How to Go About Boarding Up a Door The act of https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/west-bromwich-emergency-boarding-up-near-me/ a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent all damages but it can assist to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms. Boarding up windows and doors can also deter trespassers or vandals from entering your property. Installing plywood boards over openings can be costly and time-consuming. Measure the Door The first thing you'll need is a tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or a chair close to hand in case you need a better view of the top of the frame. If you need to use these tools, make sure to wear gloves and goggles. Start by measuring the door's width. This can be accomplished by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any extra parts of the door, such as a sweep, before measuring. Then, determine the height from the floor up to the sill or the lintel. It is essential to measure in multiple locations, particularly when measuring doors older than they may not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements are different take the largest number. You'll have to determine the dimensions of the frame after you've taken measurements of the width and height. It should be at least 2'' wider and 1 inch taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow you enough space to shim both the door and frame to fit. When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements It's a good idea to remove any trim or casing from around the door jambs so that you can see the studs behind them. This will let you measure the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge. After you have removed the trim, measure the length of your door frame using a tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different locations and then use the most compact measurement. You should also determine the height of the frame from top to bottom, on both sides. Use the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door. If you are having trouble with the measurements, consult a professional to come to your home and take the measuring. They'll tell you the size and style of door you need and how to prepare your frame for a new door. Plywood can be cut into pieces A door frame is usually made of a series of studs or thin boards that create a hollow space around the door. Two hinges are connected to the studs and keep a typical door in place. This means that if you need to refinish the door, it is necessary to remove the hinges off the door over the course of a few days. Placing plywood in the door opening is an easy method to enclose a door and prevent insects from getting into your home. This is a simple process without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door. Plywood is affordable, simple to work with, and looks great when it is completed. This makes it the perfect material to provide a temporary solution to a problem that requires removing the door that is in use and finishing or installing a new one. It can also be useful to secure the opening in a room that is being renovated, such as an unfinished basement or a construction site. Start by measuring the width of the door opening and its height. Mark the measurements with a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal like a drywall or a metal square. Then, draw an outline of chalk across each of the lines marked to indicate where you'll need to cut. Utilize a circular saw to cut the plywood to the desired size. When cutting the plywood, it is important to protect your eyes and ears. If you can wear safety goggles and earplugs when working. In addition, it's crucial to use a knife with a large number of teeth that cut quickly and with less tear-out. To reduce the chances of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of your cut, use a small block of wood as template to guide the blade, and hold it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting. Attaching a pair or short braces on each side is a great way to hold the plywood in place, without screwing it into studs. Set one brace on the inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, place a pair of 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each of the holes and tighten them using an open-end wrench. Fasten the Plywood When you have a piece of plywood cut to the right size and with holes for the door frame's rails and stiles predrilled and ready to attach the panel to the door frame. This is a simple project that does not require a lot of carpentry expertise, as long as you follow the correct procedure and use the right tools. Start by setting up a workstation near the doorway with two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process as a guide for cutting. Use a utility blade and a straight edge of metal to cut the lines. This will serve as a guide for the saw blade, and prevent splintering of the plywood when cutting it. Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw equipped with a fine-toothed blade cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panel using 120-grit paper to smooth it out and remove any burrs. After sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer to the plywood panels and allow to dry as directed by the manufacturer. Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, you need to drill holes in the outside of the door to accommodate the straps of the hinges. Then, attach the hinge on the outside to the frame with the screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, being cautious not to tighten too much on any of them or the hinge could shift. If you have a single T-hinged outside door you can make the latch easier to close by putting an electrical wire through the loops of the exterior hinges. Bend a piece of tie wire in half and fish it through each of the two holes on the outside of the door. Then twist the wires to pull them tight and fix the door. Install the Plywood Using the measurements you took and place the plywood into the door opening. Shim the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level to be sure there's no slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right, place another shim where required and repeat the process until the sill and the header are plumb. When the plywood is in the frame, fasten it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It's a good idea utilize a screw gun that has a hex-head attachment to keep the head from being stripped of the screws. While you're there, if your house was built with studs that run through the doorway's height, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a much easier job than making the hole using a drill or drywall saw. After installing the plywood take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, trim your bottom plywood to fit the height of the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 to form braces for the lower and upper ends. Cut along the lines drawn on your plywood using a circular blade fitted with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Take any splinters out of the cuts with a sanding block. Once you have the two braces in place attach each one to the plywood using a pair of finishing nails 2 inches long. Counter sink all the nail heads when you're done. 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 the doorway, you can add an ornamental molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or you can resize the opening. In many instances, it's cheaper and easier to simply find an alternative door. This will also take away any issues that you might have faced with the door you originally purchased if it was damaged and no fit for the opening.