How to Go About Boarding Up a Door The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is possible by putting up a door with a board. While it may not prevent all damage, it can avoid certain problems that come with severe storms. The idea of boarding up doors and windows can deter trespassers, vandals, and squatters. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to put plywood boards over the openings of a property. Take a measurement of the door The first thing you'll need is a tape measure. It is also advisable to keep an extra chair or ladder in case you have to see more clearly at the top of the frame. If you need to use these tools, be sure to wear gloves and goggles. Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door width measurement. This can be done by running an x-ray measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any additional door parts such as a door sweep to get the measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height from the floor to the existing sill or lintel. It is important to measure more than one location, especially with older doors, as they are not always a perfect rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest figure. You'll have to determine the dimensions of the frame after you've determined the height and width. It should be at minimum 2'' wider and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of space to shim the frame and door into place. It's a great idea remove the casing or trim around the jambs of your door to observe the studs. This will let you take measurements of the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge. After you've removed your trim, you can determine the dimensions of the door frame by running the tape over the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. Also, you should take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Use the shortest measurement for the width of your door. If you are having trouble with the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your home and take the measurement. They'll inform you of the size and style of door you need and how to prepare your frame to accommodate a replacement door. Plywood can be cut into pieces A door frame is generally composed of a series of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs and hold the door in its place. If you are looking to finish doors, you'll need to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a quick and easy method to board a door involves placing plywood in the opening. It is simple to do this without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door. Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks fantastic when finished. This makes it the perfect material for temporary solutions to a problem that requires removing an existing door while renovating or installing a brand new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a space being renovated, such as a basement or construction site. Start by measuring the width of your door opening and the height. Note the measurements using an utility blade and a straight edge made of metal such as a drywall or a square. Then, you should snap an outline of chalk across each of the marked lines to mark the areas you want to cut. Use a circular blade to cut the plywood to the desired size. It is essential to protect your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. If you can, wear a pair of safety goggles and earplugs when working. It is also important to use a blade with a lot of teeth, which will allow you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To minimize the chance of tearing out pieces of wood from the edges of the cut blade, use a small piece of wood as template to guide the blade, and hold it at a distance of just a hair's width away from the line while cutting. Attaching a pair or short braces at each end is a great method to hold the plywood in place without putting screws into the studs. Put one of the braces on the side of the door, and the one on the outside. Place a 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each hole and then tighten with an open-end ratchet. Fix the Plywood Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the right size and with holes for the door frame's rails and stiles already drilled and ready to fasten the panel to the door frame. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills, as long as you have the right tools and follow the proper procedures. Start by setting up a workstation near the doorway, with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses and use the marks made during the measurement process as a reference to cut. Cut the lines using an utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. This will act as a guide for the saw blade, and will prevent splintering of the plywood when cutting it. Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panels with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After the sanding process, apply a coat of wood sealer to the plywood panels and allow to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a hinge with a T-hinge make holes in the exterior face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Then, screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, but be cautious not to tighten too much on one of them or the hinge could shift. If you are using one outside hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain lock by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Fold a short piece to connect wires in half and then fish it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then, twist the wires together and fix the door. Install the Plywood Using the measurements you took using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Shim the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level to make sure there's no slop in either the header or sill. If it's not perfect, put another shim where is required and repeat the process until you get the sill and header to be plumb. When the plywood is in the frame, fix it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/bristol-emergency-boarding-up-near-me/ is a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has a hex-head attachment to avoid stripping the head of the screws. While you're at it If your home was constructed with studs that run across the width of your doorway, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a far easier job than making the hole with the aid of a drill or drywall saw. After installing the plywood after installation, take measurements of the width and the height of your door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber for braces to are positioned across the upper and lower sides of your door. Cut along the lines marked on your plywood using a circular blade with teeth that are finely tipped. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts with an sanding block. Once you have the two braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with pairs of finishing nails 2 inches long. Counter-sink all nail heads after you've finished. Seal the braces and the plywood with a good wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax. If the door is too big for your doorway, you can add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or resize the opening. In many cases, it's cheaper and simpler to just get an alternative door. It also solves any issues you might have encountered with your door's original model in the event that it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.