How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
Boarding up a door is one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against every damage, but it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms.
The boarding of doors and windows will also deter trespassers and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to put plywood boards over the openings of a property.
Take a measurement of the door
The first thing you'll need is tape measure. You may also want to have a chair or ladder on hand in case you have to get a better look at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses in the event that you need to make use of these tools.
Start by taking measurements of the length of the door. This can be done by running an x-ray measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove any other door components such as a door sweep and door sweep, from the measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height by measuring from the floor to the sill or the lintel. It is crucial to measure in multiple locations, particularly when measuring doors older than they may not be a perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements are different take the largest number.
After you've logged the width and height measurements and you'll need to determine the size of board you'll need for the frame. It should be at minimum 2'' wider and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow you enough room to shim both the door and frame in place.
It's a good idea to remove the trim or casing around the jambs of your door to see the studs. This will allow you to determine the exact dimensions of the gap between the studs and the edge of the frame.
After you've removed your trim, you'll be able to determine the dimensions of the door frame by running the tape measure across the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. Also, you should determine the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides. Use the shortest measurement for the width of your door.
If you're having issues with these measurements It's a good idea to consult a professional and have them come to your home to measure for you. They will tell you what size and type of door you require and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door.
Plywood can be cut into pieces
A door frame is usually comprised of a set of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs, and they hold the door in its place. If you are looking to restore doors, you'll have to take it off its hinges and then leave it for a night. Placing plywood into the door opening is a simple method to enclose the door and keep insects from getting into your home. It is simple to do this without nailing or screw the plywood to the door's frame.
Plywood is inexpensive, easy to work with, and looks fantastic when finished. It is the ideal material to make a temporary solution to a problem in which you're required to remove an existing door in order to refinish or install the 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 install a plywood wall begin by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Mark the measurements on the plywood with a utility knife and a drywall square or other straight edge of metal. Then, you should snap a chalk line across the lines marked to indicate where you need to cut. Then you can use a circular saw to cut out the plywood into a size.
It is important to protect your ears and eyes when cutting plywood. If possible, wear a pair of eye protection and earplugs as you are working. In addition, it's essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that can cut quickly and with less tear-out. To reduce the chances of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of your cut blade, use a small piece of wood as an example to guide the blade, and hold it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting.
An effective way to hold the plywood in place without gluing it to the studs is to fasten a pair of short braces at each end. Place one brace on the inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, position the deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them with an open-end wrench.
Fasten the Plywood
When you have a piece of plywood cut to the appropriate size and with holes for rails and stiles predrilled then it's time to secure the panel to the door frame. This is a simple project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills if you use the right tools and follow the right procedures.
Begin by setting up boarding up near the doorway, with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Use a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to score the lines. This will serve as an outline for the saw blade, and will help to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood.
Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the line of scoring. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After the sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels and let dry as directed by the manufacturer.
Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes on the outside face of your door for the straps portion of the hinges. Then, place the outside hinge on its mark and screw it onto the frame using the help of a screw gun. Repeat the procedure for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be careful not to tighten them too much or the door could move.
If you have an outside hinged door with only one T you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain lock by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Fold a piece of make a half-way tie, and then put it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then, twist the wires to lock the door.
Install the Plywood
Based on the measurements you have taken and place the plywood into the door opening. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to ensure that there is no slop between the sill and header. If it's not perfect you can place a second shim wherever it is needed and continue the process until the sill and header are plumb.
After the plywood is in place, secure it using the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It'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, if your house was built with studs that run the height of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a lot easier than using a drywall cutting tool to create the hole.
After putting the plywood in place, determine the width and height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of 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 marked on the plywood using a circular saw equipped with a fine-toothed knife. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding tool.
Once you have the two braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Once you're done, counter sink the heads of all the nails. The braces should be sealed with a quality wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax.
If the door is too big for the doorway, you can add some decorative molding to fill in the gap between the jamb and the door or reduce the size of the opening. In most cases, however, it is cheaper and easier to simply buy the door. It also eliminates any issues you may have had with the door you originally purchased even if it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.