How to Go About property boarding up Up a Door
Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is possible by putting boarding up windows near me a door with a board. It's not guaranteed to stop all damages, but it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms.
emergency boarding up cost boarding up service windows and doors (click through the next document) can also deter burglars, vandals, and squatters. Installing plywood boards over openings can be costly and time-consuming.
Measure the Door
The first thing you'll need is tape measure. You might want to keep a chair or ladder close to hand in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. If you need to use these tools, be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses.
Begin by measuring the width of the door. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to eliminate any additional door parts like a door sweep and door sweep, from this measurement. Then, measure the height from the floor to the existing sill or lintel. It is important to take measurements in multiple locations, especially when measuring doors that are older as they may not be the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ then use the largest number.
You'll need to determine the size of the frame after you've measured the width and height. It should be at minimum 2 wider and 1 taller than the door. 2 higher. This will allow you enough room to shim the door and frame in place.
It's a great idea remove the trim or casing around the jambs of your door to see the studs. This will allow you determine the exact measurement of the gap between the studs and the edges of the frame.
After taking off the trim, take a measurement of the width of your door frame using a tape measure. Measure the frame at three different places and then use the most compact measurement. It is also important to measure the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement to determine your door's width.
If you're having issues with the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your home and take the measurements. They'll tell you the dimensions and what kind of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door.
Cut the Plywood
A door frame is usually composed of studs or thin boards that create an open space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges that are fixed to the studs. This means that if you need to finish the door, it is necessary to remove the door from its hinges for a night. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door's opening, a straightforward method to board the door is to put plywood in the opening. This is a simple process without having to nail or screw the plywood to the door frame.
Plywood is simple to work with, affordable and looks great once it's completed. It is the ideal material to make a temporary solution to a problem in which you have to take down an existing door in order to refinish or install a new one. It is also a great option for securing the opening in a room that is being renovated, like an unfinished basement, or a construction site.
To install a plywood wall, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Note the dimensions on the plywood with an utility knife and an drywall square or any other straight edge of metal. Then, draw a chalkline across each line to indicate where to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to the desired size.
It is essential to protect your ears and eyes while cutting plywood. Wear earplugs or goggles that are protective when you can. In addition, it is crucial to use a knife with a large number of teeth that will cut quickly and with less tear-out. To avoid breaking pieces of wood from the edges of your cut using a small piece of wood as a template to guide the blade, and hold it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting.
Attaching a pair or short braces to each end is a great method to hold the plywood in place, without screwing it into the studs. Place one of the braces on the side of the door, and the one on the outside. Install a deck screws in each hole and tighten by using an open-end ratchet.
Fasten the Plywood
Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the right size and with holes for rails and stiles predrilled and ready to attach the panel to the frame. This is a relatively easy project that doesn't require extensive carpentry skills, so long as you follow the correct procedures and use the appropriate tools.
Begin by setting property boarding up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process as a reference for cutting. Cut the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or another metal straight edge. This will act as a guide for the saw blade and will prevent splintering of the plywood when cutting it.
Put on eye protection and cut along the lines of scoring with a circular saw or table saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Then sand the edges the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth out the panels and remove any burrs from the saw cuts. After sanding process, 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 T-hinge drill holes in the outer edge of your door to allow for the strap portion of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its mark and attach it into the frame using the help of a screw gun. Repeat the process for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be careful not to overtighten them, or the door could move.
If you're using an outside hinged door with only one T you can make it easier to lock and close using a chain latch by putting a piece of wire through the loops on the outside hinges. Bend a short piece of tie wire in half, and put it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then twist the wires together to pull them tightly and fix the door.
Install the Plywood
Install the plywood in the opening of the door according to the measurements you have taken. Shim the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Use a level to be sure there's no slop in either the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right you can place a second shim wherever it is needed and continue the process until the sill and header are plumb.
Once the plywood has been put in place, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It's a good idea make use of a screw gun with a hex-head attachment to prevent stripping the head of the screws.
While you're at it should your home be constructed with studs running across the width of your doorway, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a much easier task than cutting the hole with a drywall saw.
After installing the plywood after installation, take measurements of the width and the height of the door opening. If needed, trim the plywood bottom to be a little higher than the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 as braces for the upper and lower ends. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood using a circular saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Take any splinters out of the cuts with the help of a Sanding block.
After you've put in the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. Counter-sink all nail heads when you're done. Seal the braces and the plywood with a high-quality wood sealer, like this wipe on polyurethane from Minwax.
If the door is too big for the doorway, you can add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the space between the door and jamb or you can reduce the size of the opening. In many instances, it's cheaper and easier to simply choose an alternative door. This will also take away any issues you might have had with the door you originally purchased if it was damaged and could no longer fit the opening.