Pre-hung doors can be an inexpensive and effective way to add value and curb appeal to your home, as the process requires less work than hanging a slab door but still takes some planning and effort to ensure a successful outcome.
Start by checking that the rough opening is level and plumb using a level. Adjust as necessary until its bubble is centered.
Preparation
Installing new doors on your house is a quick and easy way to save energy, improve security, and add curb appeal. While once only professional carpenters could complete this project on schedule, pre-hung doors allow anyone with basic DIY carpentry skills to do it in a weekend.
Start by unbolting and uninstalling your existing door from its frame and molding, using a pry bar to detach doorjambs from walls without damaging studs.
Next, measure the opening width and height to obtain accurate dimensions of your new frame. Be sure to add 4 inches for frame and trim materials. Also determine which side will serve as hinge side if installing left-hand swing door as well as lock stile side before prepping jamb studs with shims until they’re flush with wall surface.
Measurements
Prehung doors offer an ideal solution to upgrading interior or exterior doorways without the hassle of building the frame from scratch. But before hanging the new door, it is necessary to know its dimensions.
To measure the width of a doorway, pry off its trim with a putty knife to expose its doorframe and take measurements from it. First measure across it three times; then move your tape closer to its right side for two vertical measurements.
Measurements will help you choose a prehung door that fits perfectly within your frame, as well as allows for enough wiggle room for level-and-plumb positioning. Keep in mind that climate plays an impactful role here as it can influence doorframe and jamb thickness measurements – warm weather causes frames to expand while cooler climate causes them to shrink back down again.
Shims
Pre-hung doors make installation much simpler due to having their frame and hinges already assembled, which requires correct shimming in order to avoid problems in the future. It is crucial that shims are applied appropriately so as to avoid issues down the road.
Employ a level to ensure the door opening is plumb before setting your new frame into it with its shipping brackets attached. Shim the jambs as necessary until your entire frame is centered and flush against both sets of studs on either side.
Once your frame is evenly shimmed, close and test the latch side of the door. If there is an uneven reveal, shim less on one side and more on the other until its reveal becomes uniform. If either jamb is still too far out, use a framing square to correct it before filling any gaps between it and door with wooden shims.
Installation
Installing new doors in your house can increase both energy efficiency and security. When replacing an existing door or installing it in new construction, two primary types of doors exist: prehung and slab.
Pre-hung doors are convenient units that come fully assembled, complete with hinges and their own frame for easier hanging than slab doors, which don’t come equipped with frames and require DIYers to purchase and install one before hanging interior or exterior doors.
Installing a pre-hung door requires several tools for successful completion, including hammers, tape measures, levels, utility knives and pry bars. Once the new door has been installed, make sure any existing hardware or lockset is rehung appropriately; install any necessary locksets; test-fit the doorbell wires prior to caulking trim; and test fit any doorbell wires before closing or caulking the trim.