Can this door be saved?

Question

About two weeks ago, my husband knocked the plastic trim off of our front door.  Several of the pieces that hold it on broke and the trim cracked and chipped as well. I tried to glue it and caulk around it. I didn't have any luck. So this weekend I removed all the trim and started filling and sanding. He says it looks hideous. I still think I can save it. The door is metal though so the sanding process isn't going as well as I hoped. I did get a 5-in-1  tool and am going to try to get more of the thick glue off and fill in the holes better and of course sand more. But it is going to be a process and I'm not 100% sure I can fix it. Was I wrong to go this route?  Has anyone else ever done something like this?

Lori · Answer

Cindy, you can do this, don't ever let anyone stop you from trying if you have an idea you think will work.  What have you got to lose but some time and sweat and if you fail, make new trim that will cover the marks, caulk it after you glue or screw it on and paint.  Caulk and paint are my go to guys.  Show us the end resuld.  Someone here, smarter than me will have advice for glue removal.  Good luck.

CS · Answer

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I feel the same way about the door. I will post results.

William · Answer

You go girl! Cindy, you're on the right track. Get off as much of the glue you can. Fill the holes. Sand the door to smooth and roughen the finish. If you like the look of molding, you can buy molding at the big box store and make your own. I had a client that bought picture frames at the dollar store and glue them on a flat door, a little paint, and you'd never tell they were once picture frames. I believe your hubby said it looks hideous, because HE wasn't doing the job. It's a man thing!

William · Answer

Will do! You have the skill. I know you can do it. Just take your time. Let me know how it turns out.

Cher · Answer

What look are you going for? If you're going for a flush finish, you might have a hard time. May I suggest new vinyl trim to cover imperfections? Since you have a storm door, maybe do a panel of beadboard with some trim to cover the center area and give some interest?

Jacki Seaborn Turner · Answer

I 2nd the suggestion for making your own trim. Liquid nails or loctite powergrab should hold up anything reasonably weighted. Your options are almost endless its all up to what your brain will create! However, if you so choose to paint after filling and sanding, use a good quality paint not 'el cheapo and get it in 'flat' to help hide those imperfections. Post pics and have fun!

Ranger · Answer

Just curious... If your husband broke it, why doesn't he fix it? :) I like the idea of sanding the entire door and getting the 'stick on' mouldings.

Barbara C · Answer

The Sun made my trim brittle.When I tried to replace it ,I found this trim is no loner made as many door co.'s went out of business during the crunch.Just make your own.

Leslie · Answer

Cindy you are doing a wonderful job. Don't ever allow anyones negative thoughts and words bring you down. It is THEIR problem NOT yours :) If you decide you want to add some moulding ( there is plastic moulding ) have HD or Lowes cut it to specs when you tell them what you are doing. Or just recycle the ones you have, then use Liquid nails to adhere and caulk any gaps. Your door is on it's way to perfection :)

Sonia Morrow · Answer

Go for it girl.

Barbara · Answer

I think this is a great opportunity for you to show your creativity! I'd go with liquid nails and wood trim after sanding and filling. Then paint as desired. Keep your spirits up and and work at it until you obtain the desired results and don't let the neigh sayers get you down!

Leslie · Answer

No problem :) Been there done that and threw out the bathwater WITH the baby lol

Marra · Answer

If you find that you aren't happy with what you're seeing you can always add a thin piece of wood inside the moulding frame and stain or paint it in contrast. It can hide the blemishes and add interest. You have a fresh pallet to play with. Have fun!

William · Answer

Cindy, just checking in! Saw the pics. Your doing an outstanding job! Looks great so far. What is your hubby saying now?

Ranger · Answer

You could probably pick up second hand mouldings from demolition places. Or perhaps look around charity shops for picture frames to use as mouldings?

Kathy Bitzan · Answer

I would definitely keep going. Nice time to use some accent color to give it some dimension. Now I'm looking at my door and think I will paint it and do something with that old gold glass. You go girl.

