DIY: How to Fix Prevent Doorknob Holes in Walls

When you rent a house in GPS Renting, you may encounter some common maintenance problems, such as Jammed Garbage Disposal, Loose Toilet Seat, or misaligned door. These problems usually only need to be solved within one hour. So GPS Renting launched a DIY series of articles. In our DIY series, we will teach you how to fix some common household problems to reduce repair costs.

Learn how to fix doorknob holes … and stop cringing every time a door swings.

Does someone in your house — perhaps a young someone — tend to throw open doors with reckless abandon? Or maybe the door just bangs against the wall because you don’t have a good doorstop in place.

More than likely, this has caused a hole in your wall from the doorknob hitting it.

If this is the case, no worries! It’s something you can easily take care of yourself.

All you need to do is repair the hole, strengthening the wall at the contact point, and then make sure that you get a solid, effective door stop installed.

Fixing the hole in the wall

Let’s first talk about getting that hole repaired.

The quick fix

There is a very simple method to temporarily shore up the hole. If you don’t have time to fix the wall properly, by all means, go ahead and do the quick fix. But recognize that it’s only a temporary solution, and you will ultimately have to repair the wall.

What you need for the quick fix is a circular piece of plastic called a “doorknob wall shield.” It has a self-adhesive, so you just press it on to the wall over the hole. You can pick one up at a home improvement store for about $5, and presto! This is a good temporary fix that will protect the wall from further damage from the doorknob.

The permanent fix

The permanent repair is made in the same way that you would repair a large hole in drywall, which is by using a drywall patch and installing wood backing behind the patch. It takes a bit more effort, but the repair will be very sturdy, secure, and long-lasting. And the job can easily be done by a beginner DIY-er.

Choosing a solid doorstop

Now that the hole in the wall is repaired, you can think about installing (or replacing) a doorstop, which will provide true protection for the wall from the doorknob. Doorstops are generally inexpensive and fairly simple to install.

There are three basic types of door stops:

• Baseboard. This is the type you will see most often in homes. They are shaped like a peg, and have a rubber tip at the end. They are always installed on the baseboard, rather than the door.
• Hinge pin. As their name implies, hinge pin door stops are attached to the door hinge. They restrict the door from opening wide enough to hit the wall. They work best on lightweight doors.
• Floor-mounted. Installed on the floor, this type is generally used to protect furniture and other items that may be in the door’s path, rather than the wall itself. Some floor-mounted door stops also contain magnets to hold the door open.

Now that you have the hole repaired and the new door stop in place, you won’t have to worry about the doorknob causing holes for a long time. And you can let the kids open the door with gusto — worry-free.

GPS Renting is a Seattle property management company. We provide full property management services for homeowners and investors. GPS Renting brings cutting edge mobile technology, professional and extensive real estate experience, and dedicated services to help our landlord have a smooth and worry-free property management experience in Seattle Area.