How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Protecting vacant investment properties against the elements is possible by board up a door. While it won't stop all damage, it can avoid certain problems that come with severe storms.
Boarding up windows and doors can also deter trespassers and vandals as well as squatters. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings of a property.
Take a measurement of the door
You'll first need a tape measure. You might also want to keep a ladder or chair handy in case you have to see more clearly at the top of the frame. If you have to use these tools, make sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any other parts of the door, like the sweep, when measuring. Next, take the height measurement by measuring up from the floor to the existing sill plate or lintel. It is important to measure in multiple locations especially for older doors, as they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements differ take the largest number.
After you've logged the measurements of height and width and you'll need to determine what size 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 space to shim the frame and door into place.
When you're ready to measure the door frame's width and height measurements, it's a good idea to remove any trim or casing from around the door jambs so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you determine the exact measurement of the gap between studs and the edges of the frame.
Once you've removed the trim, you can determine the size of the frame of your door by running the tape over the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. Also, you should take a measurement of the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides and then use the shortest measurement as your door's height.
If you're having difficulty with the measurements, get a professional to your home and take the measurement. They'll inform you of the dimensions and what kind of door you require and how to prepare your frame to accommodate a replacement door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is typically made of a series of studs or thin boards that create a hollow space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges connected to the studs. This means that if you want to restore the door, it's essential to take the hinges off the door for a night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a quick and easy method of boarding a door involves placing plywood inside the opening. This is a simple process without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks stunning when finished. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary solution for situations where you're required to remove an existing door to refinish it or put in an entirely new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room being transformed, such as a basement or construction site.
To install boarding up doors eastbourne , start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Draw the dimensions on the plywood using a utility knife and a drywall square or another straight edge of metal. Then, snap the chalkline along each line to indicate where you want to cut. Then utilize a circular saw to cut out the plywood to size.
It is essential to protect both your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. If possible wear safety goggles and earplugs when working. It is also essential to use a blade with a lot of teeth, which will permit you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's width away from the marked line when cutting.
Fastening a pair of short braces at each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place, without putting screws into the studs. Place one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, position two 1-1/2-inch deck screws into each of the holes and tighten them using an open-end wrench.
Fix the Plywood
Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the proper size and with the holes for the door frame's rails and stiles predrilled and ready to fasten the panel to the door frame. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require a lot of advanced carpentry skills, as long as you use the correct tools and follow the proper procedure.
Set up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses on each end, as well as framing 2x4s. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat on top of the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process to guide you to cut. Cut the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will serve as a guide to the saw blade and prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it.
Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After the sanding process, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels, and let dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If you're using a T-hinge drill holes in the outer face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Then, attach the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, being careful not to overtighten any of them or the panel may shift.
If you have an outside hinged door with only one T you can make it easier to lock and close using a chain latch by putting a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half, and fish it through each of the two holes on the exterior of the door. You can then twist the wires together to pull them tight and secure the door.
Install the Plywood
Place the plywood in the opening of the door according to the measurements you made. Move the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Use a level to be sure there's not any slop in the header or sill. If it's not perfect you can place a second shim wherever it is needed and continue the process until the sill and header are even.
Once the plywood is in place, fix it using the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingnuts. It's a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has an hex-head attachment so that you avoid stripping the head of the screws.
While you're there, if your house was built with studs that run the height of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is much simpler than using a drywall saw to create the hole.
After putting the plywood in place take measurements of the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the size of the door frame and cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber to form braces that attach across the upper and lower edges of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood using a circular saw equipped with a fine-toothed blade. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding tool.
Once you have the braces in place attach each one to the plywood using a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Once you're done counter-sink the heads of all nails. Cover the braces with a good wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.
If the door is too big You can either put in decorative molding to fill the space between your door and jamb or you can alter the size of your opening. In many situations, it's more affordable and more convenient to find the right door. This will also take away any issues you may have experienced with the door you originally purchased if it was damaged and no suitable for the opening.