What Freud Can Teach Us About Boarding Up A Door

How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

The act of boarding up a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. While it may not prevent all damage, it can avoid some of the problems that come with severe storms.

Boarding up windows and doors can deter trespassers, vandals, and squatters. Installing plywood boards over openings could be time-consuming and costly.

Take a measurement of the door

You'll first need a tape measure. You may also want to have a ladder or chair handy in case you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. If you have to use these tools, be 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. Be sure to take out all extra parts of the door, like a sweep, when measuring. Then, determine the height by measuring from the floor to the existing sill or lintel. It is important to take measurements in multiple locations, especially when measuring doors older than they might not be the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ take the largest number.

You'll need to determine the size of the frame once you've determined the height and width. It should be at a minimum 2 inches larger and 1 inch taller 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 best to take out any trim or casing around the door jambs so you can see the studs behind them. This will help you to determine the exact size of the gap between the studs and the edge of the frame.

After you've removed your trim, you can then determine the dimensions of the frame of the door by running the tape across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine the width of your door. Also, you should measure the height of the frame from top to the bottom on both sides, and use the shortest measurement to determine the height of your door.

If you're having difficulty with the measurements, consult a professional to come to your house and conduct the measurements. They'll inform you of the size and style of door you require and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door.

Cut the Plywood

A door frame is usually composed of studs or boards that create an open space around the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs and keep the door in position. If you wish to restore the door, you'll have to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a straightforward method for boarding doors is to place plywood inside the opening. It's easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.

Plywood is a breeze to work with, cheap and looks beautiful once completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary solution for situations where you need to remove the door you have in place to refinish it or put in the new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room that is being renovated, like a basement or construction site.

Begin by measuring the width of the door opening as well as its height. Note the measurements using an utility blade and a straight edge made of metal like a drywall or a metal square. Then, draw a chalk line across the lines marked to mark the areas you want to cut. Then utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood into a size.

When cutting the plywood it is essential to protect your eyes and ears. If possible, wear a pair of safety goggles and earplugs when working. It is also important to use a sharp blade with a lot of teeth, which will allow you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To reduce the chances of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of your cut blade, use a small piece of wood as a template to guide the blade, and hold it just a hair's width away from the line while cutting.

A good way to keep the plywood in place without gluing it to the studs is by fixing a pair of short braces at each end. Set one brace on the inside and the other outside of the door. Then, position the deck screws into each of the holes and tighten them with an open-end wrench.

Fix the Plywood

When you have a piece of plywood cut to the appropriate size and with holes for rails and stiles already drilled 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 procedures.

Set up a table in the doorway, with two sawhorses at each end and framing lumber 2x4s. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge of metal to cut the lines. This will create a guideline for the saw blade and help to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood.

Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines with a circular saw or table saw 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 the plywood apply a wood sealer and let it dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If you are using a T hinge, you need to drill holes through the exterior of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Then, place the outside hinge on its mark and attach it into the frame using a screw gun. Repeat the procedure for every hinge on the inside of your door. Be  boarding up windows service Repair My Windows And Doors  not to overtighten them, or the door may shift.

If you have only a single hinged outside door, you can make it easier to close by fishing a wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Fold a small piece of connect wires in half and then put it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, you can twist the wires together and fix the door.

Install the Plywood

Based on the measurements you have taken, place the plywood in the door opening. Shim the frame's header (top) and the sill. Utilize 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 place where is required and repeat the process until you have the header and sill to be plumb.

Once the plywood is in the frame, fix it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. It's a good idea utilize a screw gun that has an attachment for a hex-head to prevent stripping the head of the screws.

If your house has studs running the length of your doorway, it is possible to drill hanger bolts into each of the framing members. This is much simpler than using a drywall cutter to create the hole.

After you have installed the plywood, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim your bottom of the plywood to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 to form braces for the upper and lower ends. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood using a circular saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Splinters can be removed from cuts using a sanding tool.

Once you have the braces set Attach each brace to the plywood with pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Counter sink all nail heads once you're done. Seal the braces and the plywood with a high-quality wood sealer, like 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 door and jamb, or you can reduce the size of your opening. However, in many situations, it's more affordable and simpler to just get an alternative door. It also solves any issues that you might have experienced with the door you originally purchased, if it was damaged or not suitable for the opening.