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How to Go About Boarding Up a Door Protecting investment properties that are vacant from the elements is feasible by putting up a door with a board. It may not prevent all damages, but it can help to avoid some of the problems associated with severe storms. The boarding up of windows and doors will also discourage trespassers and vandals. However it can be costly and time-consuming to put plywood boards over the openings of a property. Measure the Door You'll first require a tape measure. You might also want to keep a chair or ladder on hand for when you need to see more clearly at the top of the frame. Wear gloves and goggles in the event that you need to use these tools. Start by taking measurements of the width of the door. This can be done by running a tape measure horizontally along the door. Be sure to take out all extra parts of the door, such as the sweep, when measuring. Then, measure the height by measuring up from the floor to the sill plate or lintel. It is essential to measure in multiple places especially for older doors, since they are not always a perfect rectangle. If the measurements vary then use the largest figure. You'll need to determine the size of the frame after having determined the width and height. Ideally it should be 2 inches greater than the door's width and 1 2'' higher. This will give you enough room to shim both the frame and frame in place. When you're ready to measure the door frame's width and height measurements, it's best to take out any trim or casing from around the door jambs so you can see the studs that are behind them. This will allow you to determine the exact dimensions of the space between the studs and the edge of the frame. After you have removed the trim, measure the length of your door frame using the tape measure. The frame should be measured at three different locations and then use the smallest measurement. You should also measure the frame's height from top to bottom, on both sides. Make use of the shortest measurement for your door's width. If you're having issues with these measurements it's best to consult an expert and have them come out to your house to measure for you. They'll be able to give you the exact type and size of door you require and how to prepare the frame to accommodate the new door. Plywood can be cut into pieces A door frame is generally composed of a series of thin boards or studs which create a hollow space surrounding the door. Two hinges are attached to the studs and hold a typical door in position. If you are looking to restore a door, you will have to take it off its hinges over night. To stop insects from entering your home and to secure the door's opening, a straightforward method to board the door is to put plywood inside the opening. This is easy to do without the need to screw or nail the plywood to the frame of the door. Plywood is cheap, easy to work with, and looks stunning when completed. This makes it the ideal material for temporary solutions to problems that require the removal of an existing door while renovating or installing a brand new one. It can also be used to secure the opening of a space being transformed, such as the construction site or basement. Begin by measuring the width of the door opening and the height. Mark the dimensions on the plywood with a utility knife and a drywall square or other metal straight edge. Then, you can snap the chalkline along each line to indicate where to cut. Utilize a circular blade to cut the plywood to size. When cutting the plywood it is important to protect your eyes and ears. Wear earplugs or protective goggles when you can. Additionally, it is important to use a blade with a large number of teeth that cut quickly and without tear-out. To reduce the chances of breaking pieces of wood from the edges of the cut, use a small block of wood as template to guide the blade, and hold it only a hair's length away from the mark when cutting. Attaching a pair or short braces to each end is a great way to secure the plywood in place without putting screws into the studs. Set one brace on the inside and the other on the outside of the door. Position a pair 1-½-inch deck screw in each hole, and then tighten with an open-end ratchet. Fix the Plywood It's time to join the panel to the frame after you have the plywood sheet cut to the right size and the holes for the rails and stiles of the door frame predrilled. This is a straightforward project that doesn't require a lot of advanced carpentry skills as long as you use the correct tools and follow the proper procedures. Set up a table in the entrance with two sawhorses on each end, and framing lumber 2x4s. Use boarding up windows made during the measurement process to guide you while cutting the plywood. Score the lines with an utility knife and a drywall square or any other metal straight edge. This will provide a guideline for the saw blade and help prevent splintering when you cut the plywood. Wear eye protection and use a circular table saw with a blade that has a fine-toothed edge to cut along the scored line. Sand the edges of the panel with 120-grit paper to smooth it out and eliminate any burrs. After sanding, apply a coat of wood sealer on the plywood panels and allow to dry as directed by the manufacturer. Install the hinges onto the frame of your door. If you're using a T hinge, drill holes through the outer face of the door to accommodate the strap parts of the hinges. Then, you can screw the hinge's outside edge to the frame with the screwdriver. Repeat the procedure on the inside of the door for all of the remaining hinges, being careful not to overtighten any of them, or the panel may shift. If you have a single outside T-hinged door you can make it easier to lock and close with a chain latch by fishing a piece of wire through the loops on the hinges on the outside. Fold a piece of connect wires in half and then thread it through the two holes on the outside of the door. Then, you can twist the wires to secure the door. Install the Plywood Place the plywood in the door's opening by using the measurements you have taken. Adjust the header (top) of the frame and the sill (bottom). Utilize a level to make sure there's not any slop in the header or sill. If the level isn't quite right, place another shim where it is needed and continue the process until the sill and the header are plumb. After the plywood is in place, fix it with the stainless-steel hinge bolts and wingscrews. Use a screwgun equipped with an attachment for a hex head to avoid removing the screws' heads. While you're at it, If your home was constructed with studs that extend through the doorway's height make holes for hanger bolts in the plywood and into each framing stud. This is much easier than using a drywall saw to create the hole. After you have installed the plywood after installation, take measurements of the width and the height of your door opening. If necessary, cut the bottom of the plywood to fit the size of the door frame. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6 framing lumber for braces to attach across the upper and lower edges of your door. Wear eye protection and cut along the lines that are marked on the plywood using a circular saw fitted with a fine-toothed blade. Splinters can be removed from the cuts using a sanding tool. Once you've got the two braces in place attach each one to the plywood with pairs of finishing nails that measure 2 inches. When you're finished, counter sink the heads of all nails. Seal the braces and the plywood with a good wood sealer, like this wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax. If the door is too big for the doorway, you can put in an ornamental molding to fill in the space between the jamb and the door or you can reduce the size of the opening. In many cases, it is cheaper and simpler to purchase an entirely new door. This also eliminates any headaches that you might have faced with the original door if it was damaged and no longer fit the opening.