From: patter@dasher.uucp (24224-guthrie)
Subject: Re: prehung doors
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 18:26:43 GMT

In article <1992Oct2.154848.24158@jupiter.sun.csd.unb.ca> akarpowicz@mta.ca writes:

>I want to replace my entrance doors with pre-hung ones (mainly to avoid
>all that business with hinges - I had bad experience with this).
>Is it difficult?  How is it done? It is an old house, the opening may
>be somewhat non-standard.

This takes several hours. First, remove the moulding from the inside of the
frame. Then measure the width of the frame - in the sketch below, you want
the distance from point A to B, not a to b. Also see if there's any gap
between the frame and the studs on each side.

        _______________________________________
        |  _________________________________   |
        |  |                                |  |
        |  |                                |  |
        |  |                                |  |
        |  |                                |  |
        A  a                                b  B

Now go shopping. You want a door whose frame dimesions from A to B match
those of the old door. It can be a little different, but it *must* fit
between the same studs the old one's nailed to.

To remove the old door, take the door off it's hinges. Then slide a hacksaw
blade into the cracks between the old frame and the surrounding studs and
cut any nails holding the frame in. You'll also have to remove the hinges,
since the screws probably run into the framing.

Now, remove any outside moulding which may be nailed to the frame and remove
the sill. The old frame should virtually fall out about now.

You'll have to cut the new frame to the correct height. Use the old one as
a pattern. The most important thing usually is to get the bottom of the
new door at the same height as the old one. Drive the hinge pins out and
remove the new door from the frame either before or after cutting the frame.

Put the frame in place and plumb the hinge side up. This requires either a
plumb bob or a good level (a 4' level is almost mandatory). You should
cut wedges out of scrap 2x4 and place a pair behind the attachment point 
for each of the hinges. Insert or withdraw the various wedges until the
hinge side of the frame is plumb. Secure the wedges with 16d nails driven
in the hinge recess, so that the hinges will hide the nails. Finishing
nails can be used elsewhere to true the frame up.

Now put the hinges back on and hang the door back on the frame. Recheck
the hinge side to make sure it stays plumb with the weight of the door
on it. When it's ok, close the door and check the gap between the top of
the door and the frame. If you measured accurately when cutting the frame,
it should be ok, but if it's not, adjust the bottom of the latch side of
the frame to get it right. Then wedge the latch side of the frame, putting
wedges in the area around the latch striker and near the top and bottom.
Adjust the wedges until the gap between the door and frame is the same
from top to bottom and secure them with finishing nails.

Once that's done, put up the trim. Some prehungs come with the outside
trim as an integral part of the frame. Verify that this will do with
your house before purchase.

>I prefer the looks of wooden doors - is there an advantage of using steel?
>If I had wooden ones, I would rather not paint, only clear-coat. What is
>the best exterior varnish?

Steel doors don't fluctuate or crack with humidity changes. They're
much more stable. They can also be better insulated than most wood.
They hold paint better. They make it much harder for an intruder to
break in. They *are* usually heavier, though. Make sure the structure
can take it.

I have McCloskey's regular polyurethane on mine. It's done a fair job.
There are probably better ones on the market than what I used. The brand
is good, though; if McCloskey has an exterior varnish, that's what I'd
use.

patter@dasher.cc.bellcore.com
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                    |
George Patterson -  | If you always tell the truth, you never
                    | have to remember what you said.
                    |                        Samuel Clemens
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