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How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is possible by board up a door. While it won't stop all destruction, it can help avoid some of the issues that come with severe storms. The boarding of doors and windows will also discourage trespassers and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to set up plywood boards over the openings of a property. Take a measurement of the door You'll require a tape measure. You may want to keep a ladder or a chair nearby in case you need an improved view of the top of the frame. Wear gloves and protective glasses if you have to use these tools. Once you have the measuring tool, begin by taking the door's width measurement. This can be done by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Make sure to remove any additional door parts like the door sweep to get this measurement. Then, take the height measurement by measuring up from the floor to the current sill plate or the lintel. It is crucial to take measurements in several locations, particularly when measuring doors older than they might not be an exact rectangular shape. If the measurements are different take the largest number. You'll have to determine the size of the frame after you've taken measurements of the length and width. Ideally it should be 2 inches greater than the door's width and 1 2'' higher. This will give you enough room to shim both the door and frame to fit. It's a good idea to take off the trim or casing around the jambs of your door to be able to see the studs. This will allow you to measure the exact gap between the frame's studs and the edge. After you have removed the trim, measure the length of your door frame using the tape measure. Measure the frame at three different points and then use the smallest measurement. You should also measure the height of the frame from the top to bottom on both sides, and then use the shortest measurement as your door's height. If you're having difficulty with the measurements, you should seek out a professional who will come to your home and take the measurements. They'll inform you of the dimensions and what kind of door you'll need and how to prepare your frame to accommodate a replacement door. Cut the Plywood A door frame is typically comprised of a set of thin boards or studs that create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs and keep a typical door in position. If you are looking to finish doors, you'll have to take it off its hinges overnight. To keep insects out of your home and to secure the door opening, a straightforward method of boarding a door involves placing plywood inside the opening. It is simple to do this without the need to nail or screw the plywood to the door's frame. Plywood is simple to work with, inexpensive and looks stunning when completed. It is the perfect material to make a temporary solution to a problem in which you have to take down the door you have in place to refinish or install a new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a space being renovated, such as a basement or construction site. For a wall constructed of plywood, start by measuring the width and height of the door opening. Mark the measurements with a utility blade and a straight edge of metal like a drywall or a square. Then, snap an outline of chalk across each line to mark the area to cut. Finally utilize circular saws to cut out the plywood into a size. When cutting the plywood, it is crucial to shield your eyes and ears. If possible wear eye protection and earplugs as you are working. It is also essential to use a blade with many teeth, that will allow you to cut quickly and with little tear-out. Make use of a small piece wood to guide the blade. Hold it about a hair's width away from the line you are cutting. A good way to keep the plywood in place without fixing it to the studs is to attach two braces at each end. Set one brace on the inside and the other outside of the door. Install a deck screws in each hole and tighten using an open-end ratchet. Fix the Plywood It's time to attach the the frame once you have the plywood sheet cut to the right size and the holes to attach rails and stiles of the door frame have been predrilled. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require any advanced carpentry skills if you use the right tools and follow the proper procedures. Set up a table near the doorway with two sawhorses on each end, as well as framing 2x4s. Make marks during the measurement procedure to guide you in cutting the plywood. Use a utility blade and a metal straight edge to score the lines. This will serve as a guide to the saw blade and will prevent splintering of the plywood when you cut it. Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the scored line. Then, sand the edges of the plywood panel with 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the panels and remove any burrs that may have formed from the saw cuts. After sanding, apply a layer of wood sealer on the plywood panels and allow to dry as directed by the manufacturer. Install the hinges on the frame of the door. If you are using T hinges, make holes through the exterior of the door to accommodate the strap portions of the hinges. Then, you can screw the outside hinge to the frame with the screwdriver. Repeat the procedure for every hinge on the inside of your door. Be cautious not to overtighten them, or the door may shift. If you have one outside hinged door, you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain latch by putting a piece wire through the loops on the hinges outside. Bend a small piece of tie wire in half and put it through the two holes on the exterior of the door, then connect the wires to pull them tightly and fix the door. Install the Plywood Using the measurements you took, place the plywood in the door opening. Shim the frame's header (top) and the sill. Use a level to make sure there's no slop in the header or sill. 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 header to be in a straight line. Once the plywood is in the frame, fix it using stainless steel hinge bolts and wing 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 extend across the width of your doorway, drill hanger bolts through the plywood and into the framing studs. This is a lot easier than using a drywall saw to make the hole. After installing the plywood take measurements of the width and height of your door opening. If necessary, cut the bottom of the plywood to match the size of the door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber to form braces that attach across the upper and lower sides of your door. RepairMyWindowsAndDoors and cut along the lines drawn on the plywood with circular saws fitted with a fine-toothed blade. Take any splinters out of the cuts by using an Sanding block. After you've put in the braces After you have placed the braces, use two pairs finishing nails of 2 inches to secure each brace to the plywood. Counter sink all the nail heads once you're done. Cover the braces and plywood with a quality wood sealer, such as this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If your door is too large it is possible to add decorative molding to fill the gap between your door and jamb or you can resize your opening. In many cases, however, it is cheaper and easier to simply buy an entirely new door. This will also take away any issues you might have had with the original door if it was damaged and could no suitable for the opening.