11 Creative Methods To Write About Boarding Up A Door
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Protecting vacant investment properties against the elements is feasible by boarding up a door. It's not a guarantee against every damage however it can help to avoid some of the issues that are associated with severe storms.
The boarding up of windows and doors will also discourage trespassers and vandals. Placing plywood boards over doors and windows can be costly and time-consuming.
Take a measurement of the door
The first thing you'll require is a tape measure. You may want to keep a chair or ladder nearby in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses when you make use of these tools.
Start by measuring the width of the door. You can do this by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to take out all extra parts of the door, for instance a sweep, when measuring. Then, determine the height from the floor up to the existing sill or the lintel. It is important to measure in more than one location particularly with older doors, since they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest figure.
You'll have to determine the size of the frame after you've taken measurements of the width and height. Ideally it should be 2'' wider than the door and 1 inch thicker than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of room to put the door and frame into place.
When you're ready to measure the door frame's width and height measurements, it's recommended to remove any trim or casing from around the door jambs so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you to determine the exact dimensions of the space between the studs and the edges of the frame.
After you've removed your trim, you can then determine the size of the frame of your door by running the tape over the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement as the width of your door. Also, you should 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 issues with these measurements it's best at this point to consult an expert and have them come to your home to do the measuring for you. They'll inform you of the size and type of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is usually made up of a series thin boards or studs that create a hollow space around the door. The typical door is secured by two hinges fixed to the studs. This means that, if you wish to restore the door, it is necessary to remove the door from its hinges for a night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a straightforward method for boarding doors is to place plywood inside the opening. It's easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood to the door's frame.
click through the next article is inexpensive, easy to work with, and looks great when it is completed. This makes it the ideal material to provide a temporary solution to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door and refinishing or installing a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room being renovated, such as an excavation site or basement.
Start by measuring the width of the door opening and its height. Mark the measurements on the plywood using a utility knife and an drywall square or any other metal straight edge. Then, you should snap a chalk line across each of the lines you have marked to indicate where you need to cut. Finally you can use circular saws to cut out the plywood to the desired size.
It is important to shield your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear earplugs or protective goggles whenever possible. It is also essential to use a sharp blade with lots of teeth which will permit you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. Make use of a small piece wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's breadth away from the mark when cutting.
An effective way to hold the plywood in place without gluing it to the studs is by fixing a pair of short braces at each end. Set one brace on the inside of the door and the one on the outside. Place a 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each hole and then tighten with an open-end ratchet.
Secure the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the proper dimensions and with the holes for the door frame's stiles and rails predrilled, it is time to fasten the panel to the door frame. This is a simple task that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills if you use the correct tools and follow the proper procedures.
Set up a table in the doorway with two sawhorses on each end, and framing lumber 2x4s. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat on top of the sawhorses and use the marks made during the measurement process to guide you to cut. Mark the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will create an outline for the saw blade and to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the line of scoring. Then sand the edges the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding the plywood panels then apply a wood sealer and let it dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, drill holes through the exterior of the door to accommodate the straps of the hinges. Then, place the outside hinge on its mark and attach it to the frame with an screw gun. Repeat the procedure for each hinge on the interior of your door. Be cautious not to tighten them too much or the door may shift.
If you have a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain lock by putting a piece of wire through the loops on the hinges on the outside. Fold a small piece of make a half-way tie, and then thread it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, you can twist the wires together and lock the door.
Install the Plywood
With the measurements you made, place the plywood in the door opening. Move the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to ensure that there's no slop between the sill and header. If it's not perfect you can put another shim where you need it and repeat the process until you have the sill and the header to be plumb.
After the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It is a good idea to use a screw gun with an hex-head attachment so that you prevent stripping the head of the screws.
While you're at it, should your home be constructed with studs that run across the width of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a much easier task than drilling the hole using the saw for drywall.
After installing the plywood measure the width and the height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the dimensions of your door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber for braces to are positioned across the upper and lower ends of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines marked on the plywood with a circular saw equipped with a fine-toothed knife. Take any splinters out of the cuts with the help of a the sanding block.
After you've put in the braces, use two pairs of 2-inch finishing nail to attach 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, 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 gap between the jamb and the door or reduce the size of the opening. In many cases, however it's cheaper and more convenient to buy the door. It also removes any problems you might have encountered with your original door even if it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.