Squaring an old saggy door

[rogcal]

I'm about to embark on the repair of an 80 year old softwood front door.

The wood is very sound despite its age but the joints have long since loosened and as a consequence the door sags by a good 30-40mm on the lock side.

As the door is seldom used it isn't a serious problem for us but as we are putting the house on the market some time this year a decent repair job needs to be carried out.

I'm considering using 15mm dowel rod to secure the stiles and rails in place once I have squared the door up on my bench.

My intention is to drill three 250mm x 15mm holes through the stiles and into the rails at each joint then driving in glued dowels to hold secure.

At the same time I shall run glue into each of the loose joints (after cleaning them out of course) following which the whole unit shall be clamped up and left until the glue has firmly set.

I would welcome comments from forum members on my intended repair method which I believe will be an effective and solid repair however if anyone has any other method they can advise of that will be just as effective then I would welcome that also.

Thanks in advance of any advice that's forthcoming.

Roger

[promhandicam]

If the joints are that loose, can't you dismantle it, clean up the mortices and tenons and then glue up again with new wedges?

[rogcal]

Thanks for the response

Yes, in an ideal world I would do that but I want to try the glued dowel rod method to (a) see if it works well and (b) to save time.

[MJ80]

Second for knock it apart, clean, glue and new wedges

[tusses]

3rd for doing it properly

or if you are intent on bodging it, nail a bit of hardboard on the back

[rosinante]

Hi if the door sags by 30,40 mm on the lock side how is it closing ?, if closing it would indicate that the frame is similarly pissed therefore the method used is academic,the whole thing needs sorting!! ,it seems if the door were squared it wouldn't go back in the frame ,therefore take the advice of the previous replies and also sort the frame,should be good for another umpteen years
Chris

[Louis1984]

Absolutely new wedges.

The only way the 'dowel rod method' would work is if you draw bore it. which involves taking it apart.

To be honest I wouldn't actually take it completely apart. Probably about 1.5-2" apart. Blast in PU glue, clamp up & PU glue the wedges in

[rogcal]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm now reconsidering my options.