How to Go About Boarding Up a Door
boarding up service near me up a door is one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent every damage but it can assist to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms.
24 hour boarding up service up windows and doors can also deter burglars or vandals from entering your property. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to set boarding up doorway plywood boards over the openings of a property.
Measure the Door
The first thing you'll need is tape measure. It is a good idea to keep a ladder or a chair close by in case you require a better view of the top of the frame. If you have to make use of these tools, be sure to wear gloves and goggles.
Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door width measurement. This can be done by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Be sure to remove any extra door parts like the door sweep and door sweep, from the measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height by measuring from the floor up to the existing sill or the lintel. It is essential to measure multiple locations particularly with older doors, since they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements differ then use the largest number.
After you've recorded the width and height measurements and you'll need to determine what size board you'll need for the frame. It should be at least 2 wider and 1 higher than the door. 2 higher. This will allow enough space to shim the door and frame into place.
It's a great idea to remove the trim or casing around the jambs of the door to be able to see the studs. This will help you to determine the exact size of the gap between studs and the frame.
After removing the trim, measure the width of the door frame using the tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different locations and use the smallest measurement. It is also important to take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door.
If you are having trouble with the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your home and do the measurements. They will be able to give you the exact kind of door and size you require and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is usually made of a series of studs or thin boards that create an open space around the door. The typical door is secured by two hinges that are attached to these studs. If you wish to finish the door, you'll have to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a straightforward method of boarding up company near me the door is to put plywood in the opening. It is easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood onto the door's frame.
Plywood is simple to work with, inexpensive and looks beautiful once completed. It is the ideal material to make a temporary solution for a problem where you need to remove an existing door to finish it or build an entirely new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room that is being transformed, such as an excavation site or basement.
To build a wall made of plywood begin by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Make notes using an utility knife and a straight edge of metal such as a drywall or a metal square. Then, snap a chalkline across each line to mark the area to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to size.
It is important to protect both your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs whenever possible. Additionally, it is crucial to use a knife with a lot of teeth that will cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's breadth away from the marked line when cutting.
Fastening a pair of short braces at each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place, without screwing it into the studs. Put 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
It's time to join the the frame after you have the wood sheet cut to the proper dimensions and the holes for the stiles and rails of the door frame predrilled. This is a simple task that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills if you use the correct tools and follow the correct procedure.
Begin by putting boarding up company near me a worktable near the doorway. There are two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process to guide you to cut. Mark the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or other metal straight edge. This will provide a guideline for the saw blade and prevent splintering when you cut the plywood.
Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the scored line. Then sand the edges the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the panels and remove any burrs from the saw cuts. After the sanding, apply a layer 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 T-hinge, make holes in the exterior side of your door to accommodate the straps portion of the hinges. Next, position the hinge's outside on its mark and screw it to the frame with a screw gun. Repeat the process for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be careful not to overtighten them, or the door may shift.
If you have a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain latch by putting a piece of wire through the loops on the hinges outside. Fold a piece of tie wire in half, and then thread it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, twist the wires to lock the door.
Install the Plywood
Install the plywood in the door's opening according to the measurements you have taken. Change the frame's header (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 perfect you can put another shim in the place where you need it and repeat the procedure until you've got the header and sill to be in a straight line.
When the plywood is in the frame, secure it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It's a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has an attachment for a hex-head to keep the head from being stripped of the screws.
While you're there, should your home be constructed with studs running the height of your doorway, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into the framing studs. This is much easier than using a drywall cutter to create the hole.
After putting the plywood in place after installation, take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, cut the bottom of the plywood to match the dimensions of your door frame and cut two pieces of framing lumber for braces to attach across the upper and lower sides of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood with a circular saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Take any splinters out of the cuts using the help of a the sanding block.
After you have the braces set attach each one to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails 2 inches long. Counter-sink all nail heads when you're done. The braces should be sealed with a good wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.
If the door is still too big for your doorway, you could add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the gap between the jamb and the door or alter the size of the opening. However, in most situations, it's more affordable and easier to simply find a new door. It also removes any problems you might have encountered with the door you originally purchased even if it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.