Hanging a door

Hello, I am about to try and hang my first doors and have learned from various places, this group included, that it's more difficult than it looks. Can't say I'm surprised. Apparently a critical item is getting the jambs perfectly spaced, plumb and square, again no big surprise. One suggestion I've read involved cutting a 1x2 brace of the final door width + 1.5in (2xwidth of jamb stock) + say 1/8in for the hinge side gap and tacking that flush to the outside edges of the jamb assembly while shimming to ensure that the desired opening is maintained.

What also comes to mind (though I haven't read this anywhere) is to cut 2 braces of say 10" in length and tacking these so as to brace the top corners in a 6/8/10 triangle thus ensuring the tops of the jamb assembly are square. Yes these would have to be mitered so no material overhung into the shim space but that's pretty simple to do. Anyone care to comment on this? Seems to me if you can get this braced assembly centered in the opening and shimmed plumb on both sides you are good to go.

Eagerly awaiting responses telling me how wrong I am. (actually that's true.. cause that's when I learn things)

ml

Reply to
kzinNOSPAM99
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This sounds like a good idea, particularly for a non pre-hung door. A small allowance for a gap on the non-hinge side should be made.

This could be done, and I've seen windows come this way, in which case it makes sense to leave these braces on while installing the window.

However, for a prehung door, the usual simple way to do things is this: remove the door from the jamb. Position the jamb approximately correctly. Plumb, straighten, align, shim, etc. the hinge side of the jamb. Reinstall the door and close it. Use the door when shimming the non-hinge side of the jamb to get an even reveal between the door and the jamb on the top and non-hinge side of the door.

Cheers, Wayne

Reply to
Wayne Whitney

I recently had to remove a door frame in order to get a new Jacuzzi bath tub into place. I did something like you suggest. I tacked on one long diagonal brace at about 45 degree angle, high on one side, low on the other. Thne I put one horizontal cross brace near the bottom. Worked very well.

Another thing I did was to drill holes through the frame, all the way into the

2x4s. The size was selected to give a snug fit for some big nails I happened to have... perhaps 1/8". I did this at 2 places along both sides and 2 in the head piece at the top. To reinstall the frame I just jockeyed it around till I could slip all of the nails in, then did the permanent nailing. The big ones were then removed and the holes filled with FixAll or something. Worked great!

Ed

various

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Reply to
Jag Man

During my renovation here I rebuilt most of the door frames, and many of the doors for that matter. PS: excellent source for inexpensive but quality hardwood doors:

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I buy them as blanks (undressed) but you can order them prehung, just not for mortise-type locks.

I pre-assemble the door frames in my basement shop on a set of saw horses, using thin oak scraps taped to the sides of the door to maintain the reveal. Then I build the frame as a 4-sided box, mortising the sides into the door header and brad nailing a butt-jointed footer, which is removed just before installation. To keep it square for the haul upstairs I brad nail a diagonal brace across one face. This stays in place until the hinge side vertical is fastened.

Steve Manes Brooklyn, NY

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Reply to
Steve Manes

Why do you want to hang a door? Did it commit a crime? Actually, it's not all that difficult to do. It's the same as hanging a person. Take a rope, make a noose, tie the noose around the doors knob, and pull the other end of the rope till the door is in the air. Tie that other end to something securely, and leave the door suspended in the air. The next day, cut the rope and the door will be dead. Be sure to give it a good burial.

Personally, I'd just lock it in prison for a few years unless it committed a horrendous crime !!!

Reply to
ballsahoy

Hi. Is it possible to hang a door by yourself? I need to hang a door early tomorrow morning, and I don't have any help right now. Are there any tricks of the trade?

Reply to
chemqueries

It is if you know what you are doing. Having 10 people none of whom know what they are doing will not help.

If you mean installing a pre-hung door, then that is a little different. Two people make the job a lot easier, but one can usually do it and it takes a lot less personal knowledge and skill.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

Yes, it is just not nearly as easy.

Yes, get a helper.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

Use wedges to elevate the door so that the hinge(s) on the jamb line up with the mortises on the door.

-- dadiOH ____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06... ....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that. Get it at

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Reply to
dadiOH

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