While there are many different styles of doors, there are only two methods for installing them. Either a door is pre-hung, meaning it has already been hung its own jamb, or it’s a slab and will need to be hung from scratch. Hanging a pre-hung door is much easier because it eliminates the need for exact measurements to prevent gaps. In fact, there are just five steps to hang a pre-hung door.
Installing a Door
Step 1: Measure the Rough Opening
For added wiggle room, the opening should be one or two inches larger than the door. This offers room to add shims to level and stabilize the door, both of which are essential to a properly functioning door.
Step 2: Set the Door in the Rough Opening
Once the rough opening has been measured, it’s time to place the door inside. An important thing to consider during this step is whether the flooring has been installed. If it hasn’t, place shims underneath the jamb to account for the height of the floor will add.
Step 3: Make Sure the Door is Plumb
Next, it is crucial to ensure the hinge side of the door is perfectly vertical or plumb. After centering the door in the opening, add shims near the top on both sides to stabilize it. Once in place, use a level to verify it’s plumb. If it is, nail the jamb where the shims were added. Check the alignment of the door again to confirm its level and then add and nail more shims to the hinge side.
Step 4: Confirm the Door is Level
Close the door to see if the top portion of the door is level. Do this by checking that the reveal is uniform between the door and the jamb. If the reveal isn’t uniform, make adjustments by placing additional shims to the latch side of the door until the reveal is consistent. A good rule of thumb is to shim more where the reveal is larger and shim less where the reveal is too small.
Step 5: Nail the Jam in Place
First, move the door so the latch side of the jamb is flush with the drywall. Then verify the reveal between the door and the jam measures ⅛ of an inch. If needed, adjust the shims already placed near the top of the door on the latch side. Next, nail through the jamb where you’ve placed the shims. Finally, add and nail additional shims to six inches above and below the strike plate and the bottom of the door.
Disadvantages of Installing a Pre-hung Door
While pre-hung doors are much easier to install, they do have their disadvantages. Installing pre-hung doors takes two people and can be a time-consuming and cumbersome process. In addition, leaning the door against the wall while prepping to install it can damage the wall or door. Luckily, there is an easier way to install a pre-hung door.
The Door Stud Improves the Installation Process
The Door Stud is an innovative tool designed to make installing pre-hung and slab doors easier than ever. Able to accommodate 1 ⅜” and 1 ¾” doors, The Door Stud clamps the door in an upright position so it can be easily transported and installed. This eliminates the need to lean the door and prevents damage to the door and walls. The installer can then quickly square, level, and roll the door into place. With The Door Stud, the time it takes to install a door is reduced by 50%.
Benefits of using The Door Stud to hang a door include:
– Makes it easy for one person to transport and install a door
– Holds the door in an upright position to eliminate damage
– Reduce installation time by up to 50%
– Can be easily removed and stored with other tools
Interested in learning more about The Door Stud? Watch our video or contact our team for more information.