door opening

Dec 04, 2007 1 Replies

I'm framing for an interior door in my basement. I was told that if the door is 36 inches wide to frame 2 inches bigger. That is frame



38 inches which leaves 1 inch on either side. Is that correct ? I guess there needs to be room for the shimming and the door jamb right ? Thanks.

Let's make sure we are talking about the same measurements here - you can never tell for sure in one of these posts.

Assuming a 36" pre-hung door where the door is 36" and the jamb is ~3/4" on both sides - total ~37.5" - then 38" is correct, giving you about 1/2" for squaring and shims. Try and place the shims behind the hinges for support and remove at least one short screw from each hinge and replace it with a screw long enough to reach into the 2x framing of the RO.

Them RO height should typically be 2" taller than the door itself , but you should make sure you are aware of any issues with the floor being uneven (especially in a basement) and, of course, the type of finish floor you will be using. My basement floor is so uneven that I have a bottom gap of over 1" when the bathroom door is closed but barely a whisker of a gap above the rug with the door fully open. You can plan for this before installation or plane the bottom of the door later.

One last point - make sure you seal all 6 sides of the door. If there is any moisture in your basement, the door may warp and be hard to open and close.

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