How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Boarding up a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not guaranteed to stop all damages but it can assist to prevent certain problems that come with severe storms.
The boarding up of windows and doors will also discourage trespassers and vandals. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings on a house.
Measure the Door
First, you'll need a tape measure. You might also want to have a ladder or chair handy in case you have to gain a better view at the top of the frame. If you must use these tools, make sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any extra parts of the door, such as a sweep, before measuring. Then, you can measure the height by measuring up from the floor to the existing sill plate or the lintel. It is important to measure in multiple locations, especially when measuring older doors as they might not be the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements are different take the largest number.
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 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of room to move the frame and door into place.
When you're ready to determine the door frame's size 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 that are behind them. This will help you determine the exact dimensions of the gap between the studs and the frame.
After taking off the trim, take a measurement of the width of the door frame using the tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different places and then use the smallest measurement. You should also take a measurement of the height of the frame from top to the bottom on both sides, and use the most compact measurement as your door's height.
If you're having issues with the measurements, you should consult a professional to come to your house and conduct the measurement. They will be able to give you the exact kind of door and size you need and the best way to prepare the frame for a new door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is usually comprised of studs or boards that create an open space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges that are connected to the studs. If you want to finish doors, you'll have to take it off its hinges over night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a simple method to board a door involves placing plywood into the opening. It's easy to do this without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is inexpensive, easy to work with, and looks stunning when completed. It is the ideal material to make a temporary solution for a problem where you have to take down an existing door in order to refinish it or put in a new one. It can also be useful to secure the opening of the room being renovated, such as an unfinished basement or a construction site.
To build commercial boarding up service repairmywindowsanddoors made of plywood begin by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Note the measurements using a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal like a drywall or a metal square. Then, you should snap a chalk line across all the lines marked to mark the areas you want to cut. Then, use circular saws to cut out the plywood to the desired size.
It is crucial to protect your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. If possible wear eye protection and earplugs as you are working. In addition, it is essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that cut quickly and with less tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's width away from the line you are cutting.
Fastening a pair of short braces to each end is a good way to secure the plywood in place without screwing it into studs. Put one of the braces on the inside of the door and the other on the outside. Place a 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each hole, and then tighten by using an open-end ratchet.
Fix 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 and ready to secure the panel to the frame. This is a simple project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the correct tools and follow the right procedure.
Begin by putting up a worktable near the doorway with two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat on top of the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process to guide you for cutting. Utilize a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to cut the lines. This will create an outline 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 line of scoring. Then sand the edges of the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the panels and remove any burrs from the saw cuts. After sanding process, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels and let dry as directed by the manufacturer.
Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, drill holes through the exterior of the door for the strap portions of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its mark and screw it onto the frame using an screw gun. Repeat the process for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be cautious not to tighten them too much or the door could move.
If you are using a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain latch by putting a piece of wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Bend a short piece of tie wire in half and fish it through each of the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then connect the wires to pull them tight and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Place the plywood into the opening of the door by using the measurements you have taken. Move the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Utilize a level to make sure there's no slop in either the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right, place another shim where necessary and continue the process until the sill and the header are plumb.
Once the plywood has been put in place, secure it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It's a good idea to make use of a screw gun with an attachment for a hex-head to prevent stripping the head of the screws.
While you're at it, If your home was constructed with studs running through the doorway's height you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a lot easier than using a drywall cutting tool to make the hole.
After installing the plywood take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, cut your plywood bottom to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing wood 1-by-6 as braces for the upper and lower edges. Cut along the lines marked on the plywood with a circular blade with teeth that are finely tipped. Wear eye protection. Remove any splinters from the cuts using a the sanding block.
After you've placed the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches to join each brace to the plywood. When you're finished counter-sink the heads of all the nails. Seal the braces and the plywood with a quality wood sealer such as this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is still too large for your doorway, you can add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the space between the jamb and the door or reduce the size of the opening. In many cases, it is cheaper and easier to simply buy an entirely new door. It also removes any problems that you might have experienced with your original door even if it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.