| How To Install A Prehung Door | | | | should be able to move to the left and |
| Hanging a door these days is easier than | | | | right in the opening. The gap between |
| its ever been. In the days before | | | | the door and jamb on the hinge side is |
| prehung doors, it took more tools and | | | | usually about an 1/8" of an inch. This |
| knowledge to hang a door than it does | | | | dictates the gap or space you should |
| now. | | | | have all around the door. Move the door |
| Imagine getting a door slab, an | | | | jamb to the left or right until you have |
| unassembled door jamb, hinges and door | | | | that same space at the top. You then |
| hardware and having to do all the | | | | nail the trim on the top hinge side and |
| mortising, drilling, rabbeting on site. | | | | the bottom hinge side. Then nail the |
| No longer do you need an array of tools | | | | strike side on the top making sure you |
| such as a drill, a mortising jig for | | | | still have an equal space. Nail off the |
| hinges, strikes, and bolt plate. No jig | | | | rest of the hinge side with 3 or 4 more |
| for drilling the backset for the | | | | nails. The 2 nails already in the top |
| doorknob and bolt. | | | | are all I usually put in. Now nail the |
| Nowadays all you need is a hammer and | | | | rest of the strike side starting at the |
| hard trim nails or a finish nail gun and | | | | top and working your way down, |
| some shims. | | | | maintaining the same space as the top |
| The first thing you need to do is check | | | | and hinge side. |
| the opening you'll be hanging the door | | | | Once the door is nailed into the opening |
| in for the correct size. It should be 2" | | | | on the inside, it's time to shim the |
| bigger than the door size. Even though | | | | door jamb. First, pull the door closed |
| it's a rough opening it should be | | | | to make sure it hits the door stop |
| reasonably plumb and square. | | | | evenly on the strike side. If it is |
| If the opening was framed by someone | | | | hitting only at the top pull the hinge |
| else, you may want to break out your | | | | side toward you till it hits even. If it |
| level and framing square and check this | | | | hits only at the bottom, push the hinge |
| also. Drywallers sometimes believe the | | | | side jamb away from you till it hits |
| rough opening was meant for them and | | | | evenly. |
| will let the drywall run into the | | | | Once you get the jamb aligned put shims |
| opening. If this is the case use a | | | | between the jamb and stud opening, being |
| drywall saw or sawzall to cut it back. | | | | careful not to bow the jamb into the |
| Once all the vitals have been checked | | | | opening. If need be use a straight edge |
| your ready to hang a door. Prehung doors | | | | to keep it straight. I put shims behind |
| come assembled a couple different ways. | | | | every hinge and the strike and also at |
| They can be bought with trim already | | | | the top and bottom of the strike side. I |
| mitered and nailed on to one side and | | | | nail these shims in with two nails, one |
| without trim. If there is no trim | | | | on each side of the stop. |
| installed, I like to put it on before I | | | | The next step is to apply the door |
| put the door in the opening. The trim is | | | | casing to the outside of the door. Once |
| installed on the hinge side. | | | | this is done, your ready for the door |
| Most doors open into a room and against | | | | hardware. If everything went right, the |
| a wall. When putting the door into the | | | | bolt should engage the strike plate and |
| opening, try to put the door in the | | | | the door should fit snuggly against the |
| center of the opening. The door jamb | | | | stops. |