How to Hang a New Indoor Prehung Door
A prehung door is a self-contained unit consisting of a door slab, jambs, hinges, molding and other necessary hardware. Homeowners often discover several factors that make it advisable to install a prehung interior door instead of a common slab door. These factors typically include a door frame that has been severely damaged, or the absence of a door frame. Although prehung doors are generally more convenient than slab doors, they may be more expensive and harder to install alone. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- 4-foot level
- Wood shims
- Hammer
- 4d finish nails
- 8d finish nails
- Ladder
- Electric screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Fine-tooth saw
Instructions
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1
Measure the prehung door and the rough opening where you intend to install the door to be sure the door is the right size. The rough opening should be about 3 inches taller and 2 inches wider than the door, according to Ask The Builder.
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2
Place a 4-foot level on the floor of the rough opening to be sure the rough opening on the hinge side of the door is plumb and level. If the rough opening needs to be leveled, slide shims between the hinge jamb and rough opening to level the area. Hammer a 4d finish nail into each shim to secure it to the floor.
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3
Lift the bottom of the prehung door into the rough opening, then tilt the top of the door into place. Push the hinge jamb tightly against the shims. Hammer several 8d finish nails into the hinge-side jam to secure it to the rough opening. Make sure to leave the nails sticking out about 1/4 inch until the jamb can be leveled, according to Ask The Builder.
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4
Hold the level against the jamb to make sure it's level with the wall. If it's not level, adjust the jamb accordingly. Once the jamb is plumb with the wall, resume hammering the nails completely into the hinge-side jam.
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5
Stand on a ladder and examine the gap between the jamb and the top of the door to make sure it's equal from left to right. Check the vertical gap between the door and latch-side jamb to be sure it's equal. The vertical gap should be no larger than 1/8 inch, according to Ask The Builder.
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6
Slide one pair of shims between the latch-side jamb and the trim located near the top of the door opening, another pair above the base of the latch-side jamb, and a final pair below the strike plate. Hammer 4d finish nails into each shim to secure it to the trim. This anchors the latch jamb so it's parallel with the door.
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7
Screw the hinges onto the rough opening using an electric screwdriver. Make sure the screws penetrate the rough opening completely to prevent sagging.
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8
Cut off any part of the shims protruding from the door jamb, using a utility knife. A fine-tooth saw should be used to cut off thick shims, according to Hammer Zone.
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9
Follow instructions provided by the door manufacturer to install any additional hardware, molding or insulation included with the prehung door. These materials vary by style and manufacturer.
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