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How to Replace an Interior Door

Interior doors can become damaged, difficult to operate or old-fashioned compared to the rest of the d�cor. Replacing an interior door is a one-day project for one or two people.

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Hammer Level Lockset Magnet Nail set Nails, 10-penny Nails, 6-penny Pry bar Putty knife Reciprocating saw Tape measure Utility knife Wood putty Wood shims

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How to Replace an Interior Door

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" Whether it's to improve the look of the house or to replace a damaged door, the first step to replacing the door is to gather the measurements you will need to buy a replacement. We're replacing an old door you will want to measure the opening that the doorjamb or frame goes into as well as the door sides. Doors can be ordered in standard and custom sizes. Doors are referred to by their dimensions such as 3 feet by 6 feet with the width first and the height second. The measurement is the size of the door alone and does not include the doorframe. Lastly, it's important to note which way the door opens as you can buy a pre-hung door with hinges on either side. If the door opens toward you and the handle is on the left then the door is left handed. If the door opens towards you and the handle is on the right then the door is right handed. Besides the door, you'll need wood shims, ten-penny nails, six-penny nails, wood putty, and the lock set. First, remove the door. The easiest way to remove the door is to remove the hinge pins. Use a nail set and a hammer to lift the pins up out of the hinges. Do this with each hinge. Remove the door and set it aside. Next we will remove the trim. Before we do use a utility knife to cut the paint between the trim molding and the wall. This will keep you from damaging the wall. Using a pry bar. Carefully pry off the trim molding that surrounds the frame. Generally, the doorframe is held to the studs with a few finish nails on either side of the frame near the hinges and directly across from the hinges. One way to locate the nails is with the magnet. Once you locate the nails remove all the paint and putty. You'll need to get the nails out in order to remove the doorframe. First, she if you could drive them out completely through the frame using a nail set. If that doesn't work, you can slip a reciprocal saw between the doorjambs and the filler material and cut the nails in two. With all the nails removed, the casing will slide out easily. The two sides of the casing are attached to the frame with staples. Remove all the staples. With the"

" checking the frame and adjusting the shims you inserted between the studs in the doorframe until the frame is both plumb and level. Then, tack it in place with a ten-penny finish nail hammered through the frame and the shims partway into the stud. Do not hammer the nail all the way in yet. Go around the frame one more time and make sure that the frame is square and plumb in all directions. Then, drive in the finish nails until they are nearly flush with the frame and countersink each nail with a nail set. Use the utility knife to cut away the excess shim edges to make room for the trim and attach the new trim around the door using six-penny finishing nails. Use a nail set to drive the nail just below the level of the wood. Following the manufacturer's guidelines, putty the nail holes with wood putty. Your new door is now ready to paint or stain to suit your style."

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Storm-Ready Windows and Doors

Doors and windows are vulnerable components of your homes protective shell or envelope because they are easily penetrated by wind-borne debris often generated by the high winds of storms like hurricanes. If that envelope is breached during a storm because of the failure of windows and doors, wind, wind-driven rain and debris can enter your home causing considerable damage to its interior and your property. A more critical issue develops when the envelope is breached -- high winds can enter your home and exert high pressure on your walls and roof. These internal pressures combined with the external pressure of wind blowing over your home can lead to catastrophic damage. You can protect your home's openings by installing impact-resistant windows and doors or installing impact resistant coverings, such as shutters over windows and doors. Impact resistant glass and shutters are specifically designed to meet a combination of impact and continuous pressure from the wind. Always use products that have been tested to one of these standards and have been designated as such through a recognized product approval system or evaluation report. Ratings SBCCI SSTD 12 ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996 Miami-Dade Protocols PA 201, PA 202, and PA 203. Impact resistant windows usually consist of a clear plastic-like film sandwiched between two specially-treated pieces of glass, giving the window greater strength than glass alone. Equally important as the strength of the glass is the strength of the window's frame. An impact resistant window is tested as a unit that includes the glass, the frame, as well as the attachment hardware and the installation method. Impact resistant windows should always be installed following the manufacturer's recommendations. Exterior doors should also be wind and impact resistant or protected with an impact resistant covering. Garage Doors Garage doors are particularly vulnerable to high winds, because of the long span of opening they cover and the relatively lightweight material they are made of. Two options are available for strengthening garage doors. Replace the door and track with a system that is designed to withstand high winds and wind-borne debris. The second option is to protect the garage door with a tested and approved impact resistant covering.

Hanging Double Doors

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New Insulated Garage Doors

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