How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

boarding up and burglary repairs up a door is one method of protecting vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against all damage, but it can help to prevent some of the issues that are associated with severe storms.

emergency boarding up near me up windows and doors can deter trespassers, vandals, and squatters. Placing plywood boards over doors and windows could be time-consuming and costly.

Measure the Door

The first thing you'll require is tape measure. You may also want to have an extra chair or ladder for when you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. If you must use these tools, be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses.

Start by measuring the door's width. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove any other door components, such as a door sweep and door sweep, from this measurement. Then, you can measure the height by measuring up from the floor to the sill plate or the lintel. It is essential to measure multiple places, especially with older doors, as they are not always a perfect rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest number.

You'll have to determine the dimensions of the frame after having measured the length and width. Ideally it should be 2 inches larger than the door and 1 2'' higher. This will allow enough space to shim the door and frame in place.

It's a good idea to remove the trim or casing around the jambs of the door in order to observe the studs. This will enable you to determine the exact distance between the frame's studs and boarding up the edge.

After removing the trim, measure the width of your door frame using the tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different points and then use the most compact measurement. Also, you should measure the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Use the shortest measurement for the width of your door.

If you're having trouble with these measurements It's a good idea to speak with a professional and have them come to your home to measure for you. They'll be able determine the exact kind of door and size you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the door you want to buy.

Cut the Plywood

A door frame is usually comprised of a set of thin boards or studs that create a hollow space surrounding the door. A typical door boarding up is secured by two hinges fixed to the studs. This means that, if you wish to restore the door, it's necessary to remove the door from its hinges overnight. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a straightforward method of emergency boarding up 24/7 a door involves placing plywood inside the opening. This is a simple process without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door.

Plywood is affordable, simple to work with and looks stunning when completed. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary fix to a problem in which you have to take down an existing door to finish it or build the new one. It can be used to secure the opening of a room that is being renovated, such as an excavation site or basement.

Start by measuring the width of the door opening and its height. Note the measurements using a utility blade and a metal straight edge like a drywall or a square. Then, snap an outline of chalk across each line to indicate where to cut. Use a circular blade to cut the plywood into the required size.

It is important to shield your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs if possible. In addition, it's essential to choose a blade that has a wide range of teeth that cut quickly and without tear-out. To avoid tearing out pieces of wood from the edges of the cut using a small piece of wood as a template to guide the blade and hold it at a distance of just a hair's width away from the mark while cutting.

Attaching a pair or short braces to each end is a great way to secure the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Set one brace side that is inside and the other one on the outside of the door. Install a deck screw in each hole and tighten using an open-end ratchet.

Secure the Plywood

It's now time to connect the the frame after you have the wood sheet cut to the correct size and the holes for rails and stiles of the door frame are predrilled. This is a simple project that doesn't require advanced carpentry skills if you have the right tools and follow the proper procedure.

Start by setting up a table near the doorway, with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Use the marks made during the measurement process to guide you while cutting the plywood. Utilize a utility blade and a metal straight edge to score the lines. This will create a guideline for the saw blade and help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood.

Put on eye protection and cut along the lines of scoring with a circular saw or table saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After the sanding, apply a layer of wood sealer to the plywood panels and allow to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, you need to drill holes through the exterior of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Then, screw the hinge on the outside to the frame with a screwdriver. Repeat the process for each hinge on the inside of your door. Be careful not to tighten them too much, or the door may shift.

If you are using a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to close and lock with a chain latch by putting a piece wire through the loops of the hinges on the outside. Fold a short piece to tie wire in half, and then fish it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, you can twist the wires together and fix the door.

Install the Plywood

Place the plywood in the door's opening according to the measurements you made. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level and ensure that there's no slop between the header and sill. If it's not quite right you can put another shim where you need it and repeat the procedure until you've got the sill and header to be in a straight line.

Once the plywood is inside the frame, fasten it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. Use a screwgun equipped with an attachment for hex heads to avoid stripping off the heads of the screws.

If your house has studs that run along the length of your doorway, you can drill hanger bolts into each of the framing members. This is much easier than using a drywall cutting tool to create the hole.

After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 as braces for the lower and upper ends. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood using a circular saw fitted with a fine-toothed knife. Take any splinters out of the cuts using the help of a Sanding block.

Once you've got the braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with pairs of 2-inch finishing nails. Once you're done, counter sink the heads of all the nails. Seal the braces with a quality wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane made by Minwax.

If the door is still too big for your doorway, you could add an ornamental molding to fill in the space between the jamb and the door or resize the opening. In most cases, however it is less expensive and simpler to purchase an entirely new door. This also eliminates any headaches you may have experienced with the door you originally purchased if it was damaged and didn't fit for the opening.