greetings,
I hope i can explain my situation clearly enough to get the proper advise.
I purchased an old house (about 70 years old) and after removing the door moulding to put up new drywall i notice my door jambs arent attached to any type of framing (the moulding is holding the door frame in place) and the door jamb where the striker plate sits is cracked.
the existing door jambs sits about 3 inches from the nearest stud on either side and about the same, maybe 4 inches on the top.
the existing door is roughly 37 1/2" x 87 1/2" after comparing them to doors at lowes it seems its larger then a standard size so im assuming the door jamb is a custom made one.
what I would like to do is to keep the existing door and replace the exsiting door jamb, i know i will need to do some framing but do they sell kits that come with the needed materials that will allow me to replace the existing jamb with a new one?

if not what would you suggest to do?

i apperciate any advice

 

Where are you measuring??? That is a very unusual dimension for a door. Measure the door slab itself. A standard door is 36x80, or 84 for special doors. Without pictures or something more to go on, not sure what to suggest. It is not unusual to have an air gap around the door in an old house, but not what you describe. If your dimensions are indeed what is there, you will have to custom make a jamb and threshold for the existing door slab, or order a standard prehung door and modify the framing as needed.

Avoid big box stores for this kind of opening. Go to a local lumberyard, if you still have one.

 

oops typo, i meant the door jamb size is that, not the door.
the door is 35 1/2" x 83 1/2" ill take some pics tonite and post them

 

here are pictures of my door hope someone can point me in the right direction

 

Fill the air gaps with DAP foam or a non-expanding urethane foam. There are wide, 3 1/4" casing moldings that might fit and cover what needs to be covered. Check lumberyards and big box stores.

 

i appreciate your advice, however im not looking to fill the gaps
i need to replace that door jamb.
do they sell any replacment door jamb kits or does this look like a custom made thing?

if i need to make a custom one what would be a good type of lumber to use?

 

Yes there are jamb kits, but they usually do not include the threshold. And you may have to special order kits for that height. If you are going to all the trouble to replace the jambs, why not install a prehung door and get better weatherstriping as part of the package, including a more energy efficient door.

 

Hi again,

Purchasing a new prehung door was the original plan.
however the doors on display at lowes & home depot are not the same size as the existing door.
that would mean the siding on the outside will not fit up right to the new door and then i would have to do siding.

in short a new prehung door leads to the snow ball effect
(one problem leads to another)
and im looking for the best possible way fix my door with as little hassle as possible

thanks for any help

 

Jamb kits are available consisting of 3 pieces; 1 top jamb and 2 side jambs. The standard width is is 4 5/8 in. (I think). If you only need to replace a cracked jamb, why not remove it, use it as a pattern, and cut a new one. The jamb kits do not have any mortises for hinges or latches. Good luck with your project.

 

Avoid big box stores, go to a local lumberyard, if you still have one. They can get what you need to fit the opening. But you will probably have to remove some of the siding to do a proper flashing job, regardless of which way you go. A new jamb requires as much work as a whole new door.

 

Or even more, since you have to connect all the parts and be very careful with removal. Not to mention routing out for hinges and latch. A 36 x 84 door may be available at a lumberyard or building supply near you (spec order from most Box stores). Esp if many houses were built that way in your area. May need to replace the stock trim (we didn't see the outside), but still better than re-building a whole door frame.
Soundds like its time for an update anyway. Thats a big gap between the jambs and framing.

 

Take a look at the striker repair kits at the store of your choice. They're usually just larger metal plates that take extra screws to hold cracked jambs together. You may have to inlet the jamb for the larger plate. While it's apart you can squeeze some two part epoxy into the crack in the jamb. Insulate that big gap before you close it back up.

At 70 years your house is getting to the age where original fittings are considered valuable. I'd think a little more before I tossed that period door.