Hanging Interior Doors

Submitted by Ana White on Thu, 08/01/2013 - 04:05

Apparantly, you CAN teach an old DIYer new tricks.

Step 1 Diagram
Step 1

The only thing holding up this Momplex from getting trimmed out now is the lack of interior doors.

To get the baseboard trim down, we first have to add case moulding to the doors and windows. And to add the case moulding, we have to first install the doors.

This is no chicken and egg thing - nope, it goes simply door then trim.

Step 2 Diagram
Step 2 Instructions

Because we installed a heated floor on top of the subfloor, this means our doorways got shortened by about 3/4".

So we have to first shorten the door. We measured the opening.

Step 3 Diagram
Step 3 Instructions

And then trimmed off the ends of the door jamb.

The door jamps are cut a little shy of the overall height to allow the floating floor to move under it.

Step 4 Diagram
Step 4 Instructions

We've installed quite a few doors over the years - both interior and exterior - and have always gone the old fashioned wood shim way.

But the Ram saw <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quick-Door-Hanger-10-Door-Value-Pack-202/202…; target="_blank">these on his last trip to the Home Depot</a> and picked them up. They are about $5 a door, so a little more than a bunch of wood shims, but still reasonably priced. They come in singles packs too.

Step 5 Diagram
Step 5 Instructions

This old DIYer is about to learn a new trick!

Step 6 Diagram
Step 6 Instructions

How about that, instructions on the box!

Looks easy enough ... we'll see!

Step 7 Diagram
Step 7 Instructions

On the hinge side of the door, near each hinge, we screwed the hardware brackets to the door jamb.

Step 8 Diagram
Step 8 Instructions

There's one on ... you can't screw this one up .... I promise you, you'll nail it on the very first try.

Three more of the hardware brackets are screwed to knob side of the door jamb, directly across from the hinges.

Step 9 Diagram
Step 9 Instructions

Then we took a level and drew a line about a 1/2" in on the drywall, on the hinge side (I'll show you that in a second).

And then just fit the prehung door in the opening.

Step 10 Diagram
Step 10 Instructions

Then we attached the door on the hinge side to the wall with longer screws to reach the studs in the wall, lining the hardware brackets up with the line we drew

Step 11 Diagram
Step 11

This way, we know for sure that our door is hung straight, regardless of the rough opening of the doorway.

Step 12 Diagram
Step 12

Now on to the door knob side. On this side, we eyeball the gap between the door and the jamb, keeping it consistent with the top and hinge side, and screw the brackets to the wall, one at a time.

Step 13 Diagram
Step 13

Can you see the gap all the way around the door is about the same? The brackets make it easy to adjust the door jamb so the gap is consistent ...

Step 14 Diagram
Step 14

And a consistent gap means an easy to open and close door!

She works!

Step 15 Diagram
Step 15

We've got a lot more doors to do, but before we get to them, I'm taking care of one issue right now, right here. 

Notice there's no gap under that door? It's a pet peeve of mine, doors that get stuck on throw rugs.  Or squish your toes when the kids open them unexpectedly on you.  Ow.

 

So we pulled the hinge pins and took the door off and headed downstairs

 

And ran the door through the tablesaw

 

Brought the door upstairs and replaced the hinge pins

 

My toes likey!

 

When we add the case moulding, it will secure the outside of the door jamb to the wall framing, so that's next up. 

Using the Quick Door Hanger Kit really was a slick way to hang the doors, and I'm pretty sure these old DIYers aren't going back to door shims. 

How about you? Have you hung interior doors? Do you prefer shims? Have you used the hardware kit? We'd love to hear how you DIY door hanging too!

FYI - This post is not sponsored by Quick Door Hanger Kit.  I'm sure they are weirded out that they have a crazed fan and have no idea who I am.  But definitely worth buying if you are hanging doors!

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