Replacing a Door

Replacing Old Doors

Placing New Doors in Old Spaces

Replacing a door is a job you may be able to do yourself. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when installing a new door.

Determine the door swing. If the knob is on the left and swings toward you—that means it’s a left-handed door swing. Your new door should swing the same direction as the old door once installed.

Width is essential. The new door must be the same width as the old one. If the replacement is more narrow, you will have to make up the difference with stock matching the existing frame. It will make installation more difficult, but still doable. If the door is too wide, it can be sanded down to the correct measurement. However, make sure to keep lock grooves the same depth as before to ensure the security of a firmly set lock.

Check the floor. In some older homes doors will need to be built up because the original was not set on the subfloor. Do this by building a new base with pressure treated 2×4s.

Check the height too. The standard replacement doors stand between 82 ½ and 83 ½ inches. Filling in the gap from a smaller door can be done. If the door is too larger however, you may need a contractor to create a new header.

Assemble tools and supplies before you begin. Installing a door is a job that should be finished in one day. Gathering everything you need ahead of time will speed up the process and help you get it done in the time allotted.

Use special care when removing molding. To remove the interior molding, use a nail set and hammer to drive nails through molding. Place a thin piece of scrap under the pry bar to protect the wall, and then lift carefully. Don’t worry too much about the exterior molding because a new door should come with new replacement molding.

Check the opening for size, plumb and level. Leave at least 3/8 of an inch on each side to accommodate shims for fitting the new door. And now is the time to reinforce the door jam.

A note to keep in mind for interior doors:

You can also install solid-core interior doors for a added security.  A door with a dead bolt is one more barrier between you and an intruder. It can also buy you time to call the police.