How to Fix a Rotting Door Sill

Door sills are generally made of wood and provide the "bridge" between the outside of a residential dwelling and the inside. Because this particular piece of entryway trim supports so much foot traffic and is exposed to the weather, it eventually begins to rot. This not only creates gaps under the door, allowing hot and cold air to pass through, it also becomes a tripping hazard. To fix a rotting door sill, you will need several tools.

Brick or doorstop
Knee pads
Eye protection
Circular saw
Pry bar
Nail puller
Shop vac
Tape measure
Replacement sill
Shims
Hammer
Stainless steel screws
Screw gun

Instructions

- 1
  Prop the door open with a brick or doorstop.
- 2
  Put on knee pads and eye protection.
- 3
  Make a cut from the front of the old sill toward the doorway, but stop at the frame.
- 4
  Insert a pry bar under the cut in the old sill and pry upward and out. The rotting sill will likely break into two or more pieces. Remove the pieces with your hands and the pry bar.
- 5
  Remove any nails that remain in the space using a nail puller. Vacuum out the empty space with a shop vac.
- 6
  Measure the area where the old sill was installed with a tape measure. Measure and cut a replacement sill with a circular saw.
- 7
  Fit the new sill into the space. If it has gaps underneath, lift the sill and place shims under it to make it flush with the entryway.
- 8
  Push the sill back into place, then tap it into place with a hammer. Fasten the sill with stainless steel screws and a screw gun.

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