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How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Protecting vacant investment properties against the elements is possible by boarding up a door. While it won't prevent all destruction, it can help avoid some of the problems that come with severe storms. Boarding up windows and doors can also deter trespassers or vandals from entering your property. Installing plywood panels over openings can be time-consuming and expensive. Take a measurement of the door First, you'll require a tape measurement. repairmywindowsanddoors may also want to have a ladder or chair handy in case you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and goggles in the event that you need to make use of these tools. Begin by taking measurements of the door's width. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove all extra parts of the door, for instance a sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height from the floor to the existing sill or lintel. It is essential to take measurements in several locations, particularly when measuring older doors as they might not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements are different, use the largest number. You'll have to determine the size of the frame after you've determined the width and height. It should be at minimum 2'' wider and 1 inch taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow plenty of room to shim the frame and door into place. It's a great idea to take off the trim or casing around the jambs of your door to be able to see the studs. This will allow you to determine the exact size of the gap between studs and the frame. After you have removed the trim, measure the length of your door frame using the tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different points and then use the smallest measurement. You should also measure the frame's height from top to bottom on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door. If you are having trouble with the measurements, you should seek out a professional who will come to your home and take the measurements. They'll tell you the dimensions and what kind of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door. Cut the Plywood A door frame is typically composed of thin boards or studs that create an open space around the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs, and they hold the door in its place. If you are looking to finish a door, you will need to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door opening, a quick and easy method to board a door involves placing plywood into the opening. It's easy to do this without having to nail or screw the plywood to the frame of the door. Plywood is inexpensive, easy to work with and looks fantastic when completed. This makes it the perfect material for a temporary solution to problems that require the removal of an existing door and finishing or installing a new one. It can also be used to protect the opening of a room being transformed, such as an excavation site or basement. Start by measuring the width of the door opening as well as its height. Note the measurements using a utility blade and a straight edge of metal such as a drywall or a metal square. Then, draw an outline of chalk across each line to indicate where to cut. Use a circular blade to cut the plywood to the desired size. When cutting the plywood, it is essential to protect your eyes and ears. Wear earplugs or protective goggles when you can. It is also essential to use a blade with lots of teeth that will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's breadth away from the line you are cutting. A great way to hold the plywood in place without fixing it to the studs is by fixing a pair of short braces at each end. Put one brace on the inside and the other on the outside of the door. Place a 1-½-inch deck screw in each hole and tighten using an open-end ratchet. Fix the Plywood It's now time to connect the the frame after you have the wood sheet cut to the right dimensions and the holes for the stiles and rails of the door frame have been predrilled. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require a lot of advanced carpentry skills if you have the right tools and follow the proper procedures. Start by setting up a workstation near the doorway, with two sawhorses as well as 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Use the marks made during the measurement process to guide you when cutting the plywood. Cut the lines using an utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. This will act as a guide to the saw blade, and also prevent splintering of plywood when cutting it. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines of scoring using a circular 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 sanding, apply a layer of wood sealer to the plywood panels, and let dry as directed by the manufacturer. Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, you need to drill holes through the outer face of the door for the straps of the hinges. Then, you can screw the outside hinge to the frame using a screwdriver. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for the hinges remaining, being careful not to overtighten any of them, or the hinge could shift. If you have only a single hinged outside door it is possible to make it easier for the latch to close by putting wire through the loops on the outside hinges. Fold a short piece to connect wires in half and then thread it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then twist the wires to secure the door. Install the Plywood With the measurements you made using the measurements you took, put the plywood in the door opening. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Utilize a level and ensure that there's no slop between the header and sill. If it's not perfect then put a second shim in the place where is required and repeat the process until you get the sill and the header to be level. Once the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. Make use of a screwgun that has an attachment for a hex head to avoid removing the screws' heads. While you're at it if your house was built with studs running through the doorway's height, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into each framing stud. This is a lot easier than using a drywall saw to make the hole. After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, trim your bottom plywood to be a little higher than the height of your door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1 by 6 to serve as braces for the upper and lower edges. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood with circular saws fitted with a fine-toothed blade. Splinters can be removed from cuts by using a sanding tool. After you've placed the braces After you have placed the braces, use two pairs finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. After you're done counter-sink the heads of all the nails. Seal the braces using a high-quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If the door is too big for the doorway, you could add some decorative molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or alter the size of the opening. In many cases it's cheaper and easier to simply buy the door. It also removes any problems you might have encountered with your original door even if it was damaged or was not fit for the opening.