How To Hinge A Door Jamb

Using a mortising template route matching mortises for the hinges on the door and jamb.

How to hinge a door jamb.

Cut the head jamb to a length equal to the door width plus the combined rabbet or dado depth plus slightly more than 1 8 inch. One of the great ways to pre hang a door and jamb that you can use on every site. Screw the hinges onto the correct side of the jamb. When the door is attached with hinges to the completed jamb frame the entire assembly is referred to as a prehung door.

Connect the door to the jamb. It s much easier to do now before the hinges are screwed in and the whole thing is attached to the door. Screw the door frame together with 2 1 2 inch screws. Trim door to correct size.

The hinge mortise allows the hinge to be mounted flush with the jamb and door so the door will close properly. How to tighten stripped hinge screws. This all in one unit is often used in new construction to avoid separate installation of the jamb and the. Slide the hinge pins into place and remove the blocks from the door.

Door jamb frames consist of two vertical legs or side jambs and a horizontal board at the top called the head jamb. Leave the wall side knuckles attached to the door jamb. Hold the door in place using blocks under the bottom to support it if necessary. You ll want these in the same position so that your door will align properly.

Using both hands lift the door off the hinge knuckles. Place your old door on top of the new one. Hang the door in the jamb. Make sure it s tight and opening in the right direction.

Open the door wide and insert a wedge under the bottom outside corner to level it. Unless you are installing a prehung door you ll need to trace the outline of the hinges on the jamb and cut an indentation using a router or utility knife. To do a good job cutting mortises the chisel needs to be razor sharp. Line up the two hinge plates so that the ones on the door match the ones in the jamb.

Remove the screws that hold the loose hinge leaf to the door jamb. Attach the hinges to the jamb and the door. Hinge mortises on a door are often cut by machine with a router and straight bit but you can cut mortises by hand using a hammer and chisel as well. If the hinge and jamb are painted cut the paint around the leaf with a utility knife swing the leaf away from the jamb.

Begin with the mortises on the door then the mortises on the jamb. One of the great ways to pre hang a door and jamb that you can use on every site. Test the door to make sure it works and you re finished.