Bernice H · Answer

Heycindy...you're doing a good job and I am encouraged by your - go for it -attitude. Our door is just about the same story. We just bought this house and it is a major u-glee door and handle. Moldings are ready to fall off. Waiting to see your result!

Anna M.S. · Answer

Use silicone molding medium and resin to re-create the broken pieces, then glue/mount them on the original door.

Lynn Palmatier · Answer

Cindy, you should check to see if you have a Habitat for Humanity Restore in your area. A lot of their offerings come from deconstruction. They have reclaimed doors, window, paint, trim, hardware etc etc. Depending on the size of your community the bigger the store is. I have at least 3 mall stores and one warehouse sized facility.

Jean Myles · Answer

Cindy If you don't try you will never know what you can do and you are proving you Can DO a great job. Going to thrift stores looking for picture

Karen · Answer

Hey girl you go finish sanding down I used kill before painting my exterior metal door you could always opt for wood trim pieces like you removed maybe do them in another color to accent the color you choose for your door but use liquid nails to attach them just use it sparingly so not to have too much seepage good luck with whatever you choose!

Karen · Answer

I meant kilz primer after sanding lol

Bernice H · Answer

Cindy...I have been looking for your post...finally found you! But it has been so long. Hey Girl...we did our door! Just like yours. Hubs took off the molding, filled the holes in with silicone i think, or putty, we washed the door real well, then painted it a teal, check it out! It is gorgeous! The holes dont show, he sanded them down. Cleaned up the hardware..it is beautiful! so we did the back door also! i am so curious as to what you finally did. I hope you didnt find it more of a chore than it had to be. ours was relatively easy.  Let us know.

Danielle Odin · Answer

You can  get door skins and glue them on this will give you a new surface and you can finish it the way you choose.

Galen W. Yoder · Answer

The door skins is a good blank slate to start over with but depending upon the type of weather stripping  you have it could effect how the door will close. Wood trim is good in multiple profiles, but on a metal door, I would suggest using Boral trim or Azek. If you don't want to mess with screw fasteners and the filling of the holes, construction adhesive (exterior grade), and a couple of the ratcheting type load straps to wrap around the door to hold the trim package in place until the adhesive sets up enough to not allow  them to slowly slide down the face of the door. If you have trouble with the straps not being tight enough a few cedar door shims strategically placed between the straps and the trim can help put a bit more tension in the key spots and can prevent the straps from damaging the trim. There is always the option of laying the door flat & horizontally to install but that will leave your door opening wide open for several hours.

Zabitat · Answer

Hello,

These are stick on plants that use to be manufactured for steel doors before they were able to stamp a panel into the door.

A different option would be to install a door glass insert into the door. The process is simple and much easier than sanding and painting the door. In about an hour you can add decorative glass, stained glass, clear glass, obscure glass or blinds between glass into the existing door. Here is an example:

Jodi Hoover · Answer

Hey Lady? Get it repaired? I work for a door manufacturer both exterior and interior doors. Go to your local Lowes or Home Depot---those frames can be ordered and replaced! Steel or fiberglass doors---it makes no difference!

Good Luck! The Door Lady

Gimme · Answer

Hi,

yes it can. I'm a retired union carpenter and my door trim came off. I carefully unscrewed the pegs out of the door and installed them into the trim backing. Screw them in as tight as you can without breaking them, if they won't stay take them out and squirt a small dab of silicone chalk then insert again and let dry (24 hours). Once they are set do the same thing to the door holes, a squirt of silicone chalk[let it ooze out some] . Let this set for about 10 minutes (it will start setting up and that's what you want, it will hold the trim better). Push the trim pegs into the holes with slight pressure and hold for a bit (I leaned my back against the door trim and talked to my neighbor, before I knew it the time flew by!) VAWLA done! Hope that helps you! Happy Holidays!

Agnes Chrzanowska · Answer

of course ! You just need to sand it off

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