How to Hang a Wooden Interior Door

Replacing interior doors is a project that almost every home owner must do. Deciding on the type of door may be the hardest part. Solid wood doors will give you more privacy and durability, while hollow core wood doors are less expensive and easier to install. Solid wood doors give you many styles to choose from and all wood doors can be painted or stained. This is a weekend project for solid doors and will take a couple hours for a hollow core door.

Things You'll Need

• Door
• Knob set
• Hinges (3 for solid wood, 2 for hollow core)
• Shims
• Tape measure
• Drill
• Combination square
• Planer
• Screwdriver
• Chisel
• Pencil
• Hole saw kit
• Paint or stain and sealer

Instructions

Hang a Wooden Interior Door

1. Measure the width and height of the door opening. Subtract 1/4 inch and that is the size door you will need. If the door width needs to be trimmed to fit, plane off evenly from both sides. If it is too tall, trim from the bottom. If your door is more than 1/2 inch too large, you can use a circular saw to cut it. In this case, place painters tape along the cut line to keep the wood from splintering. Trim the door with the blade on the waste side.

2. Shim the door into the opening making sure it is centered. Mark the places where the hinges and doorknob will go, by using the old hinge cuts and latch hole in the jamb.

3. Take the door out and lay it with the hinge side facing up. Use half of a new hinge to mark for installation by placing the knuckles toward the out swinging side and the straight side 1/2 inch from the edge. Use a pencil and trace out the hinge on the door. Then place the hinge next to the door and mark for depth. Score the marks with a utility knife. Chisel out the space for the hinge. Repeat for other hinges. Place the hinge in the space to make sure it fits flush.

4. Drill holes using a hole saw kit in the face and edge of the door for your knob set. The hole saw kit will go over the edge of the door and you can set it for the size holes you need to drill. It will then stay in place and be the guide for your hole saw. Make sure to adjust the jig to get the correct distance from the door's edge to the spindle.

5. Stain or paint the door. If you are staining the door, use a wood sealer or a stain and sealer. This will make the door less susceptible to humidity.

6. Attach the half of hinge to the door. The half of hinge with the inner knuckles goes on the door. Repeat with the rest of the hinges. Next, attach the other halves to the jamb. Hang the door by placing the knuckles together and slipping in the pins.

7. Install your knob set in the door and the new strike plate to the jamb.

Resources

• All Types of Interior Doors