Q: My front door frame is rotted and is leaking water into the house. Do I have to replace the whole door? or can the frame be replaced?

Thanks Doreen

A:  I believe it is possible to replace only the frame for your door.  However a couple of things should be considered before pursuing that, for instance the type of door you have.  If its something that could be purchased at a big box store I believe it would just be more cost effective to purchase a whole new pre-hung door and install that then to hire a contractor to take your existing door out and build a frame to fit the door.  However, If your door has some sort of architectural features that could not be replaced or is a door of exceptional quality then I would recommend that you hire someone to build you a new frame. I would also recommend using a wood that will stand up to the elements and has excellent strength characteristics such as Mahogany, White Oak, or Merbau.

Most importantly though I would look into the water problem and try seeing if there is a way to keep the water away from the front door.

Good Luck!