Five Tools That Everyone Is In The Boarding Up A Door Industry Should Be Utilizing
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Boarding up a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against all damage, but it can help to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms.
The boarding up of windows and doors can also deter burglars and vandals. Installing plywood boards over openings could be time-consuming and costly.
Measure the Door
The first thing you'll need is an accurate tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or a chair nearby in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses when you use these tools.
Begin by taking measurements of the length of the door. This can be accomplished by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to take out all other parts of the door, for instance a sweep, before measuring. Next, take the height measurement by measuring up from the floor to the sill plate or lintel. It is crucial to measure in multiple places, particularly when measuring older doors as they may not be the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ, use the largest figure.
After you've logged the width and height measurements and you'll need to determine the size of boarding you need for the frame. It should be at a minimum 2 inches wider and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of room to shim the frame and door to fit.
When you're ready to determine the door frame's size and height measurements It's recommended to remove any trim or casing the door jambs, so you can see the studs behind them. This will help you determine the exact measurement of the space between the studs and the frame.
After you've removed the trim, you can determine the size of the frame of the door by running the tape across the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement as your door's width. It is also important to take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Use the shortest measurement to determine your door's width.
If you're having trouble with these measurements It's a good idea at this point to consult an expert and have them visit your home to do the measuring for you. They'll be able to determine the exact type and size of door you need and the best way to prepare the frame to accommodate a new door.
Plywood can be cut into pieces
A door frame is usually composed of studs or thin boards that create an open space around the door. The typical door is held in place by two hinges that are attached to these studs. If you wish to refinish a door, you will need to remove it from its hinges over night. Placing plywood into the door opening is a simple method to enclose the door and keep insects from getting into your home. It is easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is affordable, simple to work with, and looks great when it is finished. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary fix for situations where you need to remove an existing door in order to finish it or build the new one. It is also useful for securing the opening in an area that is being renovated, like an unfinished basement or a construction site.
To build a wall made of plywood begin by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Mark the measurements on the plywood with the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, you can snap a chalkline across each line to indicate where to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood into the required size.
It is essential to protect your ears and eyes while cutting plywood. If you can, wear a pair of protective goggles and earplugs while working. It is also essential to use a blade with lots of teeth which will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. To minimize the chance of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of the cut blade, use a small piece of wood as an example to guide the blade and keep it at a distance of just a hair's width away from the line while cutting.
Attaching a pair or short braces on each side is a good way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Put one brace inside and the other outside of the door. Place a 1-1/2-inch deck screw in each hole and tighten with an open-end ratchet.
Fix the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the proper size and with the holes for the door frame's rails and stiles predrilled then it's time to secure the panel to the door frame. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills as long as you have the right tools and follow the correct procedure.
Begin by putting up a table near the doorway. There are two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame 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 as a reference to cut. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge of metal to score the lines. This will serve as a guide to 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 or table saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panels with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding the plywood panels apply a wood sealer and let it dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes on the outside edge of your door to allow for the straps portion of the hinges. Then, you can screw the hinge's outside edge to the frame with the screwdriver. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for all of the hinges remaining, but be careful not to overtighten any of them or the hinge could shift.
If you have one outside hinged door you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain lock by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Fold a piece of tie wire in half, and then fish it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then, you can twist the wires together and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Using the measurements you took using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to make sure there's not any slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right then place another shim if necessary and continue the process until the header and sill are even.
Once the plywood is in the frame, fix it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. Use a screwgun with an attachment for a hex head to prevent removing the screws' heads.
If your home has studs running the length of your doorway, you could drill hanger bolts into every framing piece. This is a lot easier than using a drywall cutting tool to make the hole.
After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of your door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber for braces to are positioned across the upper and lower edges of your door. Cut along boarding up services drawn on your plywood with a circular blade fitted with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts with the help of a Sanding block.
Once you've got the braces in place attach each one to the plywood with a pair of 2-inch finishing nails. Counter sink all the nail heads after you've finished. Make sure to seal the braces and the plywood with a quality wood sealer such as this wipe on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is too large it is possible to add decorative molding to fill in the gap between your jamb and door, or you can alter the size of your opening. However, in most cases, it's cheaper and simpler to just find a new door. This also eliminates any headaches you might have had with the original door, if it was damaged and didn't suitable for the opening.