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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's not guaranteed to stop all damage however it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms. The boarding of doors and windows will also deter trespassers and vandals. Installing plywood boards over openings can be time-consuming and expensive. Measure the Door The first thing you'll need is tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or a chair nearby in case you need a better view of the top of the frame. If you need to use these tools, be sure to wear gloves and safety glasses. Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door width measurement. This can be done by running the tape measure horizontally across the door. Make sure to remove any other door components like the door sweep, from this measurement. Next, determine the height measurement by measuring from the floor to the current sill plate or lintel. It is crucial to measure more than one location especially for older doors, since they are not always a perfect rectangle. If the measurements are different then use the largest figure. After you've logged the measurements of height and width, you'll need to determine the size of board you'll need for the frame. It should be at a minimum 2'' wider and 1'' taller than the door. 2'' higher. This will give you enough room to shim both the door and frame in place. When you're ready to take the door frame's width and height measurements, it's a good idea to remove any trim or casing from around the door jambs so that you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you to take measurements of the exact gap between the frame's studs and the edge. After removing the trim, measure the length of your door frame using a tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different locations and then use the most compact measurement. It is also important to determine the height of the frame from top to bottom, on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement for your door's width. If you are having trouble with the measurements, you should consult a professional to come to your home and do the measuring. They will tell you what dimensions and what kind of door you need and how to prepare your frame for a new door. Cut the Plywood A door frame is usually made up of a series thin boards or studs which create a hollow space around the door. The typical door is secured by two hinges attached to these studs. This means that if you need to refinish the door, it is necessary to remove the door from its hinges overnight. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door's opening, a simple method of boarding doors is to place plywood inside the opening. This is a simple process without having to screw or nail the plywood to the frame of the door. Plywood is simple to work with, cheap and looks great once it's finished. It is the ideal material to use as a temporary solution for a problem where you're required to remove an existing door in order to finish it or build an entirely new one. It can also be useful for securing the opening in a room that is being renovated, like an unfinished basement or a construction site. To build a wall made of plywood, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Make notes using a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal such as a drywall or a metal square. Then, you can snap the chalkline along each line to indicate where you want to cut. Then utilize a circular saw to cut out the plywood to the desired size. It is important to protect both your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs if possible. Additionally, it is essential to choose a blade with a large number of teeth that can cut quickly and with less tear-out. Use a small piece of wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's distance from the line you are cutting. Fastening a pair of short braces to each end is a good way to secure the plywood in place without screwing it into studs. Put one of the braces on the inside of the door and the other on the outside. Then, position the deck screws into each of the holes and tighten them using an open-end wrench. Secure the Plywood It's time to attach the panel to the frame once you have the plywood sheet cut to the proper dimensions and the holes for the stiles and rails of the door frame predrilled. This is a simple task that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the correct tools and follow the correct procedure. Set up a table near the entrance with two sawhorses on each end and framing lumber 2x4s. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat on top the sawhorses using the marks left by the measurement process as a guide to cut. Utilize a utility blade and a straight edge made of metal to score the lines. This will create an outline for the saw blade, and will help keep the wood from splintering when cutting the plywood. Put on eye protection and cut along the scored lines using a circular saw or table saw fitted with a fine-tooth blade. Then, sand the edges of the plywood panel using 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding process, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels and allow to dry according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Install the hinges on the door frame. If you're using a T-hinge, drill holes in the outer edge of your door to allow for the strap portion of the hinges. Next, position the outside hinge on its mark and screw it to the frame with an screw gun. Repeat the same procedure on the inside of the door for the hinges remaining, being cautious not to tighten too much on any of them or the panel may shift. If you have a single T-hinged outside door you can make it easier for the latch to close by fishing wire through the loops on the outside hinges. Bend a piece of tie wire in half and place it through the two holes on the outside of the door, then twist the wires together to pull them tight and lock the door. Install the Plywood Place the plywood into the opening of the door according to the measurements you have taken. Move the header of the frame (top) and the sill. Utilize a level and ensure that there's no slop between the header and sill. If the level isn't quite right, place another shim where necessary and continue the process until the sill and the header are even. Once the plywood is in the frame, fix it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. Use a screwgun with an attachment for hex heads to avoid removing the heads of the screws. If you live in a house with studs running the length of your doorway, you could drill hanger bolts into every framing piece. This is a far easier task than drilling the hole using the aid of a saw for drywall. After putting the plywood in place, measure the width and the height of the door opening. If necessary, cut the bottom of the plywood to match the dimensions of your door frame and cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber as braces that connect to the upper and lower edges of your door. Cut along the lines marked on the plywood with circular blades with fine-toothed teeth. Wear eye protection. Get rid of any splinters that may have formed in the cuts using the help of a the sanding block. After you've put in the braces, use two pairs of finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. Counter sink all the nail heads once you're done. The braces should be sealed using a high-quality wood sealing product, like the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If boarding up service repairmywindowsanddoors is still too big for your doorway, you could add a piece of decorative molding to fill in the space between the door and jamb or reduce the size of the opening. In many instances, however, it is cheaper and easier to simply buy the door. This will also take away any issues you may have experienced with the door you originally purchased if it was damaged and could no longer fit the opening.