Replacing damaged door frame molding

Q: The top piece of the door frame in my son’s bedroom was gouged by an over-the-door hook that was sticking up at an angle. It looks easy enough to replace. What are your thoughts? — Harry J., Kansas City, Mo.

A: A piece of molding, or trim, on the outside of the door frame above the door could be fairly simple to replace. Take a close look at the frame to see if the piece can be pried off. You’ll need a box cutter to slice through the paint between the molding and the wall and along the joint between the side molding pieces, and a small pry bar to work the molding loose without damaging the wall or frame. Try to remove the piece completely intact, as it will be much easier to cut the replacement to size.

Take the molding to a building-supply store to find a matching piece of trim wood. Replacement trim in the exact size, width and color may be available; if not, most stores can cut the new wood to the same size and shape.

To install, set the unpainted wood piece into place to make sure it fits correctly.

If it’s just a little too tight, sand the ends a bit (as well as the ends of the connecting molding) to get a proper fit. If too loose, wood putty can fill in small gaps between the joints after installation. Gaps of more than 1/8 inch are too wide and a new piece should be cut.

Nail the trim into place, leaving the nail heads sticking up. Finish with a nail set — this makes the nails flush with the wood or slightly indented without damaging the surrounding wood. Test the door to make sure the new wood isn’t impeding its open and shut functions. Smooth wood putty into any small gaps, let dry and then prime and paint the new molding to match the rest of the door.

HOME TIP: Damaged trim or molding around a door frame or in a room can be unsightly, and patching with wood putty doesn’t always help.