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How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Boarding up a door is one method to shield vacant investment properties from the elements. It may not prevent all damage, but it can help to prevent some of the problems associated with severe storms. The idea of boarding up doors and windows can deter trespassers, vandals, and squatters. Placing plywood boards over doors and windows could be time-consuming and costly. Take a measurement of the door The first thing you'll require is a tape measure. You may also want to have an extra chair or ladder in case you need to gain a better view at the top of the frame. If you must use these tools, make sure to wear gloves and safety glasses. Start by measuring the door's width. This can be accomplished by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be lowestoft emergency boarding up to take out all extra parts of the door, such as the sweep, when measuring. Then, determine the height by measuring from the floor up to the sill or lintel. It is essential to take measurements in several places, particularly when measuring older doors as they may not be a perfect rectangular shape. If the measurements differ, use the largest number. After you've logged the width and height measurements, you'll need to determine the size of boarding you need for the frame. It should be at least 2'' wider and 1 inch taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you plenty of room to put the door and frame into place. When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements, it's best to take out any trim or casing the door jambs, so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you to determine the exact size of the gap between studs and the frame. After you've removed the trim, you can then measure the width of the frame of the door by running the tape across the entire frame in three locations and using the smallest measurement to determine your door's width. Also, you should measure the height of the frame from top to bottom on both sides, and then use the shortest measurement as the height of your door. If you're having trouble with these measurements, it's a good idea to speak with an expert and have them come out to your house to do the measuring for you. They'll tell you the size and style of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame for a new door. Plywood can be cut into pieces A door frame is typically made up of a series thin boards or studs that create a hollow space around the door. The typical door is held in place by two hinges that are connected to the studs. If you wish to finish a door, you will have to take it off its hinges overnight. Placing plywood in the door opening is an easy method to enclose doors and stop insects from getting into your home. It is easy to do this without nailing or screw the plywood to the door's frame. Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks fantastic when finished. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary fix for a problem where you need to remove an existing door in order to refinish it or put in an entirely new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a space being renovated, such as an excavation site or basement. Start by measuring the width of the door opening and its height. Mark the measurements on the plywood with the help of a utility knife, an drywall square or any other straight edge made of metal. Then, draw an outline of chalk across each of the lines you have marked to indicate where you need to cut. Then, use circular saws to cut out the plywood to size. It is crucial to protect both your ears and eyes when cutting plywood. Wear earplugs or goggles that are protective if possible. In addition, it's essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that will cut quickly and without tear-out. Utilize a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it a hair's width away from the mark when cutting. A great way to hold the plywood in place without screwing it to the studs is by fixing braces that are short at each end. Put one brace on the inside and the other outside of the door. Then, position two 1-½-inch deck screws in each of the holes and tighten them using an open-end wrench. Fasten the Plywood Once you have a sheet of plywood cut to the proper size and with the holes for the door frame's rails and stiles predrilled, it is time to fasten the panel to the door frame. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills if you use the right tools and follow the proper procedure. Start by setting up a worktable near the doorway, with two sawhorses and 2-by-4 framing lumber at each end of the table. Use the marks made during the measurement process to guide you while cutting the plywood. Score the lines with a utility knife and a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will provide a guide for the saw blade, and will help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines of scoring with a circular saw or table saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Sand the edges of the panels with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding the plywood panels apply a wood sealer and let it dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Install the hinges onto the door frame. If you are using a T hinge, drill holes in the outside of the door for the strap portions of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside on its mark and screw it into the frame using the help of a screw gun. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, being careful not to overtighten any of them or the door will shift. If you're using one outside hinged door, you can make it easier to close and lock using a chain latch by putting a piece wire through the loops on the hinges on the outside. Bend a piece of tie wire in half and place it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then connect the wires to tighten them and fix the door. Install the Plywood Place the plywood in the opening of the door according to the measurements you have taken. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to ensure that there's no slop between the sill and header. If it's not quite right then put a second shim where needed and continue this process until you get the header and sill to be level. Once the plywood is inside the frame, fasten it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wings nuts. It's a good idea to use a screw gun with a hex-head attachment to prevent stripping the head of the screws. While you're at it, if your house was built with studs that run through the doorway's height make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a lot easier than using a drywall cutter to make the hole. After putting the plywood in place, take measurements of the width and height of the door opening. If necessary, trim the bottom of the plywood to match the size of the door frame and cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber to form braces that connect to the upper and lower ends of your door. Cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood with circular blades with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Splinters can be removed from the cuts by using a sanding device. After you've put in the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. Once you're done counter-sink the heads of all the nails. Cover the braces using a high-quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane from Minwax. If the door is too large for your doorway, you can add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the space between the jamb and the door or alter the size of the opening. In many cases, however it is less expensive and simpler to purchase an entirely new door. This can also alleviate any problems you might have had with the original door, if it was damaged and no suitable for the opening.