20 Fun Details About Boarding Up A Door

How to Go About Boarding Up  Read the Full Posting

Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is attainable by board up a door. It's not a guarantee against all damages, but it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms.

Boarding up windows and doors can also deter burglars and vandals as well as squatters. Placing plywood boards over doors and windows can be time-consuming and expensive.

Take a measurement of the door

The first thing you'll need is a tape measure. You may also want to keep a ladder or chair handy in case you have to gain a better view at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses when you make use of these tools.

Start by taking measurements of the width of the door. You can do this by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any additional parts of the door, for instance the sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height by measuring up from the floor to the current sill plate or lintel. It is essential 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 number.

You'll have to determine the dimensions of the frame after having taken measurements of the height and width. Ideally, it should be 2 inches wider than the door and 1 2'' higher. This will give you 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 recommended to remove any trim or casing from around the door jambs so that you can see the studs behind them. This will enable you to take measurements of 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 your door by running the tape across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement as the width of your door. You should also measure the height of the frame from the top to bottom on both sides, and use the shortest measurement as your door's height.

If you're having issues with these measurements it's best to speak with an expert and ask them to visit your home to do the measuring for you. They'll be able tell you exactly what kind of door and size you require and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the new door.

Cut the Plywood

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 attached to the studs and hold a typical door in place. This means that if you need to finish the door, it is important to remove the hinges off the door for a night. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door's opening, a quick and easy method to board the door is to put plywood in the opening. This is a simple process without having to screw or nail the plywood to the frame of the door.

Plywood is easy to work with, affordable and looks great once it's finished. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary solution for a problem where you're required to remove the door you have in place to refinish or install the new one. It can also be used to protect the opening of a room that is being transformed, such as the construction site or basement.

To install a plywood wall, start by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Note the measurements using an utility knife and a metal straight edge like a drywall or a square. Then, you can snap an outline of chalk across each line to mark the area to cut. Then utilize circular saws to cut out the plywood to size.

It is essential to protect your ears and eyes when cutting plywood. Wear earplugs or protective goggles when you can. It is also important to use a sharp blade with lots of teeth which will allow you to cut quickly and without any tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Keep it a hair's breadth away from the line you are cutting.

Attaching a pair or short braces at each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Set one brace on the side of the door, and the other on the outside. Then, position two 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each of the holes, and tighten them using an open-end wrench.

Fix the Plywood

When you have a piece of plywood cut to the right dimensions and with the holes for rails and stiles predrilled and ready to attach the panel to the frame. This is a relatively simple project that does not require a lot of carpentry expertise, so long as you follow the right procedures and use the proper 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 procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Cut the lines using an utility knife and a drywall square or another metal straight edge. This will create a guide for the saw blade and to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood.

Wear eye protection and cut along the scored lines using a circular saw or table saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding process, apply a coat of wood sealer on 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 face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its spot and attach it to the frame with an screw gun. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for all of the hinges remaining, but be cautious not to tighten too much on any of them, or the hinge could shift.

If you have only a single hinged outside door it is possible to make it easier for the latch to close by fishing an electrical wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half, and fish it through each of the two holes on the exterior of the door, then connect the wires to pull them tight and secure the door.

Install the Plywood

Place the plywood into the door's opening by using the measurements you have taken. Change the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level and ensure that there's no slop between the header and sill. If it's not perfect you can place a second shim wherever required and repeat the process until the header and sill are even.

Once the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It is a good idea to use a screw gun with a hex-head attachment to avoid stripping the head of the screws.

While you're at it if your house was built with studs running through the doorway's height make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a simpler task than cutting the hole with the aid of a drywall saw.

After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, cut your plywood bottom to match the height your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 to form braces for the upper and lower ends. Cut along the lines marked on your plywood with circular blades with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts with an the sanding block.

After you have the braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with pairs of 2-inch finishing nails. Once you're done, counter sink the heads of all nails. The braces should be sealed with a quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.

If the door is still too large for your doorway, you can add some decorative molding to fill in the space between the door and jamb or you can reduce the size of the opening. In many cases, however it is less expensive and more convenient to buy a new door. This can also alleviate any problems you may have experienced with the original door, if it was damaged and didn't longer fit the opening.