If you need a door replacing or installing you may consider doing the work yourself. If you’re a handy person you may find this the perfect challenge, but I won’t beat around the bush, if you’re a do-it-yourself beginner then this truly isn’t the project to start with. Replacing or installing a door can be complicated, especially in older homes, and there’s a good chance you’ll damage your home or the door you just bought. If you’re unsure and you just need a professional to do it for you, then you can click here, but if you’re still on the fence, read on for our top tips.
Tip #1: Install a Pre-Fitted Door Whenever Possible
This means you buy a door already fitted within a doorjamb. Fitting a new door can be complicated. Wood can warp with time, so if you’re fitting an older home simply replacing the door may not work without some manipulation. If you replace the whole thing then you just need to ensure the opening is the correct size and fit the whole thing. If you just replace the door you may need to alter your door to fit the old jamb, or fix the jamb itself, and you’ll also likely need to bore holes for the lockset, chisel mortises for the hinges, and more. None of those things are easy and one wrong move may mean you’ve ruined the door, or, if you still hang the door, added a great big “I did this myself” sign to it.
Tip #2: Measure Everything Before You Start
This may be a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning. Measure the opening in several places, especially if you’re fitting a new door into an old opening, as the wood may have warped and aged over time. Check the sides with a level. They are rarely plumb (perfectly vertical) but they do need to give the door room to move freely. You want the fit to be as snug as possible to keep out any possible drafts and to add some soundproofing to your room, but you don’t want it sticking at the top or bottom. If it is an exterior door then you’ll want it to seal you off from the outside world, or else you’ll lose a huge amount of heat.
Tip #3: Ensure Your Exterior Screws Are Hidden
If there are screws to hold the door in place showing on the outside of your home then you are inviting criminals to try and break into your home. You don’t want to make it easy for anyone, so ensure your screws are hidden from the outside and combine this tip with the next for extra safety.
Tip #4: For Extra Security On Any Door, Replace Factory Screws With Long Ones
Any factory-supplied screws are likely going to be too short to withstand someone trying to break in the door. If you want to feel extra secure in your home replace one, or all, of the screws holding the door in place with a much longer one so it will be secure against anyone trying to remove it by force. You can easily find some on Amazon.
Tip #5: Don’t forget the Carpet
If you have yet to lay down your flooring or you intend to add carpet, don’t forget to leave space for it at the bottom of the doorjamb.
If you’re not confident in your ability to do it yourself then simply hiring a professional will be much less stressful for you. It will usually take a professional a day’s work to hang a new door and may be able to dispose of the old door for you.
If you’re looking for someone to install a door for you in Brooklyn then you can contact us today! We can often install your door in a day and dispose of the old one for no extra charge. We’ll always leave your home clean and the only sign of our being there will be your new door!
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