How to Go About Boarding Up a Door

Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is possible by putting up a door with a board. Although it isn't able to be able to prevent all destruction, it can help avoid some of the problems that can arise from severe storms.

The boarding of doors and windows can also deter burglars and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to install plywood boards over the openings of a property.

Take a measurement of the door

The first thing you'll require is a tape measure. You might want to keep a ladder or chair nearby in case you need an improved view of the top of the frame. Wear gloves and safety glasses when you make use of these tools.

Once you have the measuring instrument, start by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running the tape horizontally across the door. Be sure to eliminate any other door components like the door sweep to get the measurement. Then, take a measurement of the height by measuring from the floor to the sill or the lintel. It is essential to take measurements in several places, particularly when measuring older doors as they might not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements differ, use the largest number.

After you've logged the width and height measurements and you'll need to determine the size of boarding you'll need to fit into the frame. Ideally, it should be 2'' wider than the door and 1 inch thicker than the door. 2'' higher. This will allow you enough room to shim both the frame and frame to fit.

When you're ready to measure the door frame's width and height measurements It's best to take out any trim or casing around the door jambs so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you determine the exact dimensions of the space between the studs and the edges of the frame.

After you've removed your trim, you can then measure the width of the door frame by running the tape across the entire frame in three places and using the smallest measurement as your door's width. You should also determine the height of the frame from top to bottom, on both sides. Use the shortest measurement to determine your door's width.

If you're having issues with these measurements it's best to speak with a professional and have them come out to your house to take the measurements for you. They will be able to determine the exact kind of door and size you need and how to prepare the frame to accommodate a new door.

Plywood can be cut into pieces

A door frame is usually composed of thin boards or studs that create an open space around the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs and keep the door in its place. This means that if you want to restore the door, it is important to remove the door from its hinges overnight. Placing plywood in the door's opening is a great method to enclose doors and stop insects from entering the home. This is a simple process without the need to screw or nail the plywood to the door frame.

Plywood is a breeze to work with, inexpensive and looks beautiful once finished. It is the perfect material to use as a temporary fix for situations where you have to take down an existing door in order to refinish it or put in the new one. It can also be useful to secure the opening in an area that is being renovated, such as an unfinished basement, or a construction site.

Begin by taking measurements of the width of the door opening as well as its height. Note the measurements on the plywood with the help of a utility knife, a drywall square or other straight edge made of metal. Then, you can snap a chalkline across each line to indicate where to cut. Finally, use a circular saw to cut out the plywood to size.

It is important to protect both your eyes and ears when cutting plywood. Wear protective goggles or earplugs whenever possible. In addition, it's important to use a blade with a large number of teeth that can cut quickly and with less tear-out. To reduce the chances of cutting pieces of wood from the edges of your cut, use a small block of wood as an example to guide the blade, and hold it just a hair's width away from the line while cutting.

Attaching a pair of shorter braces to each end is a great way to hold the plywood in place, without screwing it into the studs. Set one brace inside and the other on the outside of the door. Then, place a pair of 1-1/2-inch deck screws in each of the holes, and tighten them using an open-end wrench.

Fix the Plywood

When you have a piece of plywood cut to the proper size and with holes for the door frame's stiles and rails predrilled, it is time to secure the panel to the frame. This is a simple project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills, as long as you use the right tools and follow the correct procedure.

Set up a table in the doorway, with two sawhorses at each end, and framing lumber 2x4s. Lay the full sheet of plywood flat atop the sawhorses, using the marks from the measurement process to guide you for cutting. Utilize a utility knife and a straight edge of metal to score the lines. This will serve as an outline for the saw blade, and will help to prevent splintering during cutting the plywood.

Wear eye protection and cut along the scored lines using a circular saw or table saw with a fine-tooth blade. Then sand the edges of the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper. This will smooth out the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding then apply a wood sealer and allow it to dry in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.


Install the hinges on the door frame. If you are using a T hinge, drill holes through the outer face of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Then, place the hinge's outside face on its mark and screw it to the frame with an screw gun. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for each of the hinges remaining, but be cautious not to tighten too much on any of them or the hinge could shift.

If you're using one outside hinged door, you can make it easier to lock and close using a chain latch by putting a piece wire through the loops of the hinges outside. Fold a small piece of tie wire in half, and then thread it through the two holes on the exterior of the door. Then twist the wires and fix the door.

Install the Plywood

Based on the measurements you have taken, place the plywood in the door opening. Shim the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Use a level to make sure that there is no slop between the sill and the header. If it's not quite right you can put another shim in the place where needed and continue this process until you get the sill and the header to be in a straight line.

Once the plywood is in the frame, fasten it with stainless steel hinge bolts and wing nuts. Use a screwgun with an attachment for hex heads to avoid removing the screws' heads.

While you're there, If your home was constructed with studs running the height of your doorway you can drill hanger bolts into the plywood and into each framing stud. This is much easier than using a drywall cutter to create the hole.

After putting the plywood in place after installation, take measurements of the width and height of your door opening. If needed, trim the bottom of the plywood to fit the size of the door frame and cut two pieces of framing lumber for braces to are positioned across the upper and lower ends of your door. Put on eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood using a circular saw equipped with a fine-tooth blade. Take any splinters out of the cuts by using a Sanding block.

Once you have the braces in place Attach each brace to the plywood with a pair of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. Counter sink all nail heads when you're done. Cover Repair My Windows And Doors with a quality wood sealing product, such as the wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax.

If the door is still too large for your doorway, you can put in some decorative molding to fill in the gap between the door and jamb or you can alter the size of the opening. In most cases, however it is less expensive and more convenient to buy an entirely new door. It also solves any issues you may have had with your door's original model even if it was damaged or no longer fitted the opening.