How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is possible by boarding up a door. While it may not be able to prevent all destruction, it can help avoid some of the problems that can arise from severe storms. The boarding up of windows and doors can also deter burglars and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings of a property. Take a measurement of the door The first thing you'll require is tape measure. It is a good idea to keep a ladder or chair close to hand in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses in the event that you need to make use of these tools. Start by taking measurements of the width of the door. You can do this by running an x-ray measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any other parts of the door, like a sweep, when measuring. Then, you can determine the height measurement by measuring up from the floor to the current sill plate or lintel. It is crucial to measure in multiple locations especially for older doors, because they may not be an exact rectangle. If the measurements are different take the largest number. After you've logged the measurements of height and width then you'll have to determine what size boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. It should be at a minimum 2 inches larger and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow enough space to shim both the frame and frame into place. When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements, it's recommended to remove any trim or casing the door jambs, so you can see the studs behind them. This will allow you to determine the exact distance between the frame's studs and the edge. After taking off the trim, take a measurement of the width of your door frame using the tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different points and then use the most compact measurement. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/dover-emergency-boarding-up-near-me/ should also measure the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement to determine your door's width. If you're having difficulty with the measurements, get a professional to your house and conduct the measurement. They'll be able to determine the exact type and size of door you require and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the new door. Cut the Plywood A door frame is typically made of a series of studs or boards that create an open space around the door. The typical door is held in place by two hinges connected to the studs. This means that if you want to finish the door, it's important to remove the hinges off the door for a night. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a quick and easy method for boarding doors is to place plywood in the opening. This is a simple process without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door. Plywood is cheap, easy to work with and looks fantastic when finished. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary solution for a problem where you're required to remove an existing door to finish it or build a new one. It can also be useful to secure the opening in the room being renovated, such as 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 measurements with a utility blade and a straight edge of metal like a drywall or a square. Then, you can snap an outline of chalk across each line to indicate where to cut. Then, use circular saws to cut the plywood into a size. It is essential to protect your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs when you can. It is also essential to use a sharp blade with lots of teeth which will permit you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To avoid cutting pieces of wood from the edges of your cut blade, use a small piece of wood as an example to guide the blade, and hold it just a hair's width away from the line while cutting. Attaching a pair or short braces at each end is a good way to secure the plywood in place, without screwing it into studs. Put one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Place a 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each hole and tighten with an open-end ratchet. Fix the Plywood It's time to join the panel to the frame once you have the plywood sheet cut to the correct dimensions and the holes for the stiles and rails of the door frame are predrilled. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the correct tools and follow the correct procedures. Set up a table in the entrance with two sawhorses on each end and framing lumber 2x4s. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process as a guide for cutting. Cut the lines using the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will create an outline for the saw blade, and will help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood. Wear eye protection and use a circular 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 let it dry according to the manufacturer's instructions. Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T-hinge drill holes in the outer face of your door for the straps of the hinges. Next, position the hinge's outside on its mark and attach it onto the frame using an screw gun. Repeat the process for every hinge on the inside of your door. Be cautious not to tighten them too much or the door may shift. If you have a single hinged T on your outside door, you can make the latch easier to close by fishing an electrical wire through the loops of the exterior hinges. Bend a piece of tie wire in half, and put it through the two holes on the outside of the door. You can then connect the wires to pull them tight and lock the door. Install the Plywood Install the plywood in the door's opening according to the measurements you took. Move the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level and ensure that there is no slop between the sill and the header. If it's not quite right then put a second shim in the area is required and repeat the process until you have the sill and the header to be level. When the plywood is in the frame, fix it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. It is a good idea to utilize a screw gun that has an attachment for a hex-head to keep the head from being stripped of the screws. While you're at it, if your house was built with studs that run across the width of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is much simpler than using a drywall cutter to make the hole. After you have installed the plywood, measure the width and height of your door opening. If necessary, cut the bottom of the plywood to match the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber to form braces that attach across the upper and lower edges of your door. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood with circular saws fitted with a fine-toothed blade. Take any splinters out of the cuts with an Sanding block. Once you've got the braces set attach each one to the plywood with a pair of 2-inch finishing nails. Counter sink all nail heads when you're done. Cover the braces with a good wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax. If the door is too large it is possible to add decorative molding to fill in the space between your door and jamb or you can resize your opening. In many cases, however it's cheaper and simpler to purchase a new door. This also eliminates any headaches you may have experienced with the original door, if it was damaged and didn't fit for the opening.