How to fix door split around lock?

monibrown

Please help will I need to replace hole door or is it fixable?

I was vacuuming behind my double doors and the wind got them as they were not pushed all the way back on walls! It smashed them shut and has broken the wood around the locking mechanism on one of the doors. Pictures attached

I’m in a new rental and concerned the owners will think I have been too rough or careless and caused the damage. 

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @monibrown. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about repairing a door.

It looks like the split is definitely fixable, so you won’t need to replace the whole door. Since the door appears to be quite thin, that likely contributed to the damage when it slammed shut.

To repair it, gently insert a flathead screwdriver into the crack to open it slightly. Then, apply PVA wood glue into the split—using a toothpick can help push the glue deep inside to ensure good coverage. Once the glue is in place, use a clamp to compress the split back together. Leave it clamped for at least 24 hours to fully cure.

After the glue has dried, check if the area feels stable. If needed, you can lightly sand the surface to smooth out any rough spots and apply a touch of paint to blend it in.

This method should restore the door’s strength and appearance without needing a full replacement. However, you should enquire with the property manager whether you can install latches to hold the doors back to prevent this issue from happening again.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell