How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Boarding up a door is one method of protecting vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against all damage, but it can help to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms.
The boarding up of windows and doors will also deter trespassers and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings on a house.
Take a measurement of the door
You'll require a tape measure. You may also want to have an extra chair or ladder for when you need to gain a better view at the top of the frame. If you have to use these tools, make sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Start by measuring the width of the door. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to take out all extra parts of the door, such as a sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height from the floor to the existing sill or lintel. It is important to take measurements in multiple locations, particularly when measuring older doors as they may not have the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ take the largest number.
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. It should be at a minimum 2'' wider and 1'' taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will give enough space to shim both the door and frame in 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 the door jambs, so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will help you determine the exact size of the gap between the studs and the edge of the frame.
After you've removed the trim, you'll be able to determine the dimensions of the frame of your door by running the tape across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine the width of your door. You should also determine the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides. Use the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door.
If you're having difficulty with these measurements, it's a good idea at this point to consult an expert and have them come to your home to take the measurements for you. They will tell you what dimensions and what kind of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame for a new door.
Plywood can be cut into pieces
A door frame is typically made of a series of studs or boards 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 want to finish the door, it is important to remove the hinges off the door overnight. Placing plywood into the door's opening is an easy method to enclose doors and stop insects from gaining entry into the home. It is easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is cheap, easy to work with and looks stunning when completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary solution to a problem in which you need to remove the door you have in place to refinish or install a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room being transformed, such as an excavation site or basement.
Start by taking measurements of the width of the door opening and its height. Draw boarding up services on the plywood with a utility knife and an drywall square or any other straight edge of metal. Then, draw the chalk lines across each of the lines marked to indicate where you'll need to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.
It is essential to protect both your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs when you can. It is also important to use a blade with lots of teeth that will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. To avoid breaking pieces of wood from the edges of your cut using a small piece of wood as template to guide the blade and hold it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting.
A great way to hold the plywood in place without fixing it to the studs is to attach two braces at each end. Set one brace inside and the other outside of the door. Install a deck screw in each hole and then tighten with an open-end ratchet.
Fasten the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the right size and with holes for rails and stiles predrilled and ready to secure the panel to the door frame. It is a fairly straightforward project that does not require extensive carpentry skills, provided you follow the right procedures and use the right tools.
Set up a table near the entrance, with two sawhorses at each end, and framing lumber 2x4s. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement process to guide you while cutting the plywood. Score the lines with the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will serve as a guideline for the saw blade and help prevent splintering when you cut the plywood.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the score line. Then sand the edges the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth out the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After the sanding, apply a layer of wood sealer to the plywood panels, and let dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes in the outer edge of your door to allow for the straps of the hinges. Then, screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for all of the hinges remaining, but be careful not to overtighten any of them or the door will shift.
If you're using 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 outside. Fold a piece of make a half-way tie, and then thread it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, twist the wires together and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Using the measurements you took using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Shim the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Utilize a level to make sure there's no slop in the header or sill. If it's not perfect, put another shim in the area you need it and repeat the process until you get the header and sill to be in a straight line.
Once the plywood is in the frame, fasten it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. Use a screwgun equipped with a hex head attachment to avoid stripping off the heads of the screws.
While you're at it, should your home be constructed with studs that extend across the width of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a far easier task than drilling the hole using the drill or drywall saw.
After you have installed the plywood, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 as braces for the lower and upper ends. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood using a circular saw fitted with a fine-toothed blade. Splinters can be removed from the cuts by using a sanding tool.
Once you have the two braces in place, nail each one to the plywood with pairs of 2-inch finishing nails. Counter sink all the nail heads once you're done. The braces should be sealed using a high-quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax.
If the door is still too big for the doorway, you could add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the gap between the jamb and the door or you can resize the opening. In many instances, however, it is cheaper and simpler to purchase an entirely new door. It also solves any issues you may have had with the door you originally purchased even if it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.