How To Fix Wood Panel Door

Repairing cracks in wooden door panels.

How to fix wood panel door. Natural or varnished doors. Frame and panel or rail and stile doors became popular in the early 1700s due at least in part to the design s clever solution for dealing with dimensional wood changes caused by fluctuating temperature and humidity. Wooden panels were typically fitted into grooves plowed in the door rails and stiles and left to float so they could expand and contract without binding and splitting for a primer on making wooden panels see my last post however varnish wax and dirt can build up over the years and stick the panel in place so it isn t able to expand. How to fix cracks in door panels without taking the door apart.

Step 2 remove any fasteners in the corner of the panel with a small pry par. I realize that this might be a new house issue as well however a door in a new house is a little easier to replace than one that is old and an odd size. Most of the time years of paint or caulking the seams around the panels will cause the wood to stick and not allow the panel to expand and contract with the weather. Wooden doors will develop cracks over time especially if the panels aren t free to expand and contract.

Dribble wood glue into the crack and set a clamp against the blocks to pull the crack closed. Clean up any excess glue before it dries but leave the clamp in place for 24 hours. Place the door on a flat surface to begin working on the panel. Use a rubber mallet to carefully bang out the corner.

With a painted door assuming the frame and everything else is ok repairing a split panel is as easy as filling the split or crack with the appropriate wood filler letting it harden and then sanding it down and painting over it to match the rest of the door.