- 1). Cut the caulk between the exterior siding and the door casing with a utility kinfe. Cutting the caulk makes removing the door casing easier. Also cut the caulk between the door casing and the door jamb.
- 2). Pry the door casing away from the door jamb with a trim pry bar. The trim pry bar has a wide and thin slightly curved edge that you can wedge in between the casing and the door jamb. Tap the end of the pry bar with a hammer.
- 3). Remove the casing on both sides and the top. Save this to measure for the replacement door casing.
- 4). Examine the condition of the door jamb after removing the casing. Use a screwdriver to tap the wood at the bottom of the door jamb, which tells you if there is any decay at the bottom of the door jamb.
- 5). Remove any caulk from between the threshold and the door jamb with a putty knife. Lightly sand the door jamb with 100-grit sandpaper to prepare the wood for a fresh coat of paint. If there is any decay at the bottom of the door jamb, remove all you can with the screwdriver.
- 6). Tape off the bottom of the threshold with painter's tape, and apply some auto body repair compound into the rotten area with a putty knife. Let this dry, and sand flush with the door jamb.
- 7). Repaint the door jamb and casing with a quality exterior grade paint. Paint all sides of the new door casing at this time. Make sure you paint the end grain. Let this dry before proceeding to the next step.
- 8). Cut new door casing with a miter saw. Use the old casing as a template to mark the replacement casing.
- 9). Nail the door casing to the door jamb with 2 and 1/2-inch finish nails. Apply a layer of wood glue to the miter cuts before installing. Place the finish nails 16 inches apart along the length of the casing. Use a nail set to counter sink the finish nails about 1/8-inch below the surface of the casing.
- 10
Apply a coat of exterior painter's caulk to all the joints around the door jamb and the casing with a caulk gun.
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