Why You Should Concentrate On Enhancing Boarding Up A Door
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Boarding up a door is one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent all damages however it can help to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms. The idea of boarding up doors and windows can also deter burglars and vandals as well as squatters. However it can be costly and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings on a house. Measure the Door The first thing you'll need is an accurate tape measure. You might want to keep a chair or ladder close by in case you require to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses if you have to use these tools. Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running an x-ray measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to take out all other parts of the door, such as a sweep, when measuring. Next, measure the height by measuring from the floor to the current sill plate or the lintel. It is important to measure in multiple places especially for older doors, because they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements are different, use the largest number. You'll need to determine the size of the frame after having taken measurements of the width and height. Ideally it should be 2 inches greater than the door's width and 1 inch thicker than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of room to put the door and frame to fit. When you're ready to determine the door frame's size and height measurements It's recommended to remove any trim or casing from around the door jambs so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you to determine the exact size of the gap between studs and the edge of the frame. After removing the trim, measure the width of your door frame using the tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different points and then use the smallest measurement. Also, you should 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 difficulty with the measurements, you should consult a professional to come to your house and conduct 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 composed of studs or boards that create an open space around the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and hold the door in its place. This means that if you need to finish the door, it is necessary to remove the hinges off the door for a night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a simple method to board the door is to put plywood in the opening. It's easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood onto the door's frame. Plywood is simple to work with, affordable and looks great once it's finished. This makes it the ideal material for an interim solution to an issue that requires the removal of an existing door while refinishing or installing a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room being renovated, such as the construction site or basement. To install a plywood wall begin by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Note the dimensions on the plywood with the help of a utility knife, an drywall square or any other straight edge made of metal. Then, you should snap the chalk lines across each of the lines marked to indicate where you need to cut. Finally utilize circular saws to cut out the plywood into a size. When cutting the plywood it is important to protect your eyes and ears. Wear earplugs or goggles that are protective when you can. In addition, it's crucial to use a knife with a large number of teeth that can cut quickly and without tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it a hair's distance from the marked line when cutting. Fastening a pair of short braces to each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place, without screwing it into the studs. Set one brace inside and the other outside of the door. Then, position a pair of 1-½-inch deck screws into 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 right size and with the holes for the door frame's rails and stiles already drilled and ready to secure the panel to the door frame. It is a fairly simple project that does not require a lot of carpentry expertise, so long as you follow the correct procedures and use the proper tools. Set up a table in the entrance, with two sawhorses at each end and framing lumber 2x4s. Make marks during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Cut the lines using a utility knife and 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 you cut it. Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the line of scoring. Then sand the edges of the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels, and let dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge drill holes in the outer side of your door to accommodate the strap portion of the hinges. Next, position the hinge's outside face on its mark and attach it into the frame using a screw gun. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, but be cautious not to tighten too much on any of them or the panel may shift. If you're using one outside hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock using a chain latch by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Fold a piece of connect wires in half and then put it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires to fix the door. Install the Plywood Based on the measurements you have taken using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to make sure there's not any slop in the header or sill. If it isn't perfect, place another shim where necessary and continue the process until the sill and header are plumb. Once the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. It's a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has an hex-head attachment so that you avoid stripping the head of the screws. While you're there, 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 much simpler than using a drywall saw to make the hole. After you have installed the plywood take measurements of the width and height of your door opening. If emergency boarding up 24/7 repairmywindowsanddoors , cut your bottom plywood to match the height your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing wood 1-by-6 to form braces for the upper and lower edges. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood with a circular saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Take any splinters out of the cuts with an the sanding block. After you have the braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Once you're done, counter sink the heads of all nails. Seal the braces and the plywood with a quality wood sealer such as this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If your door is too large You can either put in decorative molding to fill the space between your door and jamb or you can resize your opening. In many instances, however it's cheaper and more convenient to buy a new door. It also solves any issues you might have encountered with your original door, if it was damaged or not suitable for the opening.