How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

24 hour emergency boarding up up a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. While it may not stop all damage, it can reduce some of the problems that come with severe storms.

boarding up door up windows and doors can also deter burglars and vandals as well as squatters. Installing plywood boards over openings could be time-consuming and costly.

Measure the Door

You'll first need a tape measure. You may also want to have a ladder or chair handy for when you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses when you use these tools.

Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door width measurement. You can do this by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to eliminate any other door components like a door sweep to get the measurement. Then, determine the height from the floor commercial boarding up service to the sill or the lintel. It is essential to measure multiple places especially for older doors, because they may not be a perfect rectangle. If the measurements are different take the largest number.

You'll have to determine the size of the frame after having measured the height and width. It should be at least 2 wider and 1 higher than the door. 2 higher. This will give you plenty of room to move the frame and door to fit.

When you're ready to measure the door frame's width and height measurements, it's recommended to remove any trim or casing around the door jambs so you can see the studs behind them. This will allow you to determine the exact size of the space between the studs and the frame.

Once you've removed the trim, you'll be able to measure the size of the frame of the door by running the tape over the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement as the width of your door. You should also take a measurement of the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides, and then use the shortest measurement as the height of your door.

If you're having difficulty with the measurements, you should seek out a professional who will come to your home and do the measurements. They'll inform you of the dimensions and what kind of door you require and how to prepare your frame for a new door.

Cut the Plywood

A door frame is typically made 24 hour boarding up service near me of a series thin boards or studs which create a hollow space around the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs and hold a typical door in place. If you want to refinish the door, you'll have to take it off its hinges and then leave it for a night. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door's opening, a simple method for boarding up windows service doors is to place plywood inside the opening. This is a simple process without having to screw or nail the plywood to the door frame.

Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks fantastic when completed. It is the perfect material to make a temporary solution for a problem where you need to remove the door you have in place to finish it or build a new one. It is also a great option to secure the opening in the room being renovated, like an unfinished basement or construction site.

Begin by measuring the width of the door opening and the height. Mark the measurements with a utility blade and a metal straight edge such as the drywall or metal square. Then, you should snap a chalk line across all the marked lines to indicate where you need to cut. Utilize a circular blade to cut the plywood into the required size.

When cutting the plywood it is important to protect your ears and eyes. If possible wear protective goggles and earplugs while working. It is also essential to use a sharp blade with a lot of teeth, which will allow you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To minimize the chance of 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 just a hair's width away from the mark when cutting.

An effective way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it to the studs is by fixing two braces at each end. Set one brace side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Install a deck screw in each hole and then tighten by using an open-end ratchet.

Fasten the Plywood

It's time to attach the the frame after you have the wood sheet cut to the proper size and the holes for rails and stiles of the door frame predrilled. This is a relatively simple project that does not require a lot of carpentry expertise, provided you follow the correct procedures and use the proper tools.

Set up a table in the doorway with two sawhorses on each end and framing lumber 2x4s. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat on top of the sawhorses and use the marks made during the measurement process to guide you for cutting. Mark the lines using a utility knife and a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will provide 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 or table saw with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding then apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If you're using a T hinge, drill holes through the outer face of the door for the strap portions of the hinges. Then, screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the procedure for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be cautious not to overtighten them, or the panel could shift.

If you're using a single outside T-hinged door, you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain latch by fishing a piece of wire through the loops on the outside hinges. Fold a piece of 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

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 and make sure that there is no slop between the header and sill. If it's not quite right, put another shim where is required and repeat the process until you have the sill and the header to be plumb.

Once the plywood has been put in place, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It's a good idea to use a screw gun with an hex-head attachment so that you avoid stripping the head of the screws.

While you're there, if your house was built with studs running the height of your doorway you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into the framing studs. This is much easier than using a drywall saw to make the hole.

After installing the plywood take measurements of the width and height of your door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the height of the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 to serve as braces for the upper and lower ends. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood with a circular saw equipped with a fine-toothed knife. Splinters can be removed from cuts using a sanding tool.

After you've put in the braces After you have placed the braces, use two pairs 2-inch finishing nail to attach each brace to the plywood. When you're finished counter-sink the heads of all nails. Seal the braces with a quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.

If the door is too large You can either put in decorative molding to fill the space between your door and jamb or you can alter the size of your opening. In many situations, it's more affordable and easier to simply choose an alternative door. It also eliminates any issues you may have had with your original door in the event that it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.