How to Move the Stops on a Door Frame

Open the door. If the doorjambs are painted, cut through the paint along the edges of the doorstops, using a utility knife; this prevents the paint from peeling when you remove the stops. Insert the tip of a chisel between the doorstop and doorjamb on the square or interior side of the doorstop. Pry the doorstop up slightly to loosen the nails holding it to the jamb. Repeat for all three pieces.

Push the tip of the chisel all the way under the doorstop. Pry the doorstop off of the jamb using the chisel. If it resists, pull it the remainder of the way off with your hands. Remove the nails using diagonal pliers.

Shut the door, making sure that the latch bolt on the door's edge enters the strike plate on the side jamb, so the door is fully latched closed.

Place the top, horizontal doorstop on first. Place the doorstop on the doorjamb with the flat side of the doorstop tight against the door on the exterior side. Hold it there with one hand, but don't push it enough to move or tilt the door. Shoot four 1 1/4-inch pin nails evenly spaced through the center of the doorstop.

Place the hinge-side, vertical piece on next. Match the mitered corner on the vertical piece with the mitered corner on the horizontal piece. Push the doorstop tight against the door near the top. Shoot one pin nail 3 inches from the top. Hold the doorstop tight against the door near the center of the doorstop. Push it tight against the door, but don't tilt the door inward. Shoot one pin nail at the center of the stop. Hold the doorstop tight against the door near the bottom. It may need to bend slightly to fit the door, that's OK. Shoot another pin nail 3 inches from the bottom.

Place the third piece of doorstop on the latch side of the door. Repeat Step 5 to install the stop.

Shoot additional pin nails into the side stops, spacing them 12 inches apart. You may also need to bend the doorstop slightly so it fits tight against the door; that's OK.

Fill the nail holes with caulk to match painted doorstops. Fill the holes with a color-matched putty crayon to fill stained doorstops. There will also likely be a small strip of unpainted or unstained wood on the doorjamb where you moved the doorstop. Paint it to match with a small paintbrush or use a stain marker to color it.