10 Best Mobile Apps For Boarding Up A Door
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is attainable by board up a door. While it may not prevent all damage, it can reduce certain problems caused by severe storms.
The idea of boarding up doors and windows can also deter burglars or vandals from entering your property. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to put plywood boards over the openings in a home.
Take a measurement of the door
The first thing you'll need is tape measure. You may want to keep a chair or ladder close to hand in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. If you must make use of these tools, be 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 and door sweep, from the measurement. Then, measure the height from the floor up to the existing sill or the lintel. It is crucial to measure more than one location especially for older doors, because they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements differ then use the largest number.
After you've taken the width and height measurements, you'll need to determine what size boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. Ideally, it should be 2'' wider than the door and 1 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of room to move the frame and door to fit.
It's a great idea to remove the casing or trim around the jambs of your door to observe the studs. This will allow you determine the exact size of the gap between studs and the edge of the frame.
Once you've removed the trim, you can measure the size of the door frame by running the tape measure across the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement as your door's width. You should also determine the height of the frame from the top to bottom on both sides, and then use the shortest measurement as your door's height.
If you're having issues with these measurements It's a good idea at this point to consult an expert and have them come out to your house to do the measuring for you. They will be able to determine the exact type and size of door you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is generally comprised of a set of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs, and they hold a typical door in position. This means that, if you wish to restore the door, it is important to remove the door from its hinges overnight. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a quick and easy method for boarding doors is to place plywood in the opening. It is easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood onto the door's frame.
Plywood is affordable, simple to work with and looks stunning when completed. This makes it the perfect material for temporary solutions to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door while finishing or installing a new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a room that is being renovated, like an excavation site or basement.
Start by measuring the width of your door opening and the height. Note the measurements using a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal like a drywall or a metal square. Then, you can snap the chalkline along each line to mark the area to cut. Then utilize repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk saw to cut out the plywood into a size.
It is crucial to protect your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. If possible wear safety goggles and earplugs when working. Additionally, it is crucial to use a knife with a lot of teeth that will cut quickly and without tear-out. To minimize the chance of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of the cut, use a small block of wood as a template to guide the blade and hold it only a hair's length away from the line while cutting.
Attaching a pair of shorter braces at each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Place one brace side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Install a deck screws in each hole and tighten using an open-end ratchet.
Fix the Plywood
It's now time to connect the the frame after you have the plywood sheet cut to the proper dimensions and the holes for the rails and stiles of the door frame have been predrilled. This is a simple task that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills, as long as you use the right tools and follow the correct steps.
Start by setting up a worktable near the doorway, with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Cut the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will act as a guide for the saw blade and will prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the score line. Sand the edges of the panels with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding the plywood apply a wood sealer and let it dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T hinge, you need to drill holes through the outer face of the door for the strap portions of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its mark and attach it into the frame using an screw gun. Repeat the process for each hinge on the interior of your door. Be careful not to tighten them too much or the panel could shift.
If you're using one outside hinged door, you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain lock by putting a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Bend a short piece of tie wire in half, and place it through the two holes on the outside of the door. You can then twist the wires to pull them tightly and secure the door.
Install the Plywood
Based on the measurements you have taken using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Change the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Use a level to ensure that there is no slop between the header and sill. If the level isn't perfect you can put another shim where needed and continue this process until you have the sill and header to be in a straight line.
Once the plywood has been put set, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wingnuts. It is a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has an hex-head attachment so that you avoid stripping the head of the screws.
If your home has studs that run along the length of your doorway, you could drill hanger bolts into each of the framing members. This is a simpler task than drilling the hole using the aid of a drywall saw.
After installing the plywood after installation, take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, cut your bottom of the plywood to be a little higher than the height of the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 to form braces for the lower and upper ends. Cut along the lines that are marked on your plywood using a circular blade with teeth that are finely tipped. Wear eye protection. Splinters can be removed from the cuts by using a sanding device.
After you have the two braces in place, nail each one to the plywood with a pair of 2-inch finishing nails. Once you're done counter-sink the heads of all the nails. The braces should be sealed with a good wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax.
If the door is still too large for your doorway, you can add an ornamental molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or you can resize the opening. In most cases it's cheaper and easier to simply buy an entirely new door. It also solves any issues that you might have experienced with your door's original model even if it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.