14 Questions You're Afraid To Ask About Boarding Up A Door

How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

A door can be boarded up as one method of protecting vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against all damages however it can help to prevent certain problems that come with severe storms.

The boarding of doors and windows will also deter trespassers and vandals. Installing plywood boards over openings could be time-consuming and costly.

Take a measurement of the door

You'll require a tape measurement. It is also advisable to have a chair or ladder on hand in case you have to gain a better view at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses in the event that you need to make use of these tools.

Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door width measurement. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove all other parts of the door, like a sweep, when measuring. Then, you can take the height measurement by measuring up from the floor to the existing sill plate or lintel. It is essential to measure in multiple places particularly with older doors, as they are not always a perfect rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest figure.

You'll need to determine the size of the frame once you've determined the length and width. Ideally it should be 2'' larger than the door and 1 inch thicker than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of room to put the door and frame into place.

When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements It's best to take out any trim or casing around the door jambs so that you can see the studs behind them. This will let you 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 dimensions of the frame of the door by running the tape across the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement as your door's width. You should also measure the height of the frame from top to the bottom on both sides, and use the most compact measurement to determine the height of your door.

If you are having trouble with the measurements, you should get a professional to your home and do the measuring. They will be able to determine the exact type and size of door you require and how to prepare the frame for a new door.

Cut the Plywood

A door frame is typically made of a series of thin boards or studs that create an open space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges fixed to the studs. This means that if you need to restore the door, it's necessary to remove the hinges off the door overnight. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a quick and easy method to board a door involves placing plywood into the opening. It's easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.

Plywood is inexpensive, easy to work with and looks fantastic when finished. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary fix to a problem in which you have to take down an existing door in order to finish it or build a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a space being renovated, such as a basement or construction site.

Start by measuring the width of the door opening and the height. Draw the dimensions on the plywood with an utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, draw the chalkline along each line to indicate where you want to cut. Then utilize circular saws to cut out the plywood to the desired size.

When cutting the plywood it is important to protect your eyes and ears. Wear earplugs or protective goggles when you can. In addition, it's important to use a blade with a lot of teeth that cut quickly and with less tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's distance from the mark when cutting.

Attaching a pair of shorter braces to each end is a great method to secure the plywood in place without screwing it into studs. Set one brace on the inside and the other outside of the door. Then, position the deck screws into each of the holes and tighten them using an open-end wrench.

Secure the Plywood

It's time to attach the panel to the frame after you have the plywood sheet cut to the proper size and the holes for the rails and stiles of the door frame have been predrilled. This is a simple task that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills, as long as you have the right tools and follow the right procedure.

Begin by putting 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 left by the measurement process as a guide to cut. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge of metal to cut the lines. This will serve as a guideline for the saw blade and help to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood.

Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw equipped with a fine-toothed blade cut along the line of scoring. Then sand the edges of the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper to 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 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 side of your door to accommodate the straps portion of the hinges. Then, screw the hinge on the outside to the frame with the screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for the remaining hinges, being cautious not to tighten too much on any of them or the panel may shift.

If you have a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain latch by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Fold a short piece to make a half-way tie, and then fish it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then, twist the wires to fix the door.

Install the Plywood

Place the plywood into the opening of the door by using the measurements you made. Move  boarding up commercial property  (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 required and repeat the process until the header and sill are level.

Once the plywood is inside the frame, fix it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. It's a good idea utilize a screw gun that has an hex-head attachment so that you keep the head from being stripped of the screws.

While you're at it, If your home was constructed with studs running the height of your doorway, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a simpler job than making the hole with a drywall saw.

After installing the plywood, measure the width and the height of your 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 attach across the upper and lower edges of your door. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood using circular saws fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Splinters can be removed from the cuts by using a sanding device.

Once you've got the braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Counter sink all the nail heads when you're done. Seal the braces using a high-quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.

If your door is too big it is possible to add decorative molding to fill the space between your jamb and door, or you can alter the size of your opening. In many instances, it's cheaper and simpler to just find a new door. This will also take away any issues you might have had with the original door if it was damaged and didn't longer fit the opening.