How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is attainable by boarding up a door. While it may not be able to prevent all damage, it can avoid certain problems caused by severe storms.
The idea of boarding up doors and windows can also deter burglars, vandals, and squatters. Installing plywood boards over openings can be costly and time-consuming.
Take a measurement of the door
The first thing you'll need is a tape measure. You may also want to have a chair or ladder on hand for when you need to get a better look at the top of the frame. If you have to use these tools, be sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door width measurement. You can do this by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Be sure to remove all additional parts of the door, like the sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height by measuring from the floor to the current sill plate or the lintel. It is important to take measurements in several locations, particularly when measuring doors older than they may not have the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ then use the largest figure.
After you've taken the measurements of height and width and you'll need to determine what size board you'll need for 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 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 allow you to determine the exact measurement of the gap between the studs and the edges of the frame.
After you've removed your trim, you'll be able to determine the width of the frame of your door by running the tape over the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement as the width of your door. Also, you should determine the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement for your door's width.
If you are having trouble with the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your home and do the measuring. They'll tell you the size and style 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 composed of studs or thin boards that create a hollow space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges attached to these studs. This means that, if you wish to refinish the door, it is important to remove the door from its hinges overnight. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a simple method to board the door is to put plywood in the opening. It is easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is a breeze to work with, affordable and looks beautiful once finished. This makes it the ideal material to provide an interim solution to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door and refinishing or installing a new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a room that is being transformed, such as the construction site or basement.
To install a plywood wall, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Mark the measurements on the plywood using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, you can snap a chalkline across each line to mark the area to cut. Then you can use circular saws to cut the plywood to size.
When cutting the plywood, it is important to protect your eyes and ears. If you can, wear a pair of protective goggles and earplugs while working. It is also essential to use a blade with lots of teeth which will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. To reduce the chances of breaking pieces of wood from the edges of your cut using a small piece of wood as an example to guide the blade and keep it at a distance of just a hair's width away from the marked line when cutting.
Attaching a pair of shorter braces at each end is a good way to secure the plywood in place without putting screws into the studs. Put one brace side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Position a pair 1-1/2-inch deck screw in each hole, and then tighten using an open-end ratchet.
Secure the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the right dimensions and with the holes for rails and stiles already drilled then it's time to fasten the panel to the frame. This is a relatively simple project that does not require extensive carpentry skills, so long as you follow the correct procedures and use the right tools.
Begin by setting up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process as a guide for cutting. Use a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to cut the lines. This will serve as a guide for the saw blade, and will prevent splintering of the plywood when cutting it.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and remove any burrs. After the sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer to the plywood panels, and let dry as directed by the manufacturer.
Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a hinge with a T-hinge drill holes in the outer face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its mark and attach it into the frame using an screw gun. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for the remaining hinges, being careful not to overtighten any of them, or the hinge could shift.
If you're using one outside hinged door, you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain lock by putting a piece wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half and put it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. You can then twist the wires to pull them tightly and secure the door.
Install the Plywood
Based on the measurements you have taken, place the plywood in the door opening. Move the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Utilize a level and ensure that there's no slop between the sill and the header. If the level isn't quite right, place another shim where required and repeat the process until the sill and header are plumb.
Once the plywood has been put in place, fix it using the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. boarding up companies 's a good idea to make use of a screw gun with a hex-head attachment to avoid stripping the head of the screws.
While you're there, should your home be constructed with studs running the height of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a far easier job than making the hole using the drill or drywall saw.
After putting the plywood in place, determine the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the size of the door frame and cut two pieces of framing lumber to form braces that are positioned across the upper and lower sides of your door. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood using circular saws fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding device.
After you've put in the braces after you have positioned them, 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 nails. Cover the braces and plywood with a high-quality wood sealer such as this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.
If your door is too large You can either put in decorative molding to fill in the space between your door and jamb, or you can alter the size of your opening. In most cases, however it's cheaper and more convenient to buy a new door. This can also alleviate any problems that you might have faced with the door you originally purchased if it was damaged and no fit for the opening.