How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
A door can be boarded up as one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. While it may not stop all destruction, it can help avoid some of the issues that come with severe storms.
The idea of boarding up doors and windows can also deter burglars, vandals, and squatters. However it can be costly and time-consuming to put plywood boards over the openings in a home.
Measure the Door
You'll need a tape measure. You might want to keep a chair or ladder close by in case you require to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and goggles in the event that you need to use these tools.
Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running an x-ray measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any other door components like a door sweep, from the measurement. Then, measure the height by measuring from the floor up to the sill or the lintel. It is crucial to measure in multiple locations, particularly when measuring doors that are older as they may not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements differ then use the largest figure.
After you've logged the measurements of height and width then you'll have to determine what size boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. Ideally, it should be 2 inches greater than the door's width and 1 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of space to move the frame and door into place.
When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements It's a good idea to remove any trim or casing around the door jambs so that you can see the studs behind them. This will help you to determine the exact measurement of the space between the studs and the frame.
After you have removed the trim, measure the width of your door frame using the tape measure. Measure the frame at three different places and use the smallest measurement. You should also determine the height of the frame from the top to bottom on both sides and use the most compact measurement as the height of your door.
If you're having trouble with these measurements, it's a good idea at this point to consult an expert and ask them to come to your home to measure for you. They'll be able to tell you exactly what type and size of door you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate a new door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is usually composed of a series of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space around the door. The typical door is secured by two hinges connected to the studs. This means that, if you wish to finish the door, it's important to remove the door from its hinges over the course of a few days. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door opening, a simple method for boarding a door involves placing plywood in the opening. This is easy to do without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is affordable, simple to work with and looks great when it is completed. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary solution for a problem where you have to take down an existing door to refinish it or put in a new one. It is also useful for securing the opening in the room being renovated, such as an unfinished basement or a construction site.
For a wall constructed of plywood begin by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Mark the dimensions on the plywood with a utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, you can snap a chalkline across each line to indicate where you want to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.
When cutting the plywood it is crucial to shield your eyes and ears. If possible, wear a pair of safety goggles and earplugs when working. In addition, it is essential to choose a blade that has a wide range of teeth that will cut quickly and without tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's distance from the line you are cutting.
Attaching a pair or short braces at each end is a good way to secure the plywood in place, without screwing it into the studs. Place one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, place two 1-1/2-inch deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them with an open-end wrench.
Fix the Plywood
Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the right size and with holes for the door frame's stiles and rails predrilled and ready to attach the panel to the frame. 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 right procedure.
Begin by setting up a workstation near the doorway with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat on top the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process as a reference for cutting. Utilize a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to cut the lines. This will create a guide for the saw blade and help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw equipped with a fine-toothed blade 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 then apply a wood sealer and let it dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If Repair My Windows And Doors using a T-hinge drill holes in the outer side of your door to accommodate the straps portion of the hinges. Then, attach the hinge's outside edge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the procedure for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be careful not to tighten them too much, or the panel could shift.
If you have a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain lock by fishing a piece of wire through the loops on the hinges on the outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half and place it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires to tighten them and lock the door.
Install the Plywood
With the measurements you made, place the plywood in the door opening. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to be sure there's no slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right, place another shim where required and repeat the process until the header and sill are plumb.
Once the plywood is in place, secure it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. Use a screwgun equipped with a hex head attachment to prevent removing the screws' heads.
If your home has studs running the length of your doorway, it is possible to drill hanger bolts into each framing member. This is a lot easier than using a drywall cutting tool to create the hole.
After you have installed the plywood, measure the width and height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber as braces that are positioned across the upper and lower ends of your door. Cut along the lines marked on the plywood with a circular blade with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts with an the sanding block.
Once you've got the braces in place, nail each one to the plywood with pairs of finishing nails 2 inches long. Counter-sink all nail heads after you've finished. Cover the braces and plywood with a quality wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is still too big for your doorway, you could add some decorative molding to fill in the space between the door and jamb or alter the size of the opening. In many cases, it's cheaper and easier to simply find an alternative door. This also eliminates any headaches you may have experienced with the original door, if it was damaged and could no fit for the opening.