How to Go About Boarding Up a Door A door can be boarded up as one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. While it may not be able to prevent all destruction, it can help avoid certain problems that come with severe storms. The boarding up of windows and doors will also deter trespassers and vandals. Installing plywood panels over openings can be costly and time-consuming. Measure the Door The first thing you'll require is an accurate tape measure. You might also want to keep a chair or ladder on hand for when you need to gain a better view at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses if you have to use these tools. Start by measuring the width of the door. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to eliminate any other door components like a door sweep to get this measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height from the floor up to the sill or the lintel. It is important to take measurements in multiple locations, particularly when measuring doors that are older as they might not be the perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements are different then use the largest number. After you've taken the measurements of height and width and you'll need to figure out what size boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. Ideally it should be 2 inches wider than the door and 1 2'' higher. This will give enough space to shim both the door and frame into place. It's a great idea to remove the casing or trim around the jambs of the door in order to observe the studs. This will allow you to measure the exact gap between the studs of the frame and the edge. After you've removed your trim, you can then determine the width of the door frame by running the tape across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement as your door's width. You should also measure the frame's height 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 the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your home and do the measurements. They'll be able give you the exact kind of door and size you require and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy. Cut the Plywood A door frame is typically made of a series of thin boards or studs that create an open space around the door. The typical door is held in place by two hinges that are fixed to the studs. If you want to refinish the door, you'll have to remove it from its hinges over night. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door opening, a straightforward method to board doors is to place plywood inside the opening. This is a simple process without the need to screw or nail the plywood to the frame of the door. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/emergency-boarding-up/ is simple to work with, cheap and looks great once it's completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary solution for situations where you need to remove an existing door to finish it or build an entirely new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a room that is being transformed, such as an excavation site or basement. To install a plywood wall, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Mark the dimensions on the plywood with the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, you should snap a chalk line across each of the lines marked to indicate where you'll need to cut. Then you can use circular saws to cut out the plywood to size. It is important to shield your ears and eyes when cutting plywood. If possible wear safety goggles and earplugs when working. It is also important to use a sharp blade with many teeth, that will allow you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. To avoid breaking 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 mark while cutting. Attaching a pair of shorter braces to each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place, without putting screws into the studs. Place one of the braces on the side of the door, and the one on the outside. Then, place the deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them using an open-end wrench. Secure the Plywood It's now time to connect the the frame after you have the plywood sheet cut to the right dimensions and the holes for the rails and stiles of the door frame are predrilled. It is a fairly straightforward project that does not require any extensive carpentry skills so long as you follow the correct procedure and use the right tools. Set up a table in the entrance, with two sawhorses at each end, and framing lumber 2x4s. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat on top the sawhorses and use the marks made during the measurement process as a guide for cutting. Use a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to score the lines. This will serve as an outline for the saw blade and keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood. Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut along the line of scoring. Then, sand the edges of the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth out the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding the plywood panels apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. Install the hinges on the door frame. If you are using T hinges, make holes through the outer face of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Then, screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for the remaining hinges, being cautious not to tighten too much on any of them, or the door will shift. If you are using an outside hinged door with only one T, you can make it easier to close and lock using a chain latch by fishing a piece of wire through the loops of the outside hinges. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half and place it through the two holes on the outside of the door, then twist the wires together to pull them tightly and lock the door. Install the Plywood Using the measurements you took, place the plywood in the door opening. Move the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Utilize a level to make sure there's no slop in either the header or sill. If it's not perfect, put another shim in the area you need it and repeat the process until you have the header and sill to be plumb. Once the plywood has been put set, secure it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wingnuts. Make use of a screwgun that has a hex head attachment to prevent removing the screws' heads. If you live in a house with studs running along your doorway, you can drill hanger bolts into every framing piece. This is much simpler than using a drywall saw to create the hole. After you have installed the plywood, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the dimensions of your door frame and cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber to form braces that are positioned across the upper and lower edges of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines marked on the plywood with a circular saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding tool. Once you have the two braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Counter sink all nail heads once you're done. Cover the braces and plywood with a good wood sealer, such as this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If the door is too large for your doorway, you can add some decorative molding to fill in the space between the jamb and the door or alter the size of the opening. In most cases, however it's cheaper and more convenient to buy a new door. It also solves any issues that you might have experienced with the door you originally purchased in the event that it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.