Internal door frames crack

Snowy2018

Visited a friend, partially blind  - thought get that out the way first before questions why left etc

Noticed this in their internal wooden door frame, any ideas?

Some parts are soft when touched.

grumpy_codger

A bigger picture would be more informative. This doesn't look like solid to me - be it wood or some other material.

cymruchris

From those photos it seems like the wood has suffered termites of some description. You could push some of the soft areas in to break the paint and see what is (or isn't) inside. If it's a small area, they can be treated, then the wood filled and sanded, but if all around the frame it'll likely need replacement. 

Lorian

Possibly wet rot caused by a leak

WIAWSNB

It certainly looks like extensive rot, or it has been 'eaten' - again, extensively.
Snowy, is this just on one frame? And where exactly is it located in the house?

stuart45

First step is find the source of the moisture. If it's termites get yourself a pet skunk, as they love eating them.

FreeBear

stuart45 said:

If it's termites get yourself a pet skunk, as they love eating them.

Extremely unlikely to be termites if this property is in the UK. The British climate is (generally) too cold and damp.

That said, there had been an infestation in Devon that has been successfully eradicated after nearly 30 years of effort - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/21/a-world-first-devon-calls-victory-in-27-year-war-on-termites

bjorn_toby_wilde

FreeBear said:

stuart45 said:

If it's termites get yourself a pet skunk, as they love eating them.

Extremely unlikely to be termites if this property is in the UK. The British climate is (generally) too cold and damp.

That said, there had been an infestation in Devon that has been successfully eradicated after nearly 30 years of effort - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/21/a-world-first-devon-calls-victory-in-27-year-war-on-termites

Damn!

I was looking forward to a future post along the lines of “how do I get rid of this skunk that’s stinking the place out?”

Although I’m surprised @stuart45 suggested a skunk. The first google match I got was aardvark 

stuart45

Aardvarks are nocturnal, so it's really hard to get them up for work in the morning.

FreeBear

stuart45 said:

Aardvarks are nocturnal, so it's really hard to get them up for work in the morning.

Skunks are nocturnal too.... Also illegal to remove their scent glands under UK law, so you'd need to put up with a slight pong.

Snowy2018

Only this part of the door frame, not above or otherside


Some more photos