How to fix my door frame

I currently can't get out into the back garden. Well I could, but then would begin a right carry on to get the back door to shut again behind me.

What's happened is this. The whole door frame, on the hinge side, has dropped about half an inch. It appears to because the bottom wooden bit has come loose, that's allowed it to slide forward a bit, taking pressure off the door frame, allowing it to drop.

It's all come loose because a 4 inch nail has rusted and broke at the bottom, allowing the bottom wooden step thing to move. But also a nail I'm the upright part that the hinges fasten to seems loose in the brickwork.

The theoretical solution seems to be to 1. Align everything and then 2. Secure it all.

In practice though, I'm not sure how to do it. I can easily jack the door and frame up while I then secure it, but I obviously need to get the alignment perfect or I'll be back to square one, with a door that jams. I also can't figure out how I'd get a nail or bolt or screw right through the wood and into the brick.

I had considered taking the door off to reduce the weight on the frame while I set it all back in position, but I suspect that if I try to undo the screws, the heads will just snap off, creating an even bigger challenge.

 

Are these what you need? Frame fixers AKA Fischer fixings, drill straight through the jamb into the brickwork, countersink hole (to avoid the plastic lip being left proud of the frame), drive/screw in.

You can get a drill bit of the correct size for use with them that will go through both timber and brickwork. EDIT: Think it might be called a multi-purpose drill bit, I've had mine for nearly 30 years.

 

Helical Bar 8mm x 1 metre - £4.70 - Remedial Wall Ties

 

I use these for that kind of job...

 

Thanks for the tip, but what is that? I've Googled 'thing' but unfortunately it brings up all sorts of results.

 

ROFLMAO

 

They are called adjustable frame screws.

 

Try this link thing

P.S. I'd be nervous about using a jack to lift the frame splitting brick courses above the door head, I've pushed a jemmy or chisel/bolster lever on a timber batten fulcrum using my foot to lift timbers to correct level for fixing.

 

I wasn't going to use an actual jack of meant jack it up as in lift it with a makeshift arrangement of wooden leverage.

 

"What's happened is this. The whole door frame, on the hinge side, has dropped about half an inch. It appears to because the bottom wooden bit has come loose, that's allowed it to slide forward a bit, taking pressure off the door frame, allowing it to drop."

Sounds like a disaster to me, probably needs a new frame and door.

 

The wood and surrounding brickwork are solid and in perfectly good condition. It is quite simply that the fixings between the two are failing, allowing a small amount of movement. A small amount, but enough to make the door stick.

I'm not forking out for a full replacement when it will be fine with a couple of string screws.

 

I'm guessing that you might have a problem getting the frame back in position as pieces of mortar, brickwork and plaster (from internally) may have fallen down behind it, plus there could be remains of the original fixings in the way that will need clearing out (bricklaying trowel, steel ruler, etc.) before the frame can be returned to its original position. Might be a 2 person job, one removing the debris whilst the other supports the door & frame and shouts "hurry up".

 

Well, at least take the door off first before trying to refix the frame.
I'm, guessing the "bottom wooden bit" is the cill.
And if, "It's all come loose because a 4 inch nail has rusted and broke at the bottom" then maybe its time for a new frame, sorry.

 

The frame is not rotten. The wood is still nice and tough.

The wooden bit at the bottom that might be the sill is getting a bit soft, but is not really rotten yet. I might replace that bit. That's where the nail has rusted and snapped.

 

Usually the cill is tenoned on to the bottom of the jamb, ie. there should be a joint.

Sounds like this has rotted off and allowed the cill to move from under the jamb.

That in turn has allowed the jamb to drop, I'm guessing the frame would have been a complete item when fitted, not four separate pieces of wood.

Four inch nails for fixing frames go back a long way, sometimes they were banged into the side of the frame as it was bricked in, the head being put into the mortar joints.

You can try refixing the hanging jamb, but that it the one that obviously takes the weight all the time, and the twisting motion so it will probably only be a temporary fix.