Repairs: joinery, doors and kitchens

Problem 5: Doors dropping and broken joints

This is a common problem in older properties, as the old animal glues fail and 100 years or more of wear and tear takes it toll.

Solution

It should be reasonably straightforward to loosen the wedges securing the tenons into the doorframe rails, and break the door apart. The framework does not always require total dismantling.

Injecting with a new PVA joinery glue and recramping the doorframe with new wedges should enable it to be pulled back into square.

If necessary, some new lipping pieces can be added to square-up, if the door has been previously planed away to fit the opening as it has started to sag.

  • Assuming a painted finish is applied, the repairs should be virtually invisible.
  • Bedding in new timber strips in 2-pack epoxy glues can provide a virtually seamless finish.

COST SEQUENCE - Repairs to traditional mortice and tenon rail construction panel door

  1. Remove door from frame by unscrewing hinges from frame. Allow for temporary closure of the door opening.
  2. Carefully chisel out or tap out wedges securing tenon ends.
  3. Break apart stiles and rails. Mark all positions for re-assembly.
  4. Remove field panels. Clean off all edges and paint build up where panels locate in grooves in frame. Mark positions and set aside for reassembly.
  5. Clean off all loose material dirt and dust from joints. Check tightness of fit.
  6. Cut new wedges. sized to fit adjusted slots in tenon ends.
  7. Re-assemble door. Allow for use of limited PVA glue (water soluble providing some scope for disassembly for the future). Close up all joints with cramps and secure with wedges to tenons.
  8. Allow for 2-pack resin gluing-in of fillet to head or base of door where any wear has occured on one top or bottom rail only. Flush into door timbers.
  9. Bring forward and redecorate 1 primer, 2 undercoat and 1 topcoat.

Repairs to traditional mortice and tenon rail contruction panel door - COST £160

Small works pricing

Since the original price estimating in 2008 the economic turmoil of the last few years has caused some disparities in pricing - if you are reviewing these figures in the London area they may look laughable - if you are located in Hull they might still look a bit expensive. Please treat them with caution and of course always consider obtaining more than one quote against which to test prices. Reference to the BCIS or a small works pricing book such as Spons or Laxton's will help assess costs and the hourly labour rates upon which they are based.