7 Things About Boarding Up A Door You'll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is attainable by boarding up a door. While it may not be able to prevent all damage, it can avoid some of the issues that come with severe storms.
The idea of boarding up doors and windows can also deter burglars and vandals as well as squatters. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings in a home.
Measure the Door
The first thing you'll require is tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or a chair close by in case you require an improved view of the top of the frame. If you need to make use of these tools, be sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Start by measuring the length of the door. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove all additional parts of the door, such as a sweep, before measuring. Then, determine the height by measuring from the floor to the existing sill or the lintel. It is important to measure multiple places particularly with older doors, since they may not be a perfect rectangle. If the measurements differ then use the largest number.
After you've recorded the width and height measurements, you'll need to determine the size of boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. It should be at least 2 inches wider and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of space to put the door and frame to fit.
When you're ready to measure the door frame's width and height measurements, it's best to take out any trim or casing the door jambs, so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will enable you to take measurements of the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge.
Once you've removed the trim, you can then determine the width of the door frame by running the tape measure across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. Also, you should take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement for your door's width.
If you're having issues with the measurements, get a professional to your home and do the measurement. They'll be able to tell you exactly what kind of door and size you require and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the new door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is typically comprised of a set of thin boards or studs that create a hollow space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges that are attached to these studs. This means that if you want to restore the door, it's essential to take the door from its hinges over the course of a few days. Placing plywood into the door's opening is a great method to enclose doors and stop insects from entering the home. This is a simple process without having to nail or screw the plywood to the door frame.
Plywood is a breeze to work with, inexpensive and looks stunning when completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary fix for situations where you're required to remove the door you have in place to refinish or install a new one. It is also useful to secure the opening of the room being renovated, such as an unfinished basement or a construction site.
For a wall constructed of plywood, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Draw the dimensions on the plywood with a utility knife and a drywall square or other straight edge made of metal. Then, you should snap a chalk line across each of the lines marked to indicate where you need to cut. Finally utilize circular saws to cut the plywood to the desired size.
It is crucial to protect your ears and eyes while cutting plywood. Wear earplugs or goggles that are protective whenever possible. It is also essential to use a blade with lots of teeth which will permit you to cut quickly and without any tear-out. To minimize the chance of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of the cut, use a small block of wood as template to guide the blade and hold it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting.
A good way to keep the plywood in place without screwing it to the studs is by fixing braces that are short at each end. Place one brace on the side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Then, place a pair of 1-1/2-inch deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them with an open-end wrench.
Fasten the Plywood
It's time to attach the frame to the panel after you have the plywood sheet cut to the proper size and the holes to attach rails and stiles of the door frame predrilled. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the right tools and follow the correct steps.
Begin by setting up a workstation near the doorway, with two sawhorses as well as 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat on top the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process to guide you to cut. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge made of metal to score the lines. boarding up doors southampton will provide a guideline for the saw blade and help prevent splintering when you cut the plywood.
Put on eye protection and cut along the lines of scoring with a circular saw or table saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and remove any burrs. After sanding apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes in the outer face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Then, you can screw the hinge on the outside to the frame using the screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for the hinges remaining, being careful not to overtighten one of them or the hinge could shift.
If you have a single hinged T on your outside door it is possible to make the latch easier to close by placing a wire through the loops of the exterior hinges. Bend a short piece of tie wire in half, and put it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires to pull them tightly and secure the door.
Install the Plywood
Place the plywood in the door's opening using the measurements that you have taken. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to make sure that there is no slop between the header and sill. If it's not quite right, put another shim in the area is required and repeat the process until you get the sill and the header to be in a straight line.
Once the plywood is in the frame, fasten it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. It's a good idea make use of a screw gun with an hex-head attachment so that you keep the head from being stripped of the screws.
While you're at it, should your home be constructed with studs that extend through the doorway's height you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a lot easier than using a drywall saw to make the hole.
After installing the plywood take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom plywood to match the height your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 to serve as braces for the lower and upper ends. Cut along the lines drawn on your plywood with a circular blade fitted with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Remove any splinters from the cuts with a the sanding block.
After you've put in the braces after you have positioned them, use two pairs of 2-inch finishing nail to attach each brace to the plywood. Once you're done, counter sink the heads of all the nails. Make sure to seal the braces and the plywood with a high-quality wood sealer, like this wipe on polyurethane from Minwax.
If your door is too big You can either put in decorative molding to fill in the space between your door and jamb or you can resize your opening. In most cases, however it's cheaper and easier to simply buy the door. It also solves any issues you may have had with your original door even if it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.