Many popular interior and exterior doors come in panel styles. While they add character and aesthetic appeal to the door, their real benefit comes in the ease of repair. While a solid-style door will often need to be replaced, a panel-style door can simply have a new panel inserted. With the proper tools and know-how, this is a job any do-it-yourselfer can manage in an afternoon.
- Many popular interior and exterior doors come in panel styles.
- While they add character and aesthetic appeal to the door, their real benefit comes in the ease of repair.
Remove the door from its frame. Unscrew the top hinge first, and remove the lower hinge, with an assistant holding the door in place. Place the door on a flat surface to begin working on the panel.
Remove any fasteners in the corner of the panel with a small pry par. Use a rubber mallet to carefully bang out the corner. With a scrap of wood, tap against the frame of the panel to separate it from the joint. Remove the frame piece and place aside.
- Remove any fasteners in the corner of the panel with a small pry par.
- Use a rubber mallet to carefully bang out the corner.
Slide the panel out of the channel grooves. Inspect and clean out the groove while you have access to it. Use a rag and some high-grit sandpaper.
Insert the new door panel. Use wood glue to or staples to hold the panel in place, depending on what the original panel used.
Reattach the bottom of the frame tacking to the door with a tack hammer.