How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is feasible by putting up a door with a board. It's not a guarantee against all damage, but it can help to avoid some of the issues that are associated with severe storms.
The boarding of doors and windows can also deter burglars and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings on a house.
Take a measurement of the door
You'll first need a tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or a chair close by in case you require a better view of the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses if you have to use these tools.
Begin by taking measurements of the door's width. This can be accomplished by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any extra door parts like the door sweep, from this measurement. Then, you can measure the height by measuring up from the floor to the sill plate or lintel. It is essential to measure more than one location especially for older doors, as they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements differ, use the largest number.
After you've taken the measurements of height and width then you'll have to figure out what size boarding you need for the frame. Ideally it should be 2'' wider than the door and 1 2'' higher. This will allow enough space to shim both the door and frame in place.
It's a good idea to take off the trim or casing around the jambs of your door to observe the studs. This will allow you to determine the exact measurement of the gap between the studs and the frame.
After removing the trim, measure the length of your door frame using a tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different points and use the smallest measurement. You should also measure the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement for the width of your door.
If you're having difficulty with these measurements it's best to speak with an expert and have them come out to your house to measure for you. They will be able to give you the exact kind of door and size you need and how to prepare the frame for the new door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is usually composed of a series of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. A typical door is secured by two hinges attached to these studs. This means that if you want to finish the door, it's necessary to remove the hinges from the door overnight. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a simple method of boarding doors is to place plywood into the opening. It's easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood onto the frame of the door.
boarding up windows is cheap, easy to work with and looks stunning when completed. This makes it the ideal material for an interim solution to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door and finishing or installing a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a space being transformed, such as the construction site or basement.
Start by taking measurements of the width of the door opening and its height. Mark the measurements with an utility blade and a straight edge made of metal, such as a drywall or a metal square. Then, draw an outline of chalk across each line to indicate where to cut. Finally, use a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.
When cutting the plywood it is essential to protect your eyes and ears. Wear earplugs or protective goggles when you can. It is also essential to use a blade with many teeth, which will permit you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. To avoid tearing out pieces of wood from the edges of the cut, use a small block of wood as template to guide the blade and keep it just a hair's width away from the marked line when cutting.
Attaching a pair or short braces on each side is a great way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it into studs. Set one brace on the inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, place the deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them using an open-end wrench.
Fasten the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the appropriate size and with holes for the door frame's rails and stiles predrilled then it's time to secure the panel to the frame. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require a lot of advanced carpentry skills, as long as you use the right tools and follow the right procedures.
Start by setting 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 atop the sawhorses and use the marks made during the measurement process as a guide to cut. Mark the lines using an utility knife and a drywall square or another metal straight edge. 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 or table saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After the sanding process, apply a coat of wood sealer to the plywood panels, and let dry as directed by the manufacturer.
Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes on the outside face of your door for the straps portion of the hinges. Then, you can screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the process for each hinge on the interior of your door. Be careful not to overtighten them, or the door may shift.
If you have a single hinged T on your outside door you can make it easier for the latch to close by putting an electrical wire through the loops of the exterior hinges. Fold a short piece to tie wire in half, and then fish it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, twist the wires together and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Based on the measurements you have taken and place the plywood into the door opening. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to make sure that there is no slop between the sill and the header. If the level isn't perfect then put a second shim in the area is required and repeat the process until you have the sill and header to be in a straight line.
Once the plywood has been put set, secure it using the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingnuts. Make use of a screwgun that has an attachment for hex heads to avoid removing the screws' heads.
If your home has studs that run along the length of your doorway, you could drill hanger bolts into each framing member. This is a far easier task than drilling the hole using a drywall saw.
After you have installed the plywood, take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, trim your bottom plywood to fit the height of the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 to form braces for the upper and lower edges. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines marked on the plywood with circular saws fitted with a fine-toothed knife. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts using the help of a the sanding block.
After you've placed the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. Once you're done counter-sink the heads of all the nails. Cover the braces and plywood with a quality wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is too big You can either put in decorative molding to fill in the space between your jamb and door, or you can resize your opening. In many instances, however it is less expensive and more convenient to buy the door. This also eliminates any headaches you might have had with the original door, if it was damaged and could no longer fit the opening.