If You've Just Purchased Boarding Up A Door ... Now What?

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. It's not a guarantee against all damage, but it can help to avoid some of the issues that are associated with severe storms.

The boarding of doors and windows will also deter trespassers and vandals. Installing plywood panels over openings can be time-consuming and expensive.

Take a measurement of the door

The first thing you'll need is a tape measure. You might also want to keep a ladder or chair handy in case you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. If you must make use of these tools, be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses.

Begin by taking measurements of the door's width. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Make  boarding up a doorway  to remove any extra door parts such as the door sweep and door sweep, from this measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height from the floor to the existing sill or the lintel. It is crucial to take measurements in several locations, especially when measuring doors that are older as they may not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements differ, use the largest figure.

After you've taken the width and height measurements and you'll need to determine the size of boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. Ideally it should be 2'' wider than the door and 1 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of space to move the frame and door to fit.

When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements It's best to take out any trim or casing the door jambs, so you can see the studs behind them. This will enable you to measure the exact gap between the frame's studs and the edge.

After you've removed your trim, you'll be able to determine the width of the frame of the door by running the tape over the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine the width of your door. Also, you should measure the height of the frame from top to the bottom on both sides, and use the shortest measurement to determine the height of your door.

If you're having issues with these measurements, it's a good idea to speak with an expert and have them come out to your house to do the measuring for you. They'll inform you of the size and type of door you need and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door.

Plywood can be cut into pieces

A door frame is typically comprised of studs or boards that create an open space around the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and hold a typical door in place. This means that if you need to refinish the door, it is important to remove the hinges off the door over the course of a few days. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a simple method to board doors is to place plywood in the opening. It is easy to do this without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the door's frame.

Plywood is simple to work with, inexpensive and looks stunning when finished. This makes it the ideal material for temporary solutions to problems that require the removal of the door that is in use and refinishing or installing a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room being renovated, like an excavation site or basement.

Begin by taking measurements of the width of the door opening and its height. Make notes using a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal such as the drywall or metal square. Then, snap an outline of chalk across each line to mark the area to cut. Use a circular blade to cut the plywood to the desired size.

When cutting the plywood, it is important to protect your ears and eyes. If you can, wear a pair of protective goggles and earplugs while working. Additionally, it is essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that can 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.

Attaching a pair or short braces on each side is a great way to secure the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Place one of the braces on the inside of the door and the one on the outside. Position a pair 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each hole and then tighten using an open-end ratchet.

Fix the Plywood

Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the right dimensions and with the holes for rails and stiles predrilled and ready to attach the panel to the door frame. It is a fairly simple project that does not require extensive carpentry skills, as long as you follow the correct procedures and use the proper tools.

Begin by putting up a table near the doorway. There are two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Make marks during the measurement process to guide you while cutting the plywood. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge made of metal to score the lines. This will provide an outline for the saw blade and help prevent splintering when you cut the plywood.

Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines with a circular saw or table saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding apply a wood sealer and let it dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes on the outside edge of your door to allow for the strap portion of the hinges. Then, screw the hinge on the outside to the frame with a screwdriver. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for the hinges remaining, but be careful not to overtighten one of them or the door will shift.

If you have one outside 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 outside hinges. Fold a short piece to connect wires in half and then put it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires together and secure the door.

Install the Plywood

Place the plywood in the door's opening according to the measurements you have taken. Shim the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Use a level to ensure that there is no slop between the header and sill. If it's not perfect, place another shim where it is needed and continue the process until the sill and header are plumb.

Once the plywood is inside the frame, fasten it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. 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 house was built with studs running across the width of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a simpler task than cutting the hole with the aid of a drill or drywall saw.

After installing the plywood measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the size of the door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber for braces to are positioned across the upper and lower sides of your door. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood using a circular saw equipped with a fine-toothed knife. Splinters can be removed from the cuts using a sanding tool.

After you have placed the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches to join each brace to the plywood. Counter sink all the nail heads once you're done. Seal the braces and the plywood with a quality wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.

If your door is too large it is possible to add decorative molding to fill the space between your jamb and door, or you can reduce the size of your opening. In many instances, however it's cheaper and simpler to purchase a new door. It also removes any problems you might have encountered with your original door, if it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.