How to Frame an Opening for a Wood Door

A wood door provides privacy and allows access between rooms.

Installing a new wood door can help provide additional access between rooms, making it easier to move through your house. A wood door must be supported by a wood frame, which bears the weight of the door and allows it to remain closed when you need to block out sound or control temperature in a room. Basic carpentry tools and materials can help you create a wood door frame in the span of a weekend.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Circular saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• Level
• Pencil

Instructions

1. Select the location for your door. The location should be far enough away from other doors and objects that there is enough room to open the door without hitting other objects.

2. Measure the height and width of your door. Add 5 inches to the width and height of the door to determine the size of the door opening.

3. Cut two pieces of 2-inch-by-4-inch lumber 2 1/2 inches shorter than the height of your door opening. Nail these lumber pieces to the adjacent studs to form the sides of the door frame, leaving a 3-inch space between the top of the lumber pieces and the top of the door frame opening.

4. Cut a piece of 2-by-4-inch lumber to a length equal to the width of the door frame. Place this piece of lumber on top of the frame sides and nail it to the frame sides.

5. Check the frame sides with a level to determine if they are level. If they are not, insert wood shims between the frame sides and the adjacent studs to bring the door frame level.

6. Mark where the hinges will attach the door to the frame. Mark where the tab plate will attach to the opposite side.

7. Cut interior molding to cover the rough opening along the top and sides of the door frame. You will need four vertical pieces for the sides and two vertical pieces for the top to cover the door frame on both sides. Nail these pieces to the outside of the door frame with finishing nails.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase extra dimensional lumber and interior molding in case you make a mistake when measuring and cutting. This can save you an extra trip to the lumber yard or home improvement store.

• Wear protective eyewear and gloves when cutting and assembling your door frame to reduce your risk of injuries.

References

• Caldwells: How to Build a Door Frame