typically set the door in the wall opening, tack it up more or less level and plumb.

A better finish carpenter will take time to shim the door frame, but take out those short latch screws and install longer screws that will secure the latch to the stud.

The BF was able to kick the thing in because the door only had the two short screws that didn't reach into the stud.

 

[dodge man]

He actually just used his shoulder. After looking at the picture I said to her I bet he popped that door right open and she said yes he was surprised how easy he broke it open. I’m a little over 6 feet tall and weigh about 245 and he makes me look small.

Btw, I was friends with someone who worked for a locksmith for years and picked some stuff up. The open the door with the credit card trick will not usually work anymore. I will know that for sure when I see her door.

 

[crashz]

I'm no carpenter, but followed along pretty well because I've done a couple of doors in my lifetime.

A consideration may be: could this happen again? Personally I would reframe and secure those latch plates with some heavy screws. Then buy the fiance an extra key and attach it to the dog's collar.

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

Just get a pilot bit and counter sink and screw broken piece back on. Probably won't be able to tell it even happened. Tell doofus to get some extra keys or even a push button latch.

 

[scootr]

I have hung thousands of doors. That looks suspiciously like an interior jamb. It's lightweight vs an exterior jamb. Also the opening is not framed properly which is why there is no stud at the jamb. Sorry if it was you
Having no stud there makes a solid repair harder. But you can cobble together a temporary repair by screwing a board on the back side of the broken board (screws go in from the paint side) so that it hangs out far enough the glue and screw the broken part onto it.

 

[2manyrocks]

The side jamb looked a little odd to me as well but I believe the inside piece is an exterior door jamb because of the door insulation strip. I suspect a piece of trim was nailed to the exterior at one point perhaps for a storm door?

Regardless, I suspect you're going to find that the stud is about 1/2" inch or so from the door frame and there is just a little insulation crammed in between the stud and the door frame to help with air leaks.

There seems to be a shim near the bottom and a nail or a screw driven in near the insulation strip to hold the door frame to the stud. You can most likely pull that insulation strip out of the slot in the door frame to see where they drove the other nails or screws to hold the frame to the studs if needed.

 

[dodge man]

2manyrocks, that’s what I’m hoping is the case and that will make it easier.

 

[zzvyb6]

I run 3" screws thru the latch and on into the 2x4s or 2x6s behind the glued, screwed & tattooed elcheapo door frames. Actually, professional burglars kick in the hinge side because the same 3/4" screws hold the hinges to the door frame. Just kick 1 hinge at a time. Be sure to re-screw the door side as well.