Re: squaring up a prehung door

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Re: squaring up a prehung door

From: info@builderswebsource.com
Category: Windows and Doors
Remote Name: 172.182.248.219
Date: 28 Oct 2001
Time: 08:55 AM

Comments

Plumbing up a pre-hung door is not always as easy as you might think. Depending on the length of your level, your door may in fact not be installed plumb, even though you think it is. It only takes a small error to cause the door to bind. Of course, it's also possible that the door itself was not properly manufactured and the hinges are out of alignment.

Normally, when installing a door, it's best to use shims and screws between the door frame and the rough studs. By using screws, it is possible to make fine adjustments in the position of the door frame, testing as you go.

If this door was installed by your contractor, you should have your contractor fix it. If you installed it yourself, you'll have to experiment or hire a professional to fix it for you. Sometimes it also helps to plane the bottom of the door, but this is often a band-aid for a door that wasn't properly hung in the first place.

Sometimes the problem you describe is due to the floor being slightly unlevel, causing one side of the door jamb to be slightly lower in elevation than the other side. Even a small variation will cause the door to stick. Be sure you measure for plumb in all directions, including front to back, top to bottom and side to side. To confirm that the door is in fact square, the diagonal measurements from inside corner to opposite inside corner of the jambs should be identical. Any difference (even a fraction of an inch) means that the door frame is not square.

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