Door Hanging Instructions with Photos
Summary: Hanging a door can be tricky. Here is a door hanging tutorial with step by step instructions for hanging an interior door.
Related Articles: pre hung doors, door hanging tips
Step By Step Door Hanging Instructions
Here is a very quick tutorial on some of the major steps you must undertake when hanging an interior door. It isn't that hard. The best thing you can do to help is to make sure the rough opening is square, plumb and in the same plane! If the rough frame is twisted, you will definitely have problems hanging and trimming the door.
| Before you start, make sure the rough opening is slightly bigger than the overall width/height of the door in its frame. I like to have a minimum of 3/8 inch extra. Use a level and check the floor to see if it is out of level from side to side. If it is out of level, you must cut off the bottom of one of the jamb legs to insure that the door frame will be plumb. If you don't cut off a leg, you will end up with a gap at the top or one leg will lift off the floor. |  |
 |
This is what happens if you don't adjust the jamb legs in case the floor is out of level. Note the huge gap along the top of the door on the right side of the photo. The hinge jamb is plumb in this photo and both jamb legs are touching the floor. I must cut off the right side jamb in this photo. You cut off the difference between the gap at the left and the right gap. In this case, I had to cut 1/4 inch off the bottom of the right jamb. |
| You
don't need a helper to hang a door. I always secure the hinge jamb
first to the rough opening. After I have made sure it is plumb and
before I drive the first nail, I open the door and slide a few shims
under the far end of the open door to keep the door from tipping out of
the opening. Once open like this, the door and frame are highly stable.
To test the door operation, drive one nail in on the other side of the door stop opposite the top hinge. Be sure you leave enough of the nail exposed so you can pull it out if necessary. Do the same opposite the bottom hinge and carefully close the door to check the backside gaps. The door MUST be attached to the rough frame at or behind the hinges for the best results. Do this after you check the gaps. |
 |
 |
Shims are used to fill the gap between the door frame and the rough opening. You should always use two shims at the same time. They must be inserted so that the thin end of one is overlapping the thick end of the other shim. Adjust them both to close the gap. Be sure no drywall overhangs the rough opening. It will create a false gap reading. As you nail the frame tight, it will compress the drywall and the gap will be bigger than you desired. |
| The lockset side of the door must be shimmed in at least four locations. You can see the top three in this photo. The hinge side needs to have shims at each hinge if there is a gap at these locations. I always try to frame the rough opening of doors in such a way that the hinge side is always perfectly plumb. If you can attach a door to the hinge side without shims, it is ideal. |  |
 |
Once the door has been nailed
in all locations and
you are delighted with the fit, it is time to cut off the excess shims.
It is important to use a sharp razor knife and to angle the blade in
slightly as shown so that no part of the shims extends beyond the face
of the door jamb. If this happens, the door casing will not fit tight
against the door frame. Cut slowly and carefully because razor knives
can cut to the bone. The voice of experience talking!
|
|
|
Comments:
tom 23 Feb 2008, 18:51
i have hide a door installed one of them needs to be fixed the top roller
is coming loose the screws are pulling out i didnot install the doors i
have no idea on how to fix without taking the trim off help
Don Smith 17 May 2008, 14:32
Twice with two different contractors I have had to request a correction to
exterior door installations. In both cases, the builder failed to install
the door flush with the inward swing side of the door. In addition to just
looking wrong, the door hits the jamb when opening preventing the door from
swinging 180 degrees flush with the wall.
Both builders corrected the situation, but insisted the original installation was the way they always do it. Since these were both on walls thicker than standard 2" X 4" construction. I just assume they failed to order the right door for the thicker wall. Is there ever a reason to install a door not flush with the wall?
roy 25 May 2008, 04:54
I RECENTLY PURCHASED HOLLOW INTERIOR DOORS WHICH NEED TO BE TRIMMED BY 1
1/2" TO FIT THE FRAMEWORK. I AM AWARE THAT THERE IS VERY LITTLE TO PLAY
WITH TO REDUCE THE WIDTH OF THE DOOR, COULD YOU ADVISE HOW TO REMEDY THE
PROBLEM.
Mike Capleton 27 Aug 2008, 16:21
Hello,
I am thinking of setting up to pre hang new doors and frames for a small hotel. How do I pre hang the doors to the frame to be installed after cutting out the old ones. Is there a jig set up for the hinges and the locks? I await your reply. Thanks, Mike
Harold 27 Oct 2008, 17:44
recently installed ext dbl door to shed r.o. Having problem with leveling
bore with adjacent door side hole. How do I remedy this problem?
Jim Stencel 28 Oct 2008, 11:52
Have had external dutch doors replaced going to the back deck.
The old door was opened to various openings and remained in the desired opening w/o moving........... the new door will not stay in the desired open position..........it swings such that the door is fully opened. The installer swears the door is hung properly.......what is the issue?
Jeff 01 Feb 2009, 11:50
I am replacing interior doors of my home. I have purchased doors and using
existing door casing. The new doors are the same size as the original
doors. After installation the door doesn't close all the way freely and the
top is hitting the jam.
I have tried adjusting the depth of the hinges and it helps with the door not hitting the jam but the door still doesn't close freely. The door stays open @ 2" from the fully closed position. What am I missing besides the knowledge of how to hang a door? Thanks for your help! Jeff
kathy keil 16 Mar 2009, 10:57
I had a handyman install a new interior door and the door met the top and
bottom of the door jam. In the middle was a gap. He cut the door exactly
the same width as the old door. He was unable to install, what could the
problem be?
EZHangDoor 04 Jun 2009, 15:29
It sounds like the door is cut a little narrower in the center. Or maybe
the old door was cut wrong and the installer fit the jamb to the cut. You
may be able to adjust the jamb over the fit the new door. However, you will
need to remove the trim to do this.
david 24 Jul 2009, 16:54
replacing an interior door that is 80x30 and the new one is about an 8th of
an inch too tall and wide should I plane or cut
View all comments |
