Door jamb install

I have a steel front door that I need to replace the wood jamb, brickmold, threshold because it is rotting out at the bottom after years of abuse.

Looking at the lumber yard I see that I have a few options.
I can replace it with another wood jamb/brickmold that would be no problem to install.
Or I can replace it with a composite jamb/brickmold that is made out of PVC.

Does anyone have any experience installing this composite material.
Being PVC I assume you will have to pre drill all nail holes.
My biggest sticking point is mortising the hinges in.
Do not see the old school hammer and chisel doing this job on PVC.
Assume you would need to router the hinges in so that means you also need the aligning jig.
 
The PVC material won't hold screws very long. It will work but you need to put solid sheming between the jamb and the framing at the hinge points and use screws long enough to go into the framing. If you have the tools another option would be to make a door jamb out of pressure treated wood. I use pressure treated wood on everything exposed to the elements. I even fabricate brick mold out of treated wood also.
 
Thanks
I will just stick with the all wood then.

Having the tools to build my own jamb is not the problem.
Having the time and mostly the get up and go is.
If not for the difference in price I would buy a whole new pre hung door just because the install is easier.
 
John,
I've had steed door rust from the inside out. Wood jams seem to rot off at threshold.

Menards sells a fiberglass door and jams. Not sure if they are wood covered with fiberglass, however I've had the best results using those. I think they have an aluminum thresholds too.

Many places list fiberglass doors. Check them out. Fiberglass is the only door I'll buy.

When I remolded my house in 1991 I installed my first fiberglass door. I haven't had a problem with it. It was heavy and if I remember it was better insulated than metal.

Some fiberglass doors use wood jams. Try to find one with fiberglass jams.
geo.
fiberglass door
 
Most new construction uses pre-hung doors. They might cost more, but they make up for it in labor savings.
 
John I have been switching the exterior trim on our place a little at a time with composite trim. I have found it easy to work with. Pre drill nail holes and I have used stainless nails. One important thing I found out was there is two different grades of composite trim. One has a softer core you can easily push your fingernail into. The other is much denser and is the one you want if you go this route. I have not tried fiberglass. Most wood brick moulding I have seen is garbage.
 
The bottom of the jamb is what is at risk. If you are painting you could take a factory made whitewood jamb and paint the bottom foot with fiberglass resin including the bottom and that should extend the life of the jamb another 20 years.
 
We have the same problem with the door going into our garage, the door is fine, but the jamb is rotten at the bottom, and it's less than 10 years old. I was thinking of making a new jamb out of a treated 2x8, but now I guess I will look at the pvc one. I have made exterior jambs, it's not that tough, I have the tools to do it.
 
I replaced Stanley pre-hung steel door rust thru and rot, the second Stanley rust thru also. The last time I replaced with this brand complete pre-hung, might be able to get just the jamb?
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I installed a pvc jam on my workers house about 2 years ago. The door faces north and did not get enough direct sun to dry out good. So it rotted in less than 5 years, even with very good paint.
I ordered the jamb from where I bought the door when I built the house. The hinge mortises were already cut. Works great, no maintenance but was pricey.
 
They also make a jamb that is wood with about 8" of composite material finger jointed into the bottom. the part where the hinges go is wood. Like was said down below though you need to have some of the screws long enough to go into the framing. We have an order of about 120 doors that the architect has specified composite jambs. We will be building them in a couple of weeks I will have a more definate opinion after they are done. They say they are not bad to machine with standard door machines but I don't know about doing it by hand.

Steven
 
I agree SS.
By the time you mortise in the hinges and locks you'll have Way less time (and therefore money) in just replacing the whole door and frame with a new prehung.
 
I made jambs for my shop door out of treated 2 X 8's. Been about ten years, and so far so good.
 
Just replaced the wood trim & frame door setup on our well house. Used the PVC kit from Lowes. Took the door off, cut out all the old mostly rotted wood. Stuck the new prehung kit in, mortised openings for the hinges were right on the money, screwed the hinges on, hung the door, installed the locks, holes right on also, and done.
 

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