How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is possible by boarding up a door. It may not prevent every damage, but it can help to avoid some of the issues that are associated with severe storms. The boarding up of windows and doors will also discourage trespassers and vandals. However, https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/eastleigh-emergency-boarding-up-near-me/ can be expensive and time-consuming to set up plywood boards over the openings of a property. Take a measurement of the door You'll first need a tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or chair close by in case you require a better view of the top of the frame. If you have to make use of these tools, be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses. Begin by taking measurements of the length of the door. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any other parts of the door, like the sweep, when measuring. Then, you can take the height measurement by measuring up from the floor to the current sill plate or lintel. It is important to measure in more than one location particularly with older doors, since they may not be an exact rectangle. If the measurements differ, use the largest figure. You'll have to determine the dimensions of the frame once you've determined the width and height. It should be at minimum 2 inches wider and 1'' higher than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you enough space to shim both the door and frame into place. It's a good idea to remove the casing or trim around the jambs of your door to observe the studs. This will enable you to determine the exact distance between the studs of the frame and the edge. After taking off the trim, take a measurement of the width of your door frame using a tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different places and then use the smallest measurement. Also, you should measure the height of the frame from the top to the bottom on both sides, and then use the shortest measurement to determine the height of your door. If you're having difficulty with the measurements, you should get a professional to your home and take the measuring. They'll inform you of the size and type of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame to accommodate a replacement door. Plywood can be cut into pieces A door frame is typically made up of a series thin boards or studs that create a hollow space around the door. A typical door is held in place by two hinges that are attached to these studs. This means that if you want to refinish the door, it's essential to take the hinges off the door overnight. Placing plywood into the door opening is an easy method to board doors and stop insects from entering the home. This is easy to do without having to nail or screw the plywood to the door frame. Plywood is easy to work with, cheap and looks beautiful once completed. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary solution for situations where you need to remove an existing door in order to finish it or build a new one. It can also be useful to secure the opening in an area that is being renovated, like an unfinished basement, or a construction site. To install a plywood wall begin by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Mark the measurements with a utility blade and a straight edge of metal, such as a drywall or a metal square. Then, draw the chalkline along each line to mark the area to cut. Finally, use a circular saw to cut the plywood to the desired size. When cutting the plywood, it is crucial to shield your ears and eyes. If possible, wear a pair of eye protection and earplugs as you are working. It is also essential to use a blade with lots of teeth that will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. To avoid tearing out pieces of wood from the edges of the cut, use a small block of wood as template to guide the blade and keep it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting. Attaching a pair or short braces on each side is a great method to secure the plywood in place, without screwing it into the studs. Place one of the braces on the side of the door, and the other on the outside. Then, position two 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each of the holes and tighten them using an open-end wrench. Secure the Plywood When you have a piece of plywood cut to the proper dimensions and with the holes for rails and stiles predrilled and ready to fasten the panel to the door frame. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require a lot of advanced carpentry skills if you have the right tools and follow the correct procedures. Set up a table in the doorway with two sawhorses at each end, and framing lumber 2x4s. Utilize the marks you made during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Utilize a utility blade and a metal straight edge to cut the lines. This will act as a guide to the saw blade and will prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it. Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding, apply a layer of wood sealer on 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 are using T hinges, make holes through the exterior of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Then, you can screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for each of the remaining hinges, being careful not to overtighten any of them, or the door will shift. If you are using one outside hinged door, you can make it easier to lock and close using a chain latch by putting a piece of wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Fold a small piece of tie wire in half, and then fish it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, twist the wires together and lock the door. Install the Plywood Using the measurements you took using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to be sure there's no slop in the header or sill. If it's not perfect then place another shim if it is needed and continue the process until the sill and the header are plumb. Once the plywood is inside the frame, fix it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. Use a screwgun equipped with a hex head attachment to avoid stripping off the screws' heads. While you're at it should your home be constructed with studs that run across the width of your doorway you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a far easier task than drilling the hole using a drywall saw. After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, cut your plywood bottom to fit the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing wood 1-by-6 to form braces for the upper and lower ends. Cut along the lines drawn on your plywood using circular blades with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts using the help of a the sanding block. After you have the two braces in place attach each one to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails 2 inches long. After you're done counter-sink the heads of all nails. Make sure to seal the braces and the plywood with a quality wood sealer such as this wipe on polyurethane from Minwax. If the door is too big for your doorway, you can put in an ornamental molding to fill in the gap between the jamb and the door or you can resize the opening. In most cases, it is cheaper and easier to simply buy an entirely new door. It also solves any issues you might have encountered with your door's original model in the event that it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.