Types of Doors

      

Most doors nowadays come prehung. This means that the door jamb is completely assembled and the door is already hinged to the jamb. But you may desire a more customized appearance, or you may be installing an old door taken from a home that is being torn down. Or you may simply prefer to hang your own door. This article tells you how. For prehung doors, see Prehung Doors.

SAFETY FIRST:
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TYPES AND SIZES OF DOORS:
Doors come in a variety of widths and styles. They are as small as 18" to 24" wide for closets, (smaller for specialty applications), and as wide as 36" to 42" for exterior doors. Double door designs are, of course, wider. Although most doors are 68 " high, other heights are available for specialty or custom applications.

The most common type of interior door is a hollow-core unit made up of a wood frame along the edge, cardboard or wood strip webbing in the middle, and a thin wood surface such as lavan or a thin non-wood surface. Non-wood doors come in a variety of finish materials, many of which simulate wood. Hollow-core doors are lightweight and easy to maneuver, but are not recommended where soundproofing is needed, such as bedrooms.

Solid-panel doors are made of wood or wood products, steel with wood or foam cores, insulated hardboard, or insulated wood. Solid-panel doors are normally used as exterior doors, particularly if insulated, but can also be used inside if preferred. They generally cost more than hollow-core doors, and can be much heavier. Because of their weight they are more difficult to work with. Most solid panel doors, in fact, require two workers to install.

Common door styles range from flush (smooth surface) to multi-panel insets in the center section(s). Inset panels on exterior doors can be plain, carved, or glazed. Cost can range from just a few dollars to thousands of dollars for a custom door.

SELECTING AND PURCHASING MATERIALS:
Doors can be purchased pre-drilled for the lockset (this term refers collectively to the latch-bolt assembly, trim, and handles, knobs, or levers). This will save extra drilling and sawing. Once you know the width of the door you want, build the rough opening 3 "wider and 2" higher. The rough opening should be framed. The extra space around the door is needed for the door jamb and for shimming the door to perfectly plumb.

If the framing is already in place and you are just installing the door, measure the distance between the jack studs. The maximum width of the door will be 5" to 7" less than this distance. If the rough opening is not wide enough for the door you want, the frame will need to be removed on one or both sides and reworked. If there is more than a 7" space, add studs on either or both sides as necessary to cut down the width of the opening. Keep in mind that the door should clear the jambs by 1 /8 " at the top and sides and 3/8 " at the bottom (more over a carpet).

Measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the header. It should be between 81" and 83 for a standard 6'8" doors.

Since doors at different heights are a little more difficult to find, and are often more expensive, you may need to adjust the framing as necessary to make a standard height door ft. Check with you building material supplier for what is available before you do anything. If you need a shorter door, a standard height door can be cut to ft, but do not use a door that's pre-drilled for a lockset if the door is going to be cut down more than 2". Also, do the cutting on the bottom. If it's a hollow-core door, save the outer frame piece and attach it to the new bottom. If you need a taller than standard door, be prepared to pay more.

Purchase the door, a jamb kit of the proper size, the style of casing (trim) you prefer, and the necessary hardware. Determine the amount of casing needed by multiplying the height of the rough opening by 4 and the width by 2 and adding the numbers together. Add a couple of inches to allow for waste. If the door you purchase is pre-drilled for a lockset and hinges, it is intended for a right-hand or left-hand swing opening. This means if the door opens toward you and the knob will be on the right side, it is a right-handed door, and vice versa. Be sure to select the proper opening for you application. Store the door flat on a level surface. Do not stand on edge.

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