What Is The Future Of Boarding Up A Door Be Like In 100 Years?

How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

The act of boarding up a door is one way to protect vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent all damages but it can assist to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms.

The boarding of doors and windows can also deter burglars and vandals. However, it can be expensive and time-consuming to put plywood boards over the openings on a house.

Measure the Door

You'll require a tape measurement. It is also advisable to keep an extra chair or ladder in case you have to see more clearly at the top of the frame. If  boarding up windows  must make use of these tools, be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses.

Start by taking measurements of the width of the door. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to remove all additional parts of the door, like a sweep, before measuring. Then, take a measurement of the height from the floor to the existing sill or the lintel. It is crucial to measure in more than one location particularly with older doors, as they may not be a perfect rectangle. If the measurements differ, use the largest number.

After you've logged the width and height measurements, you'll need to figure out what size boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. It should be at least 2'' wider and 1 inch taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of room to put the door and frame into place.

It's a good idea to remove the casing or trim around the jambs of the door to observe the studs. This will allow you determine the exact size of the gap between studs and the frame.

After removing the trim, measure the width of your door frame using the tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different places and then use the smallest measurement. It is also important to take measurements of the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Choose the shortest measurement to determine the width of your door.

If you're having difficulty with the measurements, seek out a professional who will come to your house and conduct the measurement. They will be able to tell you exactly what type and size of door you need and the best way to prepare the frame to accommodate a new door.

Cut the Plywood

A door frame is usually made of a series of studs or thin boards that create an open space around the door. The typical door is secured by two hinges attached to these studs. This means that, if you wish to finish the door, it is essential to take the hinges from the door over the course of a few days. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a simple method to board the door is to put plywood in the opening. It is easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood onto the door's frame.

Plywood is simple to work with, inexpensive and looks stunning when completed. This makes it the ideal material to provide temporary solutions to an issue that requires the removal of the door that is in use and finishing or installing a new one. It is also a great option to secure the opening in a room that is being renovated, such as an unfinished basement or construction site.

To install a plywood wall, start by taking measurements of the width and height of the door opening. Note the measurements using an utility blade and a straight edge of metal such as the drywall or metal square. Then, snap an outline of chalk across each line to mark the area to cut. Then, use a circular saw to cut the plywood into a size.

When cutting the plywood it is important to protect your ears and eyes. If possible wear protective goggles and earplugs while working. In addition, it's important to use a blade that has a wide range of teeth that cut quickly and with less tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Keep it a hair's distance from the mark when cutting.

Fastening a pair of short braces at each end is a good way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it into the studs. Place one of the braces on the inside of the door and the one on the outside. Install a deck screw in each hole and tighten using an open-end ratchet.

Secure the Plywood

It's time to attach the the frame once you have the plywood sheet cut to the right size and the holes to attach the rails and stiles of the door frame predrilled. It is a fairly straightforward project that does not require any extensive carpentry skills provided you follow the correct procedures and use the right tools.

Begin by setting up a workstation near the doorway with two sawhorses and a 2-by-4 frame lumber at each end of the table. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat on top the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process as a guide for cutting. Cut the lines using an utility knife and a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will provide an outline for the saw blade, and will help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood.

Wear eye protection and use a circular or table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the score line. Then sand the edges of the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding the plywood panels, apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T hinge, drill holes through the exterior of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Next, position the outside hinge on its spot and attach it onto the frame using the help of a screw gun. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for the hinges remaining, but be cautious not to tighten too much on one of them or the hinge could shift.

If you are using a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain lock by putting a piece of wire through the loops on the hinges on the outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half, and put it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then twist the wires to tighten them and lock the door.

Install the Plywood

With the measurements you made and place the plywood into the door opening. Move the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level to be sure there's not any slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right then place another shim if necessary and continue the process until the header and sill are level.

When the plywood is in the frame, fix it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It is a good idea to make use of a screw gun with an attachment for a hex-head to prevent stripping the head of the screws.

If your home has studs running the length of your doorway, it is possible to drill hanger bolts into each framing member. This is a lot easier than using a drywall cutter to make the hole.

After installing the plywood determine the width and height of the door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the dimensions of your door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber for braces to attach across the upper and lower sides of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood using a circular saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Splinters can be removed from the cuts by using a sanding tool.

Once you've got the braces in place, nail each one to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails 2 inches long. When you're finished counter-sink the heads of all the nails. The braces should be sealed with a good wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax.

If the door is still too large for your doorway, you could add an ornamental molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or reduce the size of the opening. However, in many situations, it's more affordable and easier to simply get a new door. It also eliminates any issues you might have encountered with the door you originally purchased, if it was damaged or not suitable for the opening.