How to Go About Boarding Up a Door The protection of vacant investment properties from the elements is attainable by boarding up a door. Although it isn't able to prevent all destruction, it can help avoid some of the issues that can arise from severe storms. The boarding of doors and windows will also discourage trespassers and vandals. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to set up plywood boards over the openings of a property. Take a measurement of the door The first thing you'll need is tape measure. You might want to keep a chair or ladder close to hand in case you need an improved view of the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses in the event that you need to use these tools. Start by taking measurements of the length of the door. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to take out all additional parts of the door, for instance the sweep, when measuring. Then, take a measurement of the height by measuring from the floor to the existing sill or lintel. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/birmingham-emergency-boarding-up-near-me/ is important to measure in multiple places, especially with older doors, since they are not always an exact rectangle. If the measurements are different take the largest number. You'll have to determine the size of the frame once you've taken measurements of the length and width. It should be at a minimum 2 inches larger and 1'' taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow you enough room to shim the door and frame into place. When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements, it's best to take out any trim or casing from around the door jambs so that you can see the studs that are behind them. This will help you determine the exact measurement of the gap between the studs and the edge of the frame. 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 locations and then use the most compact measurement. Also, you should determine the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement for the width of your door. If you're having issues with these measurements, it's a good idea at this point to consult an expert and ask them to come to your home to take the measurements for you. They'll tell you the size and type 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 usually comprised of studs or thin boards that create an open space around the door. The typical door is secured by two hinges that are attached to these studs. If you wish to finish doors, you'll have to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To prevent insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a quick and easy method for boarding a door involves placing plywood inside the opening. It is simple to do this without the need to nail or screw the plywood onto the frame of the door. Plywood is simple to work with, cheap and looks beautiful once completed. This makes it the perfect material for temporary solutions to an issue that requires the removal of the door that is in use and renovating or installing a brand new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room being renovated, such as the construction site or basement. Start by measuring the width of your door opening and its height. Mark the dimensions on the plywood using a utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, draw an outline of chalk across each line to indicate where you want to cut. Finally, use circular saws to cut out the plywood into a size. It is important to protect your ears and eyes while cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs if possible. It is also essential to use a sharp blade with a lot of teeth, which will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. To minimize the chance of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of the cut, use a small block of wood as a 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 to each end is a great way to secure the plywood in place without putting screws into the studs. Put one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Install a deck screw in each hole and tighten by using an open-end ratchet. Secure the Plywood Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the proper size and with the holes for stiles and rails predrilled and ready to secure the panel to the frame. This is a simple project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills, as long as you use the right tools and follow the proper procedure. Begin by setting up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process as a guide to cut. Score the lines with an utility knife and a drywall square or another metal straight edge. This will create a guideline for the saw blade and to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood. Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines using a circular saw or table saw with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding the plywood panels, apply a wood sealer and let it dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using T hinges, make holes through the outer face of the door to accommodate the strap parts of the hinges. Then, put the hinge's outside face on its spot and attach it onto the frame using an screw gun. Repeat the procedure 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 one outside hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock using a chain latch by putting a piece wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Bend a piece of tie wire in half, and fish it through each of the two holes on the outside of the door. Then connect the wires to pull them tightly and lock the door. Install the Plywood With the measurements you made and place the plywood into the door opening. Move the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to be sure there's no slop in either the header or sill. If the level isn't perfect then put a second shim where needed and continue this process until you get the sill and header to be in a straight line. When the plywood is in the frame, secure it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. It is a good idea to use a screw gun with an attachment for a hex-head to keep the head from being stripped of the screws. While you're at it should your home be constructed with studs that run through the doorway's height make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a much easier task than cutting the hole with the drill or drywall saw. After you have installed the plywood after installation, take measurements of the width and the height of the 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 sides of your door. Cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood with a circular blade with teeth that are finely tipped. Wear eye protection. Remove any splinters from the cuts using a the sanding block. Once you've got the braces in place, nail each one to the plywood with pairs of 2-inch finishing nails. Counter sink all nail heads once you're done. Cover the braces and plywood with a quality wood sealer, such as this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If the door is too large You can either put in decorative molding to fill in the space between your jamb and door, or you can alter the size of your opening. However, in many instances, it's cheaper and more convenient to choose the right door. This also eliminates any headaches you may have experienced with the original door if it was damaged and could no suitable for the opening.