Setting Doors

              Perhaps I should say this is for interior doors. The first thing I do when I am going to set the doors is I look at the plans and I go to the door in the plan and I mark the doors Swing on the floor. I then measure the door jams Outside measurement. These Jam are usually 1&1/2 inch wider than then the given door size. I then Plumb and secure the hinge side with clinch nails. I take the time and make the extra effort to make this side strong, because it holds the weight of the door when it is swinging and its weight is shifting. I use my tape to set the strike side of the door. I then perform the dying art of stringing the door. Carpenters use to be carpenters and finish carpenters, but today, in this atmosphere of specialization carpenters aren’t even carpenters. They are joisters, roof-stackers, framers, and such. But back when we all had finish what we started we framed our doors 2” wide than the called-out door size and we plumber them also. This is a simple task. You simply tap nails in all four corners and then string a line from the top of one side to the bottom of the other then run it up that jam leg and pull it from that nail to the bottom nail of the other side. If your cross site is correct then your line will lightly touch in the center X you’ve formed. If it doesn’t take a single jack or sledge and using a 2x block move the bottom of one wall so that it does. One of the two sides ais out of plumb and this will hinder the setting of the Jam.

If you recall when I set the headers height, I took my laser and established I level horizontal line throughout the project so that all my head height is the same. I now use that line to confirm the head height of the doorjamb and mark it on the studs I fasten the door to. I trim off the jam legs as needed if needed and then snuggle it into its opening. Most times on slabs the floor is not truly perfectly level so I shim up one side and allow the other to remain on the concrete. I then center the door in its opening and shot one finish nail into the head of the hinge side of the jam. I level the head, shim it snugly and then shoot a finish nail into the side of the head. I then check for my rough reveals, if they are good, which at this point they usually are. I then shim down the hinge side, place shims behind each hinge. And shoot finish nails above and below each hinge and making sure the jam is centered by check its reveal. I then do the same to the strike side and I ensure there are shims behind the strike. I do not like nailing through my shims. I then check to make sure it swings properly and make any minor adjustments needed. I then screw it into that position. No legs are floating and before I drywall the gaps between the jam and rough framing will be filled with foam to help secure the door.

If you look closely at this photo, you’ll see my marks at the jams head height and the level line I shot so I could determine that height.

Note: Images on this blog site are from a free source or taken by the author. No image or group of photos is intended to represent the people the author serves. The author does not care about Race (that is a politically correct term that he does not like because we are all of the same Race, the Human Race. He prefers the term ethnicity, color, religion, sex, gender, marital status, disability, genetic information, national origin, source of income, Veteran or military status, ancestry, citizenship, primary language or immigration status.) He is a service provider for all people. We will all rise together when we band together and help one another. Joseph Erwin is a Real Estate Broker, DRE # O2131799, and a CA general contractor # B 696662.  He resides in Southern California.