You may need to replace an old door for a variety of reasons. Loss of attractive appearance is only one of them. You don’t always want to use the services of professionals, especially in those cases when you can do it yourself. Replacing an interior door is one of those cases.
In fact, the task not only looks simple, but it really is so. Help of specialists is optional, so more and more owners decide to do it on their own. In this case, you should use this detailed guide for the replacement of your door.
What tools are needed to install a new door?
Don’t be unrealistic and think that you don’t need tools. You don’t have to buy a set, because you can find everything you need in your own garage or borrow it from neighbors. As everything is available, you won’t have to postpone the dismantling.
Advices of professionals will allow you to prepare for such a process and replace an old door leaf with a new one yourself. To do this, you need the following tools:
- tape measure for measuring the parameters of your old and new doors;
- screwdriver for replacing hinges and installing fittings;
- circular saw for removing excess wood;
- universal knife;
- spatula for preparing a place for the hinges;
- hammer.
Having the right tools is the first of the essential steps. You will need to follow the order of actions from the instructions, and a high-quality result will soon delight both the owners and guests.
How to remove the old door?
To start replacing your interior door, you will need to remove the damaged structure. Use a hammer, drill and tape measure for this purpose. This is the minimum set of tools that will allow you to make a replacement in a short time. Despite the simplicity of the task, it will still be helpful to familiarize yourself with the guide for the installation of the door.
Step 1: take measurements
Please note that your old door will still come in handy. Don’t rush to take it off its hinges and put it with the trash. A design that has failed for various reasons will serve you as a model. Use a tape measure to measure its height and width. It is also worth remembering where the loops and parameters are located. Use this information to select new elements and interior doors.
Step 2: remove the studs
To complete the task, you must close your door tightly. For safety reasons, you have to remove the studs, starting from the lower hinge, and only after finishing, move to the upper one. This avoids the risk of your door falling during dismantling. To avoid losing the studs, it is recommended to insert them into the hinges.
Step 3: remove the pins
Remember to take precautions and seek outside help. Removing the pins means that your door is not fixed in the doorway and may fall down at any time. Use a screwdriver and a hammer to remove elements without any trouble. After completing this step, you can remove the old structure.
How to install new door?
Installing a new door seems like a simple task, and you won’t have to give up on your opinion. With proper attention to important details, you can greatly facilitate this task. First of all, make sure that the dimensions of your old and new interior doors are the same.
In addition, use a tape measure and determine:
- distance to the door handle (lock);
- dimensions of the doorway;
- distance to the top and bottom hinges.
This information will help you to fit the new door leaf to the existing dimensions of the doorway perfectly. If necessary, you will need to use a circular saw and a striping blade.
Step 1: make preparations
Before installing a new door, you will need to make sure that all key elements are installed and working properly. This primarily applies to locks or latches, which must fit into the corresponding grooves. After you have confirmed the correct placement of the holes and parts, you can replace the interior door.
Step 2: first check
Installation of an interior door requires the use of additional devices. You will need to prepare some spacers to keep the structure at an optimal level. It is not recommended to remove them before the installation process is completed.
Step 3: align the hinges
Since new designs don’t always include the space for hinges, you will need to deal with this issue yourself. Use the chisel to mark your door and use the notes you made earlier. Once the preparations are done, you can start leveling.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- place the door in the doorway without fixing it;
- align the loops;
- install the door in the doorway.
Aligning the hinges will allow you to install the interior door easily. If you find inconsistencies, you should correct them and repeat the mandatory steps.
Step 4: install the door
At this stage, you cannot do without help from other people. Your assistant should place spacers under the door to avoid bevels after installation. First of all, it is recommended to install the pins in the hinges, and then the pins themselves. During the installation, you will need to follow safety rules and use the help of others.
Step 5: checking the installed structure
Studs and hinges are in place, and it seems that nothing else has to be done? This is a common opinion, but it’s unfounded. You need to check the work done during the installation of pre hung wood interior doors https://unitedporte.us/interior-doors in order to make sure that:
- positioning of the door lock (latch) toward the holes in the doorway is correct;
- fastening of hinges and constituent elements of this unit (pins) is reliable;
- new construction opens (closes) simply and without any problems.
The occurrence of unpleasant surprises is associated with the subsequent grinding of surfaces. The door may change its position under its own weight, and you may need to do something extra. But such situations are rare when it comes to self-installation of MDF doors. Professionals carry out replacements of structures made from natural wood.
