Three Reasons Why The Reasons For Your Boarding Up A Door Is Broken (And How To Repair It)
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is possible by board up a door. While it won't stop all damage, it can avoid certain problems caused by severe storms.
The boarding of doors and windows will also discourage trespassers and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to set up plywood boards over the openings in a home.
Take a measurement of the door
First, you'll require a tape measurement. You might also want to keep an extra chair or ladder for when you need to get a better look at the top of the frame. If you need to use these tools, make sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door width measurement. This can be accomplished by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to eliminate any other door components, such as the door sweep, from the measurement. Then, you can take the height measurement by measuring from the floor to the current sill plate or lintel. It is crucial to measure in multiple locations, particularly when measuring doors older than they may not have a perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements vary then use the largest figure.
After you've recorded the width and height measurements then you'll have to determine the size of boarding you need for the frame. It should be at least 2 inches larger and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow you enough room to shim the door and frame into place.
It's a good idea to remove the trim or casing around the jambs of the door to see the studs. This will allow you determine the exact dimensions of the gap between studs and the edges of the frame.
After you've removed your trim, you can measure the dimensions of the door frame by running the tape across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. It is also important to measure the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door.
If you're having issues with the measurements, get a professional to your home and take the measurements. They'll be able give you the exact kind of door and size you need and how 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 a hollow space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges that are fixed to the studs. If you want to finish doors, you'll have to remove it from its hinges over night. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door opening, a straightforward method for boarding the door is to put plywood in the opening. It is simple to do without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the door frame.
Plywood is a breeze to work with, cheap and looks stunning when completed. It is the ideal material to make a temporary solution to a problem in which you have to take down the door you have in place to finish it or build the new one. It is also useful to secure the opening of an area that is being renovated, such as an unfinished basement or construction site.
Begin by measuring the width of your door opening as well as its height. Mark the measurements on the plywood using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or another straight edge of metal. Then, you should snap a chalk line across the lines you have marked to mark the areas you want to cut. Finally you can use circular saws to cut the plywood to size.
It is important to shield your ears and eyes when cutting plywood. If possible, wear a pair of safety goggles and earplugs when working. Additionally, it is essential to choose a blade with a lot of teeth that can cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's width away from the mark when cutting.
A great way to hold the plywood in place without fixing it to the studs is to attach a pair of short braces at each end. Set one brace on the side of the door, and the one on the outside. 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
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the proper size and with holes for the door frame's stiles and rails predrilled and ready to attach the panel to the door frame. This is a simple task that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the right tools and follow the right steps.
Set up a table in the doorway, with two sawhorses at each end, as well as framing 2x4s. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement process to guide you when cutting the plywood. Score the lines with the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. shoreham-by-sea boarding up windows will create a guide for the saw blade and help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the line of scoring. Then sand the edges the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth out the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding the plywood panels apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, you need to drill holes through the outer face of the door for the strap parts of the hinges. Next, position the hinge's outside face on its spot and attach it into the frame using the help of a screw gun. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for all of the hinges remaining, being careful not to overtighten any of them, or the hinge could shift.
If you're using a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain latch by putting a piece wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half and place it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires to pull them tight and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Place the plywood into the opening of the door using the measurements that you made. Move the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Use a level to make sure there's no slop in the header or sill. If it's not perfect then put a second shim in the area needed and continue this process until you get the sill and the header to be level.
When the plywood is in the frame, fix it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. Use a screwgun equipped with an attachment for hex heads to avoid stripping off the heads of the screws.
If your home has studs running the length of your doorway, it is possible to drill hanger bolts into each framing member. This is a far easier job than making the hole using the drill or drywall saw.
After putting the plywood in place, determine the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the height of your door frame and cut two pieces of framing lumber to form braces that connect to the upper and lower edges of your door. Cut along the lines that are marked on your plywood with a circular blade fitted with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding device.
After you have the braces in place, nail each one to the plywood with a pair of 2-inch finishing nails. Counter sink all the nail heads when you're done. Cover the braces using a high-quality wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.
If the door is still too big for the doorway, you can put in a piece of decorative molding to fill in the space between the door and jamb or you can reduce the size of the opening. However, in most situations, it's more affordable and easier to simply choose the right door. It also eliminates any issues that you might have experienced with the door you originally purchased in the event that it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.