Run door is falling apart

[Hopeful homesteader]

I've attached a picture of the door to show what I'm working with here. In the corners there are metal brackets to help reinforce it on both sides, I need to get larger ones but that's all I had on hand, but the corners are coming apart and the door is starting to sag. I'm looking for ideas to reinforce it by adding support beams through the middle of the door, I'm not sure if one through the middle with small triangle blocks in each corner, a large X, or a large cross? The door is 6ft×3ft. Can you guys give me some idea's for the best way to reinforce this door and make it last?

 

[cavemanrich]

Easiest way to reinforce the door, as well as low cost; Get 4 triangles cut from plywood. and screw them on the inside of door corners. I drew in blue pen to show placement. If you did not want the triangles showing in the corners,,,,, you can make L shaped corner brackets from plywood. The width of the door frames, and about 12 inches long on each leg of the L
Use screws to attach to door frames. Screws are much better at holding than using nails. I use deck screws or drywall screws in most of my projects. Another added feature using screws,,,,, easy to undo and reset,,,, without breakage.. (if using nails, and need to reset)

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[21hens-incharge]

Not sure how well you can see the construction here but I used the triangle pieces on my runs. So far so good.(10 years and counting)
My added security is pieces of 1x2 & 1x3 that hold the mesh on.

 

[3KillerBs]

You need diagonal bracing.

Do a search for "how to fix a sagging screen door" and you'll find several options -- the simplest being to install a turnbuckle.

Note: The chicken wire you have on the run and the door is good to hold chickens, but dogs, raccoons, and other strong predators can go right through it. 1/2" hardware cloth is much more predator proof.

 

[avjudge]

You need diagonal bracing.

Do a search for "how to fix a sagging screen door" and you'll find several options -- the simplest being to install a turnbuckle.

Wire+turnbuckle was my first thought (and I’ve done this to items that needed stiffening) but for a structure as lightly constructed as this door the plywood corners would probably do the trick.

OP, for a door you don’t need a full X; you just need a single diagonal. It can be wood in compression, or wire in tension. But if I try to explain I’ll probably just confuse, whereas pictures should make it clear. I second @3KillerBs’ recommendation to hit Google.

 

[Sueby]

We use a turnbuckle.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wire+turnbuckle was my first thought (and I’ve done this to items that needed stiffening) but for a structure as lightly constructed as this door the plywood corners would probably do the trick.

Those look like 2x4's, I usually use 1x3's. That frame may be heavier than I'm used to. Those brackets are pretty small, may be weaker than it looks with the 2x4's. The four triangular pieces in the corners the way Caveman drew them should work, but I'd probably want about 12" on each leg and at least three screws in each side.

OP, for a door you don’t need a full X; you just need a single diagonal. It can be wood in compression, or wire in tension. But if I try to explain I’ll probably just confuse, whereas pictures should make it clear.

Yeah, pictures are really nice but I'll risk it. I'd go for the tension I just think it works better. You can do that with or wood but a turnbuckle lets you adjust it later if you need to. Go from the top corner on the hinge side to the bottom corner in the latch side.

I second @3KillerBs’ recommendation to hit Google.

I agree, a good suggestion. You could probably find a U-tube video that would really help.

In the corners there are metal brackets to help reinforce it on both sides,

Putting them on both sides was a good idea but even with larger brackets it would still sag.

I'm not sure if one through the middle with small triangle blocks in each corner, a large X, or a large cross? The door is 6ft×3ft.

A square or rectangle is not a good shape against sagging. What you need is a triangle. The cross won't help you enough, the other two ideas should.

 

[jher77]

Diagonal bracing is what I would use. Triangles in the corners would probably work too.

 

[Mouthpear]

I've attached a picture of the door to show what I'm working with here. In the corners there are metal brackets to help reinforce it on both sides, I need to get larger ones but that's all I had on hand, but the corners are coming apart and the door is starting to sag. I'm looking for ideas to reinforce it by adding support beams through the middle of the door, I'm not sure if one through the middle with small triangle blocks in each corner, a large X, or a large cross? The door is 6ft×3ft. Can you guys give me some idea's for the best way to reinforce this door and make it last?View attachment 2998165

Don't bother with turnbuckles. The door does not look as if can handle the forces pulling on the joints. Even done right, with two of them, you could end up making it worse.

As mentioned before, use gussets (the triangle pieces), at the four corners.

I would add a center horizontal board but make it the same width of the door and make a Tee half-lap joint. You may also want to replace the two horizontal boards as well. The web site shows how to do it with a special blade can a dado. You don't really need it. Just look up videos on YouTube on how to do it. Out door Glue and Screw. You can even make the door just a bit narrower by reusing those same boards. This will make the door MUCH stronger. Doing this and adding the gussets, the door should last a lifetime.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

Don't bother with turnbuckles. The door does not look as if can handle the forces pulling on the joints. Even done right, with two of them, you could end up making it worse.

As mentioned before, use gussets (the triangle pieces), at the four corners.

I would add a center horizontal board but make it the same width of the door and make a Tee half-lap joint. You may also want to replace the two horizontal boards as well. The web site shows how to do it with a special blade can a dado. You don't really need it. Just look up videos on YouTube on how to do it. Out door Glue and Screw. You can even make the door just a bit narrower by reusing those same boards. This will make the door MUCH stronger. Doing this and adding the gussets, the door should last a lifetime.

View attachment 3028601

I found and image of this and it's what we plan to make for a replacement door. For now we put blocks in the corners, the 2×4 across the too of the door just split right down the middle length wise and the board near the hinge is starting to do the same so we can't salvage it and just did a temporary patch up.