5 Tools That Everyone Working Involved In Boarding Up A Door Industry Should Be Utilizing
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
A door can be boarded up as one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent all damages but it can assist to avoid certain problems that come with severe storms.
The boarding up of windows and doors will also discourage trespassers and vandals. Installing plywood panels over openings can be time-consuming and expensive.
Measure the Door
You'll require a tape measure. It is a good idea to keep a ladder or chair nearby in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses when you use these tools.
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 any extra door parts like the door sweep, from this measurement. Next, measure the height by measuring from the floor to the current sill plate or lintel. It is important to measure in multiple locations, especially when measuring doors that are older as they might not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements vary, use the largest figure.
You'll need to determine the size of the frame after having measured the length and width. Ideally it should be 2 inches wider than the door and 1 inch thicker than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow enough space to shim the door and frame to fit.
It's a good idea to remove the trim or casing around the jambs of the door in order to observe the studs. This will allow you to measure the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge.
After you've removed the trim, you'll be able to measure the dimensions of the frame of the door by running the tape measure across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement as your door's width. You should also measure the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Use the shortest measurement for the width of your door.
If you're having difficulty with these measurements it's best at this point to consult an expert and have them visit your home to measure for you. They'll be able tell you exactly what kind of door and size you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate a new door.
repairmywindowsanddoors can be cut into pieces
A door frame is generally comprised of a set of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and hold the door in position. This means that if you need to restore the door, it is necessary to remove the hinges off the door overnight. Placing plywood into the door opening is a simple method to board doors and stop insects from gaining entry into the home. It is simple to do this without the need to nail or screw the plywood onto the frame of the door.
Plywood is easy to work with, cheap and looks stunning when finished. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary solution to a problem in which you're required to remove the door you have in place to refinish or install the new one. It can also be useful to secure the opening in the room being renovated, such as an unfinished basement, or a construction site.
Begin by measuring the width of your door opening as well as its height. Make notes using an utility blade and a straight edge made of metal such as a drywall or a metal square. Then, you should snap the chalk lines across each of the lines you have marked to mark the areas you want to cut. Finally utilize circular saws to cut the plywood into a size.
It is essential to protect your ears and eyes while cutting plywood. Wear earplugs or protective goggles if possible. It is also important to use a sharp blade with many teeth, that will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's distance from the mark when cutting.
Fastening a pair of short braces at each end is a good way to secure the plywood in place, without putting screws into the studs. Set one brace inside and the other outside of the door. Install a deck screw in each hole and then tighten using an open-end ratchet.
Secure the Plywood
Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the right size and with holes for the door frame's rails and stiles predrilled, it is time to secure the panel to the frame. This is a relatively easy project that doesn't require a lot of carpentry expertise, so long as you follow the right procedures and use the right tools.
Start by setting up a worktable near the doorway. There are two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses and use the marks made during the measurement process as a reference to cut. Use a utility blade and a straight edge of metal to score the lines. This will act as a guide for the saw blade and also prevent splintering of plywood when cutting it.
Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines using a circular saw or table saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After the sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels, and let dry as directed by the manufacturer.
Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a hinge with a T-hinge drill holes on the outside face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Then, you can screw the hinge's outside edge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for each of the remaining hinges, being careful not to overtighten any of them or the hinge could shift.
If you have a single T-hinged outside door it is possible to make the latch easier to close by fishing a wire through the loops on the outside hinges. Fold a piece of connect wires in half and then thread it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, you can twist the wires to fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Install the plywood in the opening of the door according to the measurements you took. Shim the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level to ensure that there's no slop between the header and sill. If it's not quite right you can put another shim in the place where is required and repeat the procedure until you've got the header and sill to be level.
Once the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. Use a screwgun with an attachment for hex heads to prevent removing the screws' heads.
If your house has studs running the length of your doorway, it is possible to drill hanger bolts into each framing member. This is much easier than using a drywall saw to create the hole.
After you have installed the plywood, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the dimensions of your door frame and cut two pieces of framing lumber to form braces that are positioned across the upper and lower ends of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood using a circular saw fitted with a fine-toothed knife. Remove any splinters from the cuts using a Sanding block.
Once you've got the braces set attach each one to the plywood with pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Counter sink all nail heads when you're done. Make sure to seal the braces and the plywood with a high-quality wood sealer such as this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.
If your door is too big You can either put in decorative molding to fill in the gap between your door and jamb, or you can resize your opening. However, in many situations, it's more affordable and easier to simply choose an alternative door. This also eliminates any headaches that you might have faced with the original door, if it was damaged and didn't fit for the opening.