menu

Cervantes User

Cervantes User

How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

A door can be boarded up as one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. It's not a guarantee against all damages, but it can help to prevent certain problems that come with severe storms.

The idea of boarding up doors and windows can deter trespassers and vandals as well as squatters. Installing plywood panels over openings can be time-consuming and expensive.

Measure the Door

You'll first require a tape measure. It is a good idea to keep a ladder or chair close to hand in case you need to see more clearly the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses when you use these tools.

Begin by measuring the width of the door. This can be done by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Be sure to remove any extra door parts such as a door sweep and door sweep, from this measurement. Then, you can take the height measurement by measuring from the floor to the existing sill plate or lintel. It is essential to take measurements in multiple locations, particularly when measuring doors older than they may not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements are different then use the largest number.

After you've taken the measurements of height and width and you'll need to determine the size of boarding you need for the frame. It should be at least 2 inches larger and 1 inch taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you enough space to shim both the door and frame in place.

It's a good idea to take off the trim or casing around the jambs of the door in order to be able to see the studs. This will enable you to measure the exact gap between the frame's studs and the edge.


After removing the trim, measure the width of the door frame using the tape measure. Take measurements of the frame at three different places and use the smallest measurement. You should also take a measurement of the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides and then use the shortest measurement as your door's height.

If you're having issues with the measurements, you should consult a professional to come to your house and conduct the measurements. They'll tell you the size and type of door you require and how to prepare your frame for a replacement door.

Plywood can be cut into pieces

A door frame is generally made up of a series thin boards or studs which create a hollow space around the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs, and they hold the door in place. If you want to finish a door, you will have to remove it from its hinges and then leave it for a night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door opening, a straightforward method to board a door involves placing plywood into the opening. It is simple to do without the need to screw or nail the plywood to the door frame.

Plywood is affordable, simple to work with, and looks great when it is completed. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary fix to a problem in which you need to remove an existing door to finish it or build the new one. It is also a great option to secure the opening of a room that is being renovated, like an unfinished basement or construction site.

Begin by taking measurements of the width of the door opening as well as its height. Mark the measurements with a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal, such as a drywall or a square. Then, draw the chalkline along each line to indicate where to cut. Then you can use circular saws to cut out the plywood to size.

When cutting the plywood, it is crucial to shield your eyes and ears. If you can, wear a pair of protective goggles and earplugs while working. It is also important to use a blade with lots of teeth which will permit you to cut quickly and with minimal tear-out. Make use of a small piece wood to guide the blade. Hold it a hair's distance from the mark when cutting.

An effective way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it to the studs is by fixing a pair of short braces at each end. Place one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, position the deck screws into each of the holes, and tighten them with an open-end wrench.

Secure the Plywood

Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the appropriate size and with the holes for the door frame's rails and stiles already drilled and ready to fasten the panel to the frame. This is a simple project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills if you use the right tools and follow the correct steps.

Begin by setting up a worktable near the doorway. There are two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the entire sheet of plywood flat on top the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process as a guide for cutting. Utilize a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to cut the lines. This will serve as a guide for the saw blade, and will help prevent splintering when you cut the plywood.

Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines using a circular saw or table saw with a fine-tooth blade. Then, sand the edges of the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the panels and remove any burrs from the saw cuts. After sanding the plywood, apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.

Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T hinge, drill holes through the outer face of the door for the strap parts of the hinges. Then, screw the outside hinge to the frame using the screwdriver. Repeat the process on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, being cautious not to tighten too much on one of them or the panel may shift.

If you have a single hinged T on your outside door, you can make it easier for the latch to close by putting a wire through the loops on the outside hinges. Bend a piece of tie wire in half and put it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then twist the wires together to tighten them and fix the door.

Install the Plywood

Install the plywood in the opening of the door by using the measurements you took. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to ensure that there is no slop between the sill and the header. If it's not quite right you can put another shim where needed and continue this process until you have the sill and the header to be level.

After the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless steel hinge bolts and wingnuts. It's a good idea to use a screw gun with an hex-head attachment so that you avoid stripping the head of the screws.

While you're there, If your home was constructed with studs running across the width of your doorway make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into the framing studs. This is much simpler than using a drywall cutting tool to make the hole.

After putting the plywood in place, determine the width and height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom plywood to match the height the door frame. Cut two pieces of framing lumber 1-by-6 to form braces for the upper and lower ends. Cut along the lines marked on the plywood with a circular blade fitted with teeth that are finely-toothed. Wear eye protection. Splinters can be removed from the cuts using a sanding tool.

Once you've got the two braces in place, nail each one to the plywood using a pair of 2-inch finishing nails. When you're finished counter-sink the heads of all the nails. Cover the braces and plywood with a quality wood sealer such as this wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.

If the door is still too big for your doorway, you could add an ornamental molding to fill in the space between the jamb and the door or you can alter the size of the opening. However, in many instances, it's cheaper and simpler to just choose a new door. It also solves any issues you may have had with your original door in the event that it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.

Member since: Thursday, December 5, 2024

Website: https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/huddersfield-emergency-boarding-up-near-me/

BitsDuJour is for People who Love Software
Every day we review great Mac & PC apps, and get you discounts up to 100%
Follow Us
© Copyright 2025 BitsDuJour LLC. Code & Design. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy