Handyman Special - Replacing a Door

By Adam Peters


If you have to replace a door, you may have one of two different jobs before you: replacing the door, or replacing the door and the frame. Replacing a door is really easy, and even replacing the frame is doable if you follow instructions.

To replace a door, open it wide enough to show the hinges. Make sure you have enough room to work in. Put a wedge under the door to take pressure off the hinges. If you put a wedge on each side, you won't have to worry about the door falling in either direction after you take it off the hinges. Most doors are attached to the door frame with a two part hinge-the part on the door, and the part on the frame.

With a hammer and a screwdriver, tap the screwdriver onto the pin on the bottom of the lower hinge to push it up.Work it about three quarters of the way only. Do the same to the top pin.

The pins may stick if they haven't been used, or if they are rusty or have been painted. If this is the case, you may have to remove the rust or paint before you can move the pin. Most of the time, tapping persistently will work it free. Be careful not to scrape the frame of the door with the screwdriver.

You will probably need some help in order to make sure the door doesn't fall. While someone holds the door, work the bottom pin the rest of the way out.

Watch your fingers between the door and the frame or you'll get pinched! Now remove the top pin.

Ideally, the door is still balanced on the hinges even though the pins have been removed. You just have to grab the door on its inner edge and pull it away from the hinges.

Unless the old door has warped out of shape, use it to get the correct size for the new door. Door are often sold in standard sizes and you will have to trim the bottom to size, and if you have measured the old door, you can have this trimming done at the store or lumber center where you bought the door.

You may have to replace the hinges. Unscrew them from the frame side and from the door side. If you want to use the old hinges, you may still want to take them off to clean them and oil them with sewing machine oil or some other light grease. The problem with this method is that the oil attracts dust and will cause more squeaking. Instead, use a powder that locksmiths use: it is a very fine carbon or silicone powder that is normally used for inside lock tumblers, but will also keep your hinges moving smoothly. You should also dust the hinge cracks with this carbon or silicon powder for more ease of opening.

Make sure the screw holes on the door frame can take the hinges you are putting back on. You may have to fill them with wood putty before you can screw the hinges on. You have to let the putty dry before you can continue the project.

Now screw the hinges back onto the door frame. Attach your new door to the hinges and set the door onto the hinges by working the top pin in about halfway, then the bottom pin in halfway.

Now, tap them in the rest of hate way, and you have a new door installed.

Adam Peters is the author of more resources published online. Read at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com/blog/73/about-doors/ more articles about wood glass doors.

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