Interior and exterior doors serve different purposes, but the installation methods used for both types of doors have many similarities. When you add a door to any room, you are opening up a lot of possibilities for accessibility and décor. Some people get lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to installing a new door because doors always come packaged in their frames. Putting a door already mounted into a frame into an opening in the wall should be easy, right? It takes plenty of patience, the right tools, and experience to be able to install a door properly.
Perfectly installing a door takes time and patience.
The Right Tools For The Job
We will cover the process of installing a new door after the opening in the wall has been cut. We will recommend highly that you have an expert cut the hole in the wall as you do not want to cut through any pipes or major electrical wires. You should also remember to allow an extra two inches of width and two and one-half inches of height in your opening to properly accommodate the frame.
Two critical tools you will need to install a door are a level and a plumb bob. The level will help you to determine when the sides of the frame are level, and the plumb bob will let you know when the door itself is level. It takes some practice to use a plumb bob right, so spend some time getting to know this tool before you get started.
You will also need a hammer, a finishing gun, a plane, and a lot of wood shims. If you can get a pneumatic nail gun that can deliver the big nails without using a hammer, then that will help speed up the process. You will also need a good miter saw to make the precise cuts you will need to make sure everything fits properly.
Installing a door perfectly takes the right tools.
Door Installation Tips To Get The Perfect Results Each Time
According to the Family Handyman, your level is going to be one of the most important tools you use in your door installation. Before you start trusting your level during an installation, you should put it on a surface you know to be flat and check it out.
Prior to placing your pre-hung door into the opening in the wall, you should always make sure that the door jambs do not need to be cut to size first. Always measure twice, and cut once. As you place your door into the opening, it is more important to make sure that the frame is level with the floor than the top of the opening. Use extra blocks to act as a spacer for the rug you will install when the door is in place, and use wood shims at the top of the frame only to level the door after the bottom has been secured in place.
Once you get the hang of installing a door, you will be able to replicate that talent over and over again. You can get help with your door installation techniques by starting a course with PDH Contractors and learning the same tips the pros use to get great results every time.