How to fix a floor guide for an internal door?

Question

I’ve got the replacement guide already but when I unscrewed the old one it became clear it wasn’t going to be quite as simple as replacing the new one using the same screw holes. I’ve added a couple of photos mainly because I’m not confident in the terminology

* There was a piece of wood or chipboard the screws went into that is going to need to be replaced. I think it’s mostly being used to add height so the guide actually fits into the door. Can I just use any chunk of wood that’s the right height?
* I’m assuming that after the screws make it through the wood they are meant to line up with the green things in the concrete?

Sorry for the probably very basic questions, I don’t have much experience with home repairs.

Thanks

EricL · Answer

Hello @Eloise-

Thank you for sharing those extra photos of your flooring. I'm afraid the plastic anchors are well and truly entrenched, I suggest using a cordless drill and masonry bit to drill the plastic plugs out. Once the drill holes are clean and free of the plastic plugs, you can then install new ones into the same spot. I recommend following my teammates suggestion and use a hardwood replacement piece so that it will not disintegrate like the chipboard. My best advice is to measure the location of the mounting screws so that you can drill pilot holes into the replacement piece.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

Eloise- · Answer

Sorry about the delay getting back to you, I’ve tried to attach a slightly further out photo.

I thought they might be anchors but if that’s what they are they’re in really rough shape. Any advice on how I can remove them, I tried to pry them out without much luck.

MitchellMc · Answer

Hi @Eloise-,

Our members might need a bit more context on what’s going on here, as this photo is quite close in and it’s hard to see the full setup. If you can, take a couple of pictures from further back showing the door, the floor area, and where the guide sits. That’ll make it much easier to give precise advice.

From what you’ve described and what’s visible, it looks like the original screws went into a piece of chipboard or timber that has deteriorated, likely from wear or moisture. That piece was probably acting as a spacer to bring the floor guide up to the correct height so it engages properly with the bottom of the door. Yes, you can replace that with a new piece of wood cut to the same height. Just make sure you use something a bit more durable than chipboard, like a small block of hardwood, so it holds screws better over time.

As for the “green things in the concrete,” those are likely wall plugs (rawl plugs/anchors). The screws should pass through your new wood spacer and then bite into those plugs to secure everything firmly into the concrete floor. If the existing plugs are loose or damaged, it’s worth replacing them with new ones of the correct size to ensure a solid fix. The key is making sure the whole assembly is tight, level, and positioned so the guide lines up cleanly with the door.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell