How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is possible by boarding up a door. Although it isn't able to prevent all destruction, it can help avoid certain problems that can arise from severe storms.
Boarding up windows and doors can also deter burglars or vandals from entering your property. Placing plywood boards over doors and windows could be time-consuming and costly.
Take a measurement of the door
The first thing you'll need is an accurate tape measure. You may also want to keep a ladder or chair handy for when you need to get a better look at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and goggles in the event that you need to make use of these tools.
Start by measuring the door's width. This can be done by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Make sure to remove any additional door parts, such as the door sweep to get this measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height from the floor up to the sill or lintel. It is important to measure more than one location especially for older doors, since they are not always a perfect rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest number.
After you've taken the width and height measurements, you'll need to determine what size boarding you need for the frame. It should be at minimum 2 inches larger and 1 inch taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow you enough space to shim both the frame and frame to fit.
It's a great idea remove the trim or casing around the jambs of the door in order to see the studs. 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 size of the frame of your door by running the tape measure across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. Also, you should take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement for your door's width.
If you're having issues with the measurements, you should seek out a professional who will come to your home and take the measurements. They'll be able to give you the exact kind of door and size you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is typically comprised of thin boards or studs that create an open space around the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and keep a typical door in its place. If you want to restore a door, you will need to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a straightforward method to board a door involves placing plywood into the opening. This is easy to do without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.
Plywood is cheap, easy to work with and looks fantastic when completed. This makes it the perfect material to provide a temporary solution to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door and finishing or installing a new one. It can also be used to protect the opening of a room that is being renovated, like an excavation site or basement.
Start by measuring the width of the door opening and its height. Note the measurements using an utility knife and a straight edge of metal such as a drywall or a square. Then, draw an outline of chalk across each line to indicate where you want to cut. Then you can use a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.
When cutting the plywood it is important to protect your ears and eyes. Wear earplugs or goggles that are protective whenever possible. It is also important to use a sharp blade with many teeth, which will permit you to cut quickly and without any tear-out. To avoid breaking pieces of wood from the edges of the cut blade, use a small piece of wood as an example to guide the blade and keep it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting.
A great way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it to the studs is to fasten a pair of short braces at each end. Put one brace side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Place a 1-1/2-inch deck screw in each hole and then tighten by using an open-end ratchet.
Fasten the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the right size and with the holes for rails and stiles already drilled, it is time 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 worktable near the doorway, with two sawhorses as well as 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process to guide you to cut. Mark the lines using a utility knife and a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will act as a guide for the saw blade, and prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it.
Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the score line. Then, sand the edges of the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels and allow to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T-hinge drill holes on the outside side of your door to accommodate the strap portion of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its mark and screw it into the frame using an screw gun. Repeat the process for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be cautious not to overtighten them, or the door could move.
If you have 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 boarding up houses of tie wire in half, and place it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. You can then twist the wires to pull them tight and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Using the measurements you took and place the plywood into the door opening. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level and make sure that there is no slop between the sill and header. If it's not perfect, place another shim where it is needed and continue the process until the sill and the header are even.
Once the plywood is inside the frame, secure it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It's a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has a hex-head attachment to 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 you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a lot easier than using a drywall saw to make the hole.
After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If needed, trim the plywood bottom to fit the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 as braces for the upper and lower edges. Cut along the lines marked on the plywood with circular blades with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Remove any splinters from the cuts by using the help of a the sanding block.
Once you've got the two braces in place attach each one to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. When you're finished counter-sink the heads of all nails. Make sure to seal the braces and the plywood with a quality wood sealer, such as this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is too big it is possible to add decorative molding to fill in the gap between your door and jamb, or you can alter the size of your opening. However, in many situations, it's more affordable and simpler to just choose the right door. This also eliminates any headaches you may have experienced with the original door, if it was damaged and no suitable for the opening.