A Guide to Installing Interior Doors
Worried about how you’re going to install your interior door? Well, fear no more, because here at The Replacement Door Company we have a simple guide which we think will help you. If you’re already a DIY convert, then this won’t be too hard, but many of us will need that bit extra guidance to help us if we’re not familiar with the task of installing an interior door to the frame. What you won’t want is a door that simply doesn’t fit properly, makes noises when you open and close it, and squeaks and gets stuck whenever you’re closing it.
Measurements.
It’s important to get a correct measurement because this will help you choose a door that’s easier to fit and will ultimately look much better. A simple tape measure will suffice but make sure it’s secure while you take down the sizing.
Trimming your internal door.
You may stil have to trim your door to get it the right size even after measuring, it can easily happen and isn’t necessarily your fault for getting the measurements wrong. The best tools for this job are usually as simple as using a wood plane, hand saw, tape to measure and a pencil. That way you can shave off a little of the wood without taking too large a chunk away.
It’s usually best ot have at least 2mm available on either side of the door, and the top of it as well, so you have room to manouevre when it comes to sizing it up. This means that if you do have to get the wood plane out, you have plenty of door still left once you’ve trimmed it! Always sand it down after you’ve finished trimming.
Finish your newly fitted internal door.
Giving your door a nice finish is a great way to complete the door fitting, leaving your door with a glossy look. Before you apply anything make sure your door is bone dry first. Any residual film, grease or wetness is going to need to dry out before you add any gloss or finish.
There’s a range of finishes out there for different types of doors.
There are several finishes to choose from including stain, paint, varnish, oil, wax, lacquer and natural. You can choose from some really well-known hardwax oils like Treatex or Osmo for internal doors, and for external doors you could try Osmo again or possibly Impranol.
Hinge to frame.
Installing hinges can be tricky, but as long as you’re careful and don’t resort to impulsive purchases, it shouldnt be too difficult. Always check that any hinges you’re thinking of purchasing are the right fit for the door frame. Mark where the new hinges of the doors will go for a smoother fit. Screw in the hinges where you see the marks.
Hinge to door.
When you’re fitting the hinge to the door make sure you’ve got your measurements done correctly and then install the hinges to the door. Attach them to the top, bottom and middle part of the door, so they’ll be stable. Open the door at right angles to position the hinges, and use a chisel to cut out where the markings are.
Different doors for different styles.
The doors you install can be anything from french, glazed to bifold, amongst other types. As you will no doubt know, the process for each of these doors may be slightly different, although in the main it will more or less follow the same process.
It won’t always be quite the same with differently designed doors, but you can be sure that most of it will be pretty much the same. You’ll find that what we’ve talked about today on a generalist level will apply to most doors and frames. However, you may not feel like you want to install your own doors and you can always get someone else, preferably a paid professional, or someone with prior experience to do it for you.
Don’t take your internal doors for granted.
It’s definitely worth all the hard work and all the time it took to choose a set of internal doors or just one as a replacement. Doors make such a difference to a home, they’re not just there to open and close a room. They offer insulation, security, noise reduction and draft exclusion. They can give an entire floor a really glossy and sophisticated symmetrical look that can make a dramatic difference.
The Replacement Door Company - for quality internal and external doors.
If you have any questions about what we’ve spoken about here get in touch with us here at The Replacement Door Company and one of our team will talk you through it. We have a comprehensive range of both internal doors and external doors so you’ll find something to suit your property if you’re looking to buy a new set or even just the one. Your search for a quality door is over!
