How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Boarding up a door is one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against all damages, but it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms.
The boarding up of windows and doors will also deter trespassers and vandals. 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 a tape measure. It is also advisable to keep an extra chair or ladder in case you need to gain a better view at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses when you make use of these tools.
Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door's width measurement. You can do this by running an x-ray measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove any extra door parts such as a door sweep to get the measurement. Then, measure the height from the floor to the existing sill or the lintel. It is important to measure more than one location, especially with older doors, since they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements differ take the largest number.
You'll have to determine the dimensions of the frame after having determined the width and height. It should be at least 2 inches larger and 1'' taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you enough room to shim both the frame and frame in place.
It's a good idea to remove the casing or trim around the jambs of the door to observe the studs. This will let you measure the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge.
After you have removed the trim, measure the width of your door frame using a tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different places and use the smallest measurement. You should also determine the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement for your door's width.
If you're having issues with the measurements, you should consult a professional to come to your house and conduct the measuring. They'll be able to determine the exact kind of door and size you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy.
Plywood can be cut into pieces
A door frame is generally made up of a series thin boards or studs that create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and keep the door in place. If you want to finish a door, you will need to remove it from its hinges over night. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a quick and easy method of boarding doors is to place plywood inside the opening. It is easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood onto the door's frame.
Plywood is simple to work with, inexpensive and looks stunning when completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary fix for a problem where you need to remove the door you have in place to refinish it or put in a new one. It is also a great option to secure the opening in the room being renovated, such as an unfinished basement, or a construction site.
For a wall constructed of plywood, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Note the measurements using an utility knife and a straight edge made of metal such as the drywall or metal square. Then, draw a chalk line across all the marked lines to indicate where you'll need to cut. Use a circular blade to cut the plywood into the required size.
When cutting the plywood, it is essential to protect your ears and eyes. If possible, wear a pair of eye protection and earplugs as you are working. Additionally, it is essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that can cut quickly and without tear-out. Make boarding up windows walton-on-thames of a small piece wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's distance from the mark when cutting.
Fastening a pair of short braces on each side is a good way to secure the plywood in place without putting screws into the studs. Put one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Position a pair 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each hole and tighten using an open-end ratchet.
Secure the Plywood
It's time to attach the frame to the panel after you have the wood sheet cut to the right size and the holes to attach the rails and stiles of the door frame are predrilled. This is a simple task that doesn't require a lot of advanced carpentry skills, as long as you have the right tools and follow the proper procedures.
Begin by setting up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Use the marks made during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Utilize a utility blade and a metal straight edge to cut the lines. This will act as a guide to the saw blade and prevent splintering of the plywood when cutting it.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the line of scoring. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and remove any burrs. After sanding the plywood panels apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge drill holes in the outer side of your door to accommodate the straps portion of the hinges. Then, attach the outside hinge to the frame with the screwdriver. Repeat the process for each hinge on the interior of your door. Be cautious not to tighten them too much or the door could move.
If you have a single T-hinged outside door, you can make the latch easier to close by putting an electrical wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Fold a small piece of connect wires in half and then fish it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then, twist the wires to lock the door.
Install the Plywood
With the measurements you made, place the plywood in the door opening. Move the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level to ensure that there is no slop between the sill and the header. If it's not perfect then place another shim if required and repeat the process until the header and sill are level.
Once the plywood is inside the frame, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It's a good idea use a screw gun with an attachment for a hex-head to avoid stripping the head of the screws.
While you're at it should your home be constructed with studs that extend the height of your doorway you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a much easier task than cutting the hole with a drill or drywall saw.
After installing the plywood measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, cut the bottom of the plywood to match the dimensions of your door frame and cut two pieces of framing lumber to form braces that attach across the upper and lower sides of your door. Cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood with circular blades with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts with a sanding block.
After you've put in the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches to join each brace to the plywood. Counter sink all nail heads after you've finished. Seal the braces and the plywood with a good wood sealer such as this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is too big for the doorway, you can add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the space between the door and jamb or you can reduce the size of the opening. In most instances, however it's cheaper and easier to simply buy a new door. This can also alleviate any problems that you might have faced with the original door if it was damaged and didn't longer fit the opening.