How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
boarding up service boarding up door a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent all damage but it can assist to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms.
The boarding up windows near me up of windows and doors can also deter burglars and vandals. Installing plywood boards over openings can be time-consuming and expensive.
Measure the Door
The first thing you'll require is tape measure. You may also want to have a chair or ladder on hand in case you need to gain a better view at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses when you make use of these tools.
Begin by measuring the door's width. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove all extra parts of the door, like the sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height from the floor to the sill or lintel. It is important to take measurements in multiple locations, especially when measuring older doors as they might not be the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ take the largest number.
After you've logged the width and height measurements and you'll need to determine the size of 24 hour boarding up service near me you'll need to fit into the frame. It should be at least 2 inches wider and 1 inch taller than the door. 2 higher. This will allow enough space to shim both the door and frame in place.
When you're ready to determine the door frame's size and height measurements It's best to take out any trim or casing from around the door jambs so you can see the studs behind them. This will enable you to take measurements of the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge.
After you have removed the trim, measure the width of the door frame using a tape measure. Measure the frame at three different points and then use the most compact measurement. It is also important to take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door.
If you are having trouble with the measurements, you should get a professional to your home and do the measurement. They will be able to give you 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 composed of a series of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and hold the door in its place. If you wish to finish a door, you will have to take it off its hinges overnight. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door opening, a simple method to board the door is to put plywood in the opening. It is easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood to the door's frame.
Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks stunning when completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary solution for situations where you need to remove an existing door in order to finish it or build an entirely new one. It can also be used to protect the opening of a room being transformed, such as an excavation site or basement.
Begin by measuring the width of your door opening as well as its height. Mark the measurements on the plywood with the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or another straight edge of metal. Next, snap the chalk lines across each of the lines marked to indicate where you'll need to cut. Then you can use a circular saw to cut out the plywood into a size.
When cutting the plywood, it is important to protect your eyes and ears. If possible wear eye protection and earplugs as you are working. It is also essential to use a blade with many teeth, which will allow you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To reduce the chances of breaking pieces of wood from the edges of your cut, use a small block of wood as an example to guide the blade and keep it only a hair's length away from the marked line while cutting.
Fastening a pair of short braces on each side is a great method to hold the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Set one brace on the side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Then, place a pair of 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each of the holes, and tighten them using an open-end wrench.
Fix the Plywood
Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the proper size and with the holes for the door frame's stiles and rails predrilled then it's time to fasten the panel to the frame. This is a relatively easy project that doesn't require extensive carpentry skills, as long as you follow the right procedures and use the right tools.
Set up a table in the doorway, with two sawhorses at each end, as well as framing 2x4s. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process as a reference to cut. Use a utility blade and a straight edge of metal to score the lines. This will act as a guide to the saw blade and prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it.
Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw equipped with a fine-toothed blade cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and remove 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 onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes on the outside edge of your door to allow for the strap portion of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its spot and attach it to the frame with the help of a screw gun. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, but be careful not to overtighten one of them or the panel may shift.
If you have a single T-hinged outside door, you can make it easier to close by placing an electrical wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Bend a piece of tie wire in half, and place it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then twist the wires together to pull them tightly and secure the door.
Install the Plywood
With the measurements you made, place the plywood in the door opening. Shim the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Utilize a level to make sure there's not any slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right you can place a second shim wherever required and repeat the process until the header and sill are even.
Once the plywood is inside the frame, secure it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It is a good idea to make use of a screw gun with an attachment for a hex-head to keep the head from being stripped of the screws.
While you're at it, if your house boarding up service was built with studs that extend across the width of your doorway, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a far easier task than cutting the hole using the aid of a drill or drywall saw.
After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim your bottom plywood to be a little higher than the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing wood 1-by-6 as braces for the upper and lower ends. Cut along the lines drawn on your plywood with circular blades with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding device.
After you've put in the braces after you have positioned them, use two pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches to join each brace to the plywood. Counter sink all the nail heads after you've finished. Cover the braces and plywood with a quality wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.
If the door is still too big for the doorway, you can put in an ornamental molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or alter the size of the opening. However, in most cases, it's cheaper and easier to simply get a new door. It also solves any issues you may have had with your door's original model in the event that it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.