Can I replace "just" the door jamb on interior doors?

Question

We have a split level home with 3 bedrooms and a bath upstairs. Two of the bedroom doors, 1 closet door and the bathroom "linen closet" door have come undone for lack of a better word. When you go to close the doors they just keep going and there is a gap of about an inch on either side of the jamb between it and the moulding around the door. Do I have to replace the entire unit or can I just buy new jambs and install them? I don't want to do the unit if possible b/c I can't find prehung doors to match the ones already there and there are 4 doors up there that are still in great shape! If I can just do the jamb is it a HUGE big deal or should it be pretty easy for someone familiar with DIY home stuff (my stepdad LOL) and how expensive do you think this would be?

Answer 1

There is a door stop molding that prevents the door from doing what you say your doors are doing. Take off the framing on that side of the door and you should be able to adjust the jamb by using shims. I can't see how that could happen to 4 doors. You don't need new jambs. Did the doors ever close correctly?

Answer 2

You (or your stepdad) should be able to repair the door frames.  Start by removing the mouldings to see why the frames have shifted.  It may be something as simple as shimming the frames.

Answer 3

It sounds like you have a (pre-hung) split jamb door problem.

Split jams are cheap and quick to install because they have the trim already applied on both sides of the jamb. Many shoddy contractors use these to save time and money. These same contractors rarely shim these jambs and after awhile they break down.

I would simply remove the trim on both sides- use a thin pry bar to loosen and remove trim, pull the nails or staples from the back side of the trim.

Get some door shims and start re-hanging the frames. Shim on each side so door jamb(frame fits snug) Use a 4' or longer level to plumb (keep sides straight up and down). Drive a 8 penny finish nail through the frame sides into the shims to hold frame in place.Do the hinge side first, then put door back onto hinges and adjust the other side so door has same gap along the frame and top.Now shim the k**b side and the top of the frame and drive an 8 penny finish nail through the frame and also through the shims. Cut off excess shims with a sharp utility knife. Keep hands from in front of the utility knife - They cut quick and deep.

Re-apply the door trim by nailing #3 finish nails in the edge of trim into the frame, and use #6 finish to nail thick edge of trim into the wall around the door.Set nails with a nail set.

Take your time to insure a good fit.

Answer 4

If the jamb and the trim are not all split up. Get a nail set and set the nails through the trim into the wall (on the side where the swings in the room ) most likely the bedroom side. On the hall side, set the nails through the trim into the jamb. Use a utility knife and cut the calking and paint where needed ot get it apart without tearing up your trim. Remove hall side of trim. and rehang.