Install a Prehung Door

You can install a prehung door easily and in a short amount of time by following a few simple instructions.

Prehung doors are easy to install.

Prehung Doors Explained

Buying a prehung door does not mean that you simply place the door in your rough opening and attach it with a few screws. While the door comes with the door jambs already attached, it still takes a little time and effort to make sure your door works perfectly once it is installed.

How to Install a Prehung Door

Here a few easy steps for installing your door.

• Prepare the door opening
  • Remove the old door by either popping the pins out of the hinges or unscrewing the hinges from the doorjamb.
  • Remove and repair the old doorjamb if it is broken – Use a pry bar and hammer and begin removing the doorjamb from top to bottom.
  • Remove trim work and/or decorative moldings – Do this in the same manner as removing the doorjambs.
  • Install new doorjambs
• Position your door in your rough opening and complete the following tasks before attaching the door:
  • Check the gaps – The gaps between the new door assembly and the new doorjambs should measure around a quarter of an inch on the top, bottom and sides. If your gaps measure larger than a quarter of an inch, you will need to use shims. Shims are thin pieces of wood that can be found at any home improvement store.
  • Make sure the doorjambs are flush with the walls – Using a level, check to make sure the doorjambs are in line with the walls. They should not stick out further or sink in lower than the surrounding walls. If the doorjambs are not flush, you will need to use jamb extenders if they don’t stick out far enough or plane the doorjambs down if they stick out too far.
  • Attach the doorjamb to the studs – Nail the doorjamb into the studs at 12- to 16-inch intervals with 4d or 6d nails. Nailing the doorjamb in at measured intervals will ensure that the door will remain securely in place. If you don't install enough nails or install them at irregular intervals, you may find that over time, the doorjamb will begin to warp or pull out.
  • Check the door alignment – Again, using a level, double check that the door remains flush with the walls.
  • Install the doorknob – The hole for the doorknob is pre-cut for you, making it super easy and simple to install doorknob.

Final Tips

Here are some final tips you can use to make sure the install a prehung door process goes smoothly.

• Measure twice – Always measure twice before you make any cuts or adjustments.
• Go smaller – If your existing door openings are odd-shaped and you can't find a door that fits perfectly, it is always easier to build a thicker doorjamb to fit a smaller door than it is to increase the size of the door opening. To increase the size of the door opening you will have to cut through drywall and studs, and having to do that makes the simple project of installing a door into a more complicated and difficult project.
• Don't forget to attach your shims – Some professionals do not attach nails directly through the shim, but rather on the sides of the shim. They do this so they can make later adjustments. For the non-professional, attaching the shims directly to the doorjamb will ensure that they will stay in place and save you the frustration of having to start over because your shim slipped out of place.
• Don't forget to countersink your nail heads – If you don't already own a nail set, buy one. Nail sets are located by the nails and other fasteners in any large home improvement store. To set a nail, place the nail set on top of the nail head and hit it with a hammer until the nail sinks below the wood. Once the nail is countersunk, fill the hole with wood filler. If you don't countersink your nails, not only will they stick out when you go to paint, but they may also prevent your door from properly opening and closing..

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