Doors and Windows - pre hung door ?

Any tricks or hints to hanging a pre hung door??(Interior)

ee3,

Have some shims handy and your level. Most problems occur from not ensuring the door is level and plumb (vertically).

Ok, Installing a prehung door, if you purchase the prehung door with the casing already attached this will eliminate casing and make the installation of the door easier for you. Typically installing a prehung takes about 15 minutes. If the unit is a split jamb,prehung and precased,(this would be the easiest for you) Of course you have to make sure the precased door units casing matches your trim that you are using. for this unit, unpack the door, remove all staples around the jamb, and strips of wood, all items that may be holding the two halfs of the unit together. Then place the jamb half that has the door hinged on it and place in the opening. I usually slip a 1/4" piece of stock under the jambs, or more depending on what type of flooring is going to be used. this holds the door up a little so when the flooring is installed you don't have to cut the bottom of your new door,(especially on a hollow core door, but that is another lesson. Then make sure you have the unit in about the center of the opening, and tack a nail in to the hinge side top of casing, to hold in place, never drive nails home until everything is right. Now using a 4 ft. level check the hinge side and when it is plumb, tack some more nails down the hinge side, then check the rest of the jambs top and latch side to make sure the gap is the same, about 1/8", usually most prehungs come with little spacers stuck on the edge of the door to keep this spacing. When all is right then nail top casing and latch side. then open door and go into other side. check operation of door to make sure all touches stop molding evenly. from the unfinished side. install shims just snug enough but not to change the way the door operates. Keep checking door with the installation of each shim. When all shims, one behind each hinge and three on the other side, make sure everything is operating properly. Nail through jamb at each shim area, then cut with razor knife the shims so they do not stick out past framing. then slide in the other half of the jamb/casing, and make sure it's in and the casing is touching on the wall surface. Nail the casing and then nail a few through the jamb. never nail up through the top jamb, not necessary. Now double check plumb and gap and operation of door is all is ok, then finish nailing and setting your nails.

Look at these links,

http://www.immostore.it/HomeGarden/HomeImprovement/HowTos/HowTos/CRHO_InstallingPrehungDoor.asp?poe=homestore

http://www.premdor.com/Global/install2.asp

Hope this helps!

Thanks for your reply. One last ques. (I HOPE)Do i shim it even all around or just the latch side. I have aprox. 3/4" Thanks again!

ee3,

I like to have the hinge side right against a stud if possible, more solid anchoring, at least for a solid core door. Interior doors are not heavy and this is not a major concern. The key is to ahve room to make the door level and plumb. If need be, and if easier, and/or if you need the room for your casing, evenly space it out.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the reply...Thats how I ended up doing it.It opens and close with no problemo. just wasnt sure if the larger gap on the handle side would be a promblem.Sounds like Im ok so long as the kids dont slam it when something dosnt go ther way!!Thanks again for the answers.