Gluing, clamping repairs door jamb

Q. The door-latch side of my door frame is broken. Would you tell me how to replace it?

A. If you can, you should try to patch the jamb (door frame). First, remove the trim piece from the door frame that travels vertically down its center. Use a razor knife to put a slit in the paint between the trim and the frame so that it can be removed without damage. One or both casings (trim molding between the door frame and the wall) also should be removed if either would restrict the repair.

With the trim removed you can easily re-glue the damaged section or cut it out and patch it. A jigsaw is best for cutting out a damaged piece. Use lots of glue and plenty of screws or nails to connect the new piece. For long splits simply glue and clamp the separated pieces.

Remember, with the trim and the casing removed you are simply dealing with a long, narrow, flat piece of wood that is held to the framed door opening with nails and shim-shingles. No brain surgery here. Once the patch or clamped job is completed, a little Bondo-type putty or filler is all it will take to hide even the worst of connections.

Q. Some caulks and adhesives thicken and become harder to use outside when the mercury dips a little. What can we do about this?

A. To remedy this problem, we Carey Brothers get a jump on cool weather first by keeping such caulks and adhesives inside, where they remain warm and toasty.

Then, when it's even the least bit cool outside, we slide a piece of foam-pipe insulation over the tube and/or gun to keep it warm and pliable and at a workable temperature.

Q. Our house has back-to-back bathrooms, one of which adjoins our bedroom. When guests use this bathroom the sound of running water and toilet flushing is so loud it can wake us from sleep. How can we deaden this noise?

A. The good news is that there is something that can be done to cut down on the noise. The bad news is that anything you do short of remodeling may provide only modest relief.

The most cost-effective way to deal with noisy plumbing pipes is to insulate them. Water pipes that are accessible should be wrapped with the appropriate-size neoprene rigid insulation. Accessible soil pipes should be wrapped with a minimum of 1-inch-thick fiberglass insulation.

In either case the insulation should be secured with duct tape. Wall cavities that contain plumbing pipes that are not accessible should be filled with blown-in insulation.

These measures may improve the condition only slightly, but that may be just enough to get you through the night.