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10 Undeniable Reasons People Hate Boarding Up A Door
How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is attainable by boarding up a door. It's not guaranteed to stop all damage, but it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms.

The idea of boarding up doors and windows can deter trespassers, vandals, and squatters. Installing plywood panels over openings could be time-consuming and costly.

Take a measurement of the door

The first thing you'll need is 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. If you need to make use of these tools, be sure to wear gloves and goggles.


Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any extra parts of the door, like a sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height from the floor up to the sill or the lintel. It is essential to measure multiple places especially for older doors, as they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements are different take the largest number.

You'll need to determine the size of the frame once you've taken measurements of the height and width. Ideally it should be 2'' larger than the door and 1 inch thicker than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of space to move the frame and door to fit.

When you're ready to determine the door frame's size and height measurements It's best to take out any trim or casing the door jambs, so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will help you determine the exact dimensions of the gap between studs and the edges of the frame.

After removing the trim, measure the width of the door frame using a tape measure. Measure the frame at three different locations and use the smallest measurement. It is also important to take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement for the width of your door.

If you're having issues with these measurements it's best to speak with a professional and have them come out to your house to take the measurements for you. They will be able to give you the exact kind of door and size you require and how to prepare the frame for the door you want to buy.

Plywood can be cut into pieces

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 position. This means that if you want to restore the door, it's essential to take the hinges from the door overnight. Placing plywood in the door opening is an easy method to enclose the door and keep insects from gaining entry into the home. It is simple to do this without nailing or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.

Plywood is simple to work with, cheap and looks great once it's finished. It is the perfect material to make a temporary solution for situations where you're required to remove an existing door to refinish or install the new one. It is also useful to secure the opening of an area that is being renovated, like an unfinished basement, or a construction site.

To install a plywood wall begin by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Mark the dimensions on the plywood using an utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, you can snap a chalkline across each line to mark the area to cut. Utilize boarding up and burglary repairs repairmywindowsanddoors to cut the plywood into the required size.

When cutting the plywood, it is important to protect your ears and eyes. Wear protective goggles or earplugs if possible. Additionally, it is essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that will cut quickly and without tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Keep it a hair's width away from the mark when cutting.

Fastening a pair of short braces to each end is a great way to secure the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Put one brace on the inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, place a pair of 1-1/2-inch deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them using an open-end wrench.

Secure the Plywood

Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the proper size and with the holes for rails and stiles predrilled and ready to fasten the panel to the frame. This is a relatively simple project that does not require extensive carpentry skills, provided you follow the correct procedures and use the appropriate tools.

Begin by setting up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge made of metal to score the lines. This will serve 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 score line. Sand the edges of the panels with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding, apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using T hinges, make holes through the outer face of the door for the straps of the hinges. Then, screw the outside hinge to the frame with a screwdriver. Repeat the process for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be cautious not to tighten them too much, or the panel could shift.

If you are using a single outside T-hinged door, you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain latch by putting a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Fold a small piece of make a half-way tie, and then thread it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires to lock the door.

Install the Plywood

Place the plywood into the opening of the door according to the measurements you took. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to be sure there's no slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't perfect you can put another shim in the area is required and repeat the procedure until you've got the sill and header to be plumb.

Once the plywood is inside the frame, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. Use a screwgun with an attachment for hex heads to avoid stripping off the heads of the screws.

While you're at it if your house was built with studs that extend through the doorway's height make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a much easier task than cutting the hole using a saw for drywall.

After installing the plywood, measure the width and height of your door opening. If necessary, trim your plywood bottom to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 as braces for the lower and upper ends. Cut along the lines that are marked on your plywood with a circular blade with teeth that are finely tipped. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts by using an sanding block.

After you've placed the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. After you're done counter-sink the heads of all nails. Make sure to seal the braces and the plywood with a high-quality wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.

If your door is too big You can either put in decorative molding to fill in the gap between your door and jamb or you can alter the size of your opening. In many cases, it's cheaper and simpler to just get an alternative door. It also removes any problems that you might have experienced with your original door, if it was damaged or not suitable for the opening.

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