Learn About Fitting A New Door
There are some household jobs that anyone can do without calling in the handyman, such as fitting a new door. Here are a few tips to help you along. The first thing you need to do is decide what type of door you need to fit - internal or external is the most obvious decision. Then you can decide between flush, smooth wood or a paneled door, as well as if a lightweight one will do the job or if a sturdier door is what you're after.
You obviously need to make sure your chosen door is going to fit into the existing frame. The most common door sizes are readily available from DIY shops so you might not have to worry, but it's worth checking your door against the frame to see if you need to alter it at all. Mark the frame measurements onto your new door allowing for floor clearance and fluctuations in the wood - 5mm at the bottom and 3mm on the other sides.
When cutting the door down to size, it's important you don't cut off more than 15mm from any edge of it will weaken the joints. If you need to cut off more, investigate getting a smaller door size instead. If you have to cut off less than 5mm, use an electric or hand planer to ensure accuracy. For more than 5mm, use a circular saw. Make sure to trim the top and bottom or sides equally so the door stays even.
Next, use sandpaper to smooth off any rough edges and then check the fit of your new door. Do this by slotting it into the frame and wedging it at the bottom. Once you're sure it fits, lie the door back down. If you've bought new hinges, this is the time to fit them to the hinge recesses in the door frame. Then place the door in the frame and support it with two timber wedges.
The final task is to check your hinge positions and fix the door into place. Pencil the hinge positions onto the door edge, then chisel out the waste wood to make sure your door shuts smoothly when you fit it back into the frame. This will also make sure the hinges are flush with the door edge, keeping the draught out. Use a 3mm wood bit to make hinge holes in the door then screw in a hinge to check the door opens and closes properly. If it does, screw in the remaining hinges.
You obviously need to make sure your chosen door is going to fit into the existing frame. The most common door sizes are readily available from DIY shops so you might not have to worry, but it's worth checking your door against the frame to see if you need to alter it at all. Mark the frame measurements onto your new door allowing for floor clearance and fluctuations in the wood - 5mm at the bottom and 3mm on the other sides.
When cutting the door down to size, it's important you don't cut off more than 15mm from any edge of it will weaken the joints. If you need to cut off more, investigate getting a smaller door size instead. If you have to cut off less than 5mm, use an electric or hand planer to ensure accuracy. For more than 5mm, use a circular saw. Make sure to trim the top and bottom or sides equally so the door stays even.
Next, use sandpaper to smooth off any rough edges and then check the fit of your new door. Do this by slotting it into the frame and wedging it at the bottom. Once you're sure it fits, lie the door back down. If you've bought new hinges, this is the time to fit them to the hinge recesses in the door frame. Then place the door in the frame and support it with two timber wedges.
The final task is to check your hinge positions and fix the door into place. Pencil the hinge positions onto the door edge, then chisel out the waste wood to make sure your door shuts smoothly when you fit it back into the frame. This will also make sure the hinges are flush with the door edge, keeping the draught out. Use a 3mm wood bit to make hinge holes in the door then screw in a hinge to check the door opens and closes properly. If it does, screw in the remaining hinges.
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