Tips For Door Replacement

Replacing a door is something every homeowner should know how to do. It is a good skill that can be used to help weatherproof a house or just change the look of a room. It is not a difficult process and one that can easily be learned by anyone with basic skills.

Types of Doors

Before actually replacing a door you will need to choose a door. There are three main types of doors - entry, interior and combination. The same general installation is followed for all types of doors. Entry doors are actually the most complex because they need lock installation.

Steps to Replacement

Step One: Remove the old door, being careful not to damage the door frame. To remove use a wedge to take the weight off the hinges and then simply unscrew them or tap out the pin, depending on the door type.

Step Two: Remove the hinges. You can do this by simply unscrewing them. They can be reused if you are using a similar door as a replacement. They can be buffed or painted.

Step Three: Install new hinges. The screws used to install the hinges should be long enough to go through the frame and stud-wall.

Step Four: Trim the new door, if needed. You can use the old door as a pattern for the correct size or you can take measurements.

Step Five: Prepare the new door. This is done by cutting out the area for the top and bottom hinges. You can use the old door as a pattern or take measurements. It is very important that this be exact or the door will not hang properly. You will use a square and a pencil to mark the hinge locations. Use the hinge to trace onto the door. Then use a chisel to clean up the area and make the notch for the hinge in the wood.

Step Six: Apply wood sealant to the door edges and attach the hinges with wood screws.

Step Seven: Hang the door. Make sure it is even and close the door. Mark where it hits in the middle hinge area. Now ready the door for the middle hinge as you did before with the top and bottom hinges.

Step Eight: Finish hanging the door and install the door knob.