Door frame loose

[DodgySailor]

Dear all, a friend just bought a house and the main door frame (a composite door) is a bit loose (see picture) and it moves quite a bit when pushed. I can not see any screws holding the door frame and I was wondering if it is just hold by silicone around the frame or what is the correct way to fix it properly?

 

[Wayners]

Could you add some foam from the outside?
When set put a few fixings through frame.


There was a system with clips I seen years ago, so no visible fixings. Maybe that was used?

 

[ronniecabers]

My first thought was it's fixed with cleats, but not 100% after seeing the plaster/paint on the wall. It is still possible though. The way they work is it's a metal strap that clips/screws to the Upvc door ( it's a upvc door , not a Composite Door ), then that strap is fixed to the block work of the house and then plastered over, used quite often on new builds. You could get some concrete fixing screws and drill the frame and fix it to the building that way. Biggest issue is I suspect the wall will be cavity , and you'll need to fix at an angle

 

[accelerator]

There are normally pre-drilled holes in the frame. You should fasten at these points, using screws going into expansion anchors in the brick wall.

 

[ronniecabers]

There are normally pre-drilled holes in the frame. You should fasten at these points, using screws going into expansion anchors in the brick wall.

Never come across one with pre drilled holes yet! And beware with expansion anchors if close to edge of block work as you can destroy the block

 

[accelerator]

OK, he'll have to decide where he wants to fix it.

Concrete screws are the alternative to expansion anchors.

Once he's fixed it, he can redo the sealant around the frame.

 

[JohnD]

After bolting it in place, with wedges to prevent the screws bending it, he can inject expanding foam behind the frame to hold it in place.

Clingfilm and masking tape on the exposed surfaces will protect them from unsightly foam,

I find it an advantage to inject in short sections, starting at the bottom, so the whole lot doesn't bulge out at once.

 

[foxhole]

I inherited a loose frame , couple of concrete screws into cill and a self tappers into the head steel and now secure .
Would use concrete screw as there is no expansion .

 

[DodgySailor]

Thanks for all the advice, how to I get into the screws to reattach the frame?

 

[JohnD]

It's possible that there are screw heads hidden under that rubber draught strip

But this is only a guess.

If you want to drill some, that could be a good place.

If the sealant is loose, you could push a thin blade between the wall and the frame and feel.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

If it's fixed with cleats, as Ronnie suggested, you may find there is a cavity behind the frame (or very little brickwork) so nothing to fix into there and if so probably the reason they used cleats instead.

 

[ronniecabers]

If it's fixed with cleats, as Ronnie suggested, you may find there is a cavity behind the frame (or very little brickwork) so nothing to fix into there and if so probably the reason they used cleats instead.

Hopefully OP can still angle the screws. Use 7.5mm concrete screws with a t30 torx head, drill a 6mm pilot hole in the frame and masonry ( can't stress enough you very well may need to angle the screws.) Use 120mm or 150mm, at the angle they should reach a wall

 

[DodgySailor]

Thanks for the tips!, I will try my best to fix it.