How to Change a Bathroom Door

It's no use having a well-designed bathroom if you have a bland door. Replacing your bathroom door can provide added style. Or you can replace an old door that's damaged, warped and doesn't fit correctly. Installing a new bathroom door is a somewhat complex home improvement task that takes precise measurements.

Things You'll Need

• A new pre-hung door
• Hammer
• Nails
• Doorknob
• Shims
• Reciprocating saw
• Pry bar
• Screwdriver
• Level

Instructions

Hang your new door

1. Take the old door off by removing it from its hinges. Remove the frame the door fit in, called the jamb, with a pry bar. Another option is to cut through the nails holding the jamb to the wall with a reciprocating saw that has a metal-cutting blade. Take care not to damage the plaster or drywall adjacent to the opening.

2. Measure the opening carefully. Purchase a pre-hung door from a home center that fits the width you measured. A pre-hung door comes attached to the jamb. Remove the door from the jamb because it's easier to install the jamb when the door isn't attached. You might need to cut the door and jamb an inch or two to fit the height of your unique opening.

3. Set the jamb in your opening and measure it to be level and plumb. Use wooden shims between the jamb and wall to adjust the hinge side of the frame first. Drive nails through the jamb and shims into the wall. Adjust the shims to make the jamb plumb, and measure for plumb often. If the jamb isn't straight, the door won't close properly. Check the lock side for plumb, again use shims and nail it to the wall.

4. Screw the door into the jamb. A pre-hung door will have pre-drilled holes for screwing in the hinges. Open and close the door to check that it fits properly and doesn't snag on the floor.

5. Install a doorknob with a lock for the bathroom, being sure the lock mechanism is on the inside of the room. Most pre-hung doors will come with holes already drilled for installing the doorknob.

Tips & Warnings

• A hollow door will be less expensive, but a solid door will be a better sound barrier.

• Try to pick a doorknob that matches other knobs in the house. You can also reuse the knob from your old door.

• Wear safety glasses at all times, especially when you're prying the old jamb away.

References

• Reader's Digest
• Ask The Builder