I am looking to install a single metal pre-hung door with threshold from the garage to the basement. Its technically an interior door but I assume its installed like an exterior door. I am fairly handy but I have never installed a pre-hung door.
Are there any tips or tricks? Get it square and centered, right? Sounds simple enough
Posts: 5544 | Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Registered: February 27, 2001
Do the hinge side first and treat it like installing any another door. For me, pre-hung doors are easier to install but it makes it better with 2 people.
This video shows that by screwing piece of 1x4s in the corners and towards the bottom on each side you can make it fairly easy for one person the install the door and in your case, prevent the door from falling down the stairs:
This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,
Posts: 12816 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007
I've hung several in my lifetime, pre-hung types. And none of them were 100% successful. My next door I'm calling a pro. They know all the ins and outs and unspoken and unknown gotchas, and make it work. I'm guessing a full time door man, a professional carpenter, or a trim carpenter. I wouldn't hire a handyman, unless he's a retired bona fide hands-on house builder.
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Posts: 9383 | Location: Nowhere the constitution is not honored | Registered: February 01, 2008
As said the threshold make the job much easier to get right. It probably has brickmold attached as well so it's just stick it in the hole, plumb, shim, and nail but screws are more forgiving.
Posts: 3693 | Location: Soon to be Formerly of God Awful NY | Registered: July 01, 2006
I've found that the degree of difficulty is highly dependent on how good the rough opening is framed. In my basement, whoever put in the original walls didn't frame the opening tall enough, so I've had to cut a bit off the bottom of every door. Also, some of the 2x4's on the hinge side were warped or bowed, making installation by one person impossible if you're trying to shim the door at the same time as fastening it.
Solution is to rip thin plywood and use that plus shims to plumb that side of the rough opening first. A six foot level is required. Then the door can be directly attached on the hinge side. Once that is done, level the top side, then plumb the latch side. Check often to ensure an even gap exists all around the door as you go. I also used #8 x 3.5" trim head screws instead of brad nails. If I make a mistake, easy to take them out and try again. Fill screw holes with joint compound and sand flush. YMMV.
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Posts: 608 | Location: Missouri | Registered: October 17, 2010
I would just add that pre drilling through the shims is quite helpful especially if you’re hand driving nails. Also, the video didn’t show getting the jam plumb. That is a must or your door will swing open or closed and annoy you until the day you die.
You may need a fire rated door and if sheetrock is involved it may be 5/8 thick. I have had better luck using a magnetic level and plumbing the door off the hinges than the jamb. Use your shims at the base and very top of the door on both sides as a start especially if you are by yourself. This keeps it tight. I hang doors by myself and its a pain so this is the method I use. A finish nail gun helps along with a prybar.
Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows. Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 4029 | Location: Sparta, NJ USA | Registered: August 16, 2002
I like the idea of using 1x4's as an extra set of hands. I will not really know what I am getting into until I get the old door out and see what existing framing looks like. Luckily this door is in the basement and will not visible to many.
Posts: 5544 | Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA | Registered: February 27, 2001
Up by me, Home Depot stocks Jeld Wen doors. If you take the hinges off you will see that where the hinge sits is not flat but angled ever so slightly. Also the door jambs are not 3/4 thick anymore the are 5/8 and I also think this makes it harder to plumb and square the door.
Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows. Benjamin Franklin
Posts: 4029 | Location: Sparta, NJ USA | Registered: August 16, 2002
Use shims between the 1x4 pieces and the door jamb to make the door jamb plumb if the wall isn’t plumb to begin with. I meant the video to be a demonstration of a way to make it easier for one person to install a prehung door, not as a comprehensive how to.
Posts: 12816 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007