How to Go About Boarding Up a Door A door can be boarded up as one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. While it won't stop all damage, it can reduce certain problems caused by severe storms. Boarding up windows and doors can also deter burglars or vandals from entering your property. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings in a home. Measure the Door The first thing you'll need is tape measure. It is a good idea to keep a ladder or chair nearby in case you need a better view of the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses if you have to use these tools. Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door width measurement. You can do this by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Be sure to eliminate any additional door parts such as the door sweep and door sweep, from this measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height by measuring from the floor up to the existing sill or lintel. It is important to measure in multiple places particularly with older doors, as they may not be a perfect rectangle. If hertford boarding up are different, use the largest number. You'll need to determine the size of the frame after you've determined the length and width. It should be at minimum 2'' wider and 1'' taller 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 take the door frame's width and height measurements, it's best to take out any trim or casing from around the door jambs so you can see the studs behind them. This will help you determine the exact measurement of the gap between the studs and the edges of the frame. After you have removed the trim, measure the width of your door frame using a tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different places and use the smallest measurement. It is also important to determine the height of the frame from top to bottom, on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement to determine your door's width. If you're having issues with these measurements it's best to consult an expert and have them come to your home to take the measurements for you. They will be able to determine the exact type and size of door you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy. Cut the Plywood A door frame is typically made of a series of studs or thin boards that create a hollow space around the door. The typical door is held in place by two hinges connected to the studs. This means that if you need to finish the door, it is essential to take the hinges from the door overnight. Placing plywood into the door's opening is an easy method to board the door and keep insects from getting into your home. It is simple to do without having to screw or nail the plywood to the door frame. Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks fantastic when finished. This makes it the perfect material to provide a temporary solution to problems that require the removal of the door that is in use and refinishing or installing a new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room that is being transformed, such as the construction site or basement. For a wall constructed of plywood begin by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Mark the measurements with an utility blade and a metal straight edge, such as a drywall or a metal square. Next, snap the chalk lines across the lines marked to indicate where you need to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to size. When cutting the plywood it is crucial to shield your ears and eyes. Wear earplugs or goggles that are protective when you can. It is also important to use a blade with lots of teeth which will permit you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To reduce the chances of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of the cut blade, use a small piece of wood as template to guide the blade and keep it at a distance of just a hair's width away from the line when cutting. An effective way to hold the plywood in place without fixing it to the studs is by fixing braces that are short at each end. Place one of the braces on the side of the door, and the other on the outside. Then, position two 1-1/2-inch deck screws into each of the holes and tighten them with an open-end wrench. Secure the Plywood It's now time to connect the panel to the frame after you have the plywood sheet cut to the correct size and the holes to attach rails and stiles of the door frame predrilled. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills if you use the correct tools and follow the correct procedures. Begin by setting up a table near the doorway, with two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat on top of the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process as a reference for cutting. Mark the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or another metal straight edge. This will act as a guide to the saw blade, and will prevent splintering of the plywood when cutting it. Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines with a circular saw or table saw with a fine-tooth blade. Then, sand the edges of the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the panels and remove any burrs from the saw cuts. After sanding, apply a layer of wood sealer on the plywood panels, and let dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If you are using a T hinge, you need to drill holes through the outer face of the door for the strap portions of the hinges. Then, attach the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for each of the remaining hinges, being careful not to overtighten one of them or the hinge could shift. If you have only a single hinged outside door, you can make it easier for the latch to close by putting wire through the loops of the exterior hinges. Fold a small piece of tie wire in half, and then put 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 opening of the door according to the measurements you made. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level and ensure that there is no slop between the header and sill. If the level isn't perfect then put a second shim in the area is required and repeat the process until you have the sill and header to be level. Once the plywood is in place, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wingnuts. It is a good idea to use a screw gun with a hex-head attachment to prevent stripping the head of the screws. While you're there, should your home be constructed with studs that extend 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 installing the plywood take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, cut your bottom of the plywood to match the height your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing wood 1-by-6 to serve as braces for the upper and lower ends. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines marked on the plywood with a circular saw fitted with a fine-toothed knife. Take any splinters out of the cuts with an the sanding block. After you've placed the braces After you have placed the braces, use two pairs finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. After you're done counter-sink the heads of all the nails. Seal the braces using a high-quality wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax. If the door is still too big for the doorway, you can add an ornamental molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or you can resize the opening. However, in many instances, it's cheaper and simpler to just get an alternative door. This also eliminates any headaches that you might have faced with the original door if it was damaged and didn't suitable for the opening.
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