how to fix a storm door closer?

Question

the last wind storm blew the door open and bent our door closer along with riping the screws out off the wood paneling. Can someone suggest a way to "mend" the wood so i can install a new door closer??

cant "replace" the frame, its an apartment, and i dont want to wait 6 weeks for the maintenance guy to come and fix it

Answer 1

A couple of ways to do this. You can take wooden match sticks and fill the hole and reinstall the screw. Or, you can buy a wood filler and fill the hole with it and let it dry.. Drill a pilot hole and then reinstall the screw.

Answer 2

I would say that if you really want a storm door closer to install 2, one at the top and 1 at the bottom. Also put a safety chain with a spring on it so that when the wind catches it will keep the door from opening too far and either ripping out the closers or bending them. Then you can fill in the nasty holes from the old closer with a wood filler and paint over it. As good as new. But I wouldn't put the new closer in the same place anyway no matter what. But another thought is eliminate the closer and then the wind will merely blow it against the house or you can put up a railing to keep it from going too far. But you should also get used to hanging onto the door when the wind is blowing.

Answer 3

Install Storm Door Closer

Answer 4

You can get an aluminum plate that will cover more than the ripped area (might be able to buy a kickplate that would fit or might need to get an 1/8" thick aluminum plate and have it cut to size). Take off the bent closer and toss it out. Fasten the plate to the broken part of the door with screws around its edges. Now fasten a new door closer onto the aluminum plate. Make sure you put a storm chain (chain with big spring) on the door this time to take up the kind of force that destroyed the old closer.

Answer 5

Well I don't know how damaged the wood is but if the screws are just stripped you can either use longer screws, or you can repair the holes. To repair the holes take some tooth picks or wooden matches, Apply carpenters wood glue to the match stick and force as many as you can in the holes, don't break them off. Let them dry over night and with a utility knife cut them flush with the wood. You can now drill new pilot holes for the mounting screws.

Answer 6

The previous answers are good. Just wanted to add that you can disconnect the closers or "pistons" by simply pulling the little pin that connects them with their door brackets - don't have to take the whole thing off just to test them. Usually a big wind tears the screw that hold the relief chain to the door casing out, rather than breaking the chain itself. If that's the case, when refitting, toss the weenie little thing in the package and use a better screw, like about a #10 around two inches long. That's been good to about 60 mph for me. Hope your trees and roofing are OK, too.

Answer 7

you can cut a section of it out or replace the one side the door opener your talking about is called a shock and none of those fill the hole ideas are going to work the shock will loosen it right up so replace the entire side or just a section also important when putting the screws for new shock predrill the whole first otherwise wood will split just a simple one eight inch bit

Answer 8

There is a wonderful material called Titen which you squirt into stripped out screw holes. Put the screws back in while it is still wet and it becomes stronger than the original installation. I use it in my RV. Your hardware store will have it. As to the closer that was bent, replace it.

Answer 9

Either cut out and replace the ruined wood (which would look bad) or replace the entire side of the frame.

Answer 10

In the event that the entryway hammers close or closes too gradually, alter the pneumatic barrel: To moderate the end, turn the screw on the end of the pneumatic chamber clockwise. To accelerate the end, turn the screw counterclockwise