Alternatively, ask a friend or family member to hold the door steady while you work. [2] X Research source
Remove the bottom hinge pin first to prevent the door from tipping over on you. Once it’s out, remove the top hinge pin using the same method. Alternatively, grip the top of the pin with side cutters or pliers. Tap the cutters with a hammer while you maintain your grip on the pin to remove it. [3] X Research source If your hinges don’t have pins, unscrew the hinge from the door with a screwdriver.
Slide the pins back into the part of the hinge that’s still connected to the door frame for convenient storage if you plan to reuse them.
It’s better to err on the side of measuring too large than too small. Your old door was a perfect fit if: There were no tight spots that rubbed against the door frame. There was an 0. 125 in (3. 2 mm) gap between the door and the frame all around. The door opened and closed easily in hot and cold weather (when doors can expand or shrink slightly).
Measure the width between the inner sides of the door frame. Measure the height from the floor to the lower part of the doorway’s upper trim. Check the center, left, and right sides. Measure the thickness from the outer area of the side frame to the inner area.
The standard height for most doors is 80 inches (2. 0 m). Door widths vary and are usually marked in shorthand. For example, a 3-0 door is 3 feet (0. 91 m) and 0 inches wide, not 30 inches (0. 76 m) wide. Purchase a door slab rather than a prehung door. Prehung doors come already mounted in a frame.
To trim the width, remove equal amounts of door from both sides. For example, if you have to remove 1 inch (2. 5 cm), trim 0. 5 inches (1. 3 cm) from each side. If you’re trimming the height, cut the length off of the bottom where the door is slightly thicker. Generally, you want 0. 125 inches (3. 2 mm) of space between all edges of your door and the door frame. If you’re copying the measurements from your old door, you don’t need to subtract 0. 25 inches (6. 4 mm) from any measurements. Just trim the new door to match.
If you’re trimming off less than 0. 125 inches (3. 2 mm), plane the door down instead of sawing it. Wear thick, protective gloves and eye goggles while you saw. If your airways are sensitive, consider wearing a dust mask over your mouth and nose as well.
If you’re using a plane, make sure it’s at least 1. 75 inches (4. 4 cm) wide so it covers the entire thickness of the door. Set electric planes to 3 degrees. For hand planes, use a protractor and a pencil to mark a 3 degree line so you can see how much to remove. Double check which way the door swings before you plane. If it opens on your right (hinges on your left), then plane the right side and vice versa.
If you’re putting hinges in new spots, trace the top hinge 7 inches (18 cm) from the top of the door and the bottom hinge 11 inches (28 cm) from the bottom. Internal doors typically only need 2 hinges. For extra heavy or exterior doors, trace a third hinge directly between the top and bottom hinges. If you’re reusing your original hinges, they should still be attached to the door frame.
The most common error is outlining the hinge in mismatched spots on the door and frame, so make sure to trace very carefully. It’s more accurate to trace while the door is shimmed in the frame than to do it by measurement. If the old door was a good fit and is the exact same size as the new door, align them so they’re flush and use a combination square to transfer the mortise shape onto the new door.
If you’re reusing your old lockset, take measurements and outlines from the old door.
If you’re reusing the old knob, take measurements and outlines from the old door.
Measure the thickness of your hinge plates and lockset plate before you score so you know approximately how deep to make your cuts.
Sand the mortises when you’re finished chiseling. Double check that your hinge plates and lockset plate are flush with the surface of the door. Remove additional wood from the mortise if needed. [14] X Research source If the mortise is too shallow, the hinge will stick out. If it’s too deep, the hinge will be weaker.
If you plan on painting, priming, staining, or putting a finish on your new door, do it after you finish all your drilling and before you attach any hardware.
Once the hinges are screwed in, you’re ready to hang the door in the frame.
Exact instructions may vary based on your doorknob set. After all of the hardware is installed, check the door one more time by opening and closing it. Make sure that the doorknob and lock are functioning properly.
