Installing a pre-built interior door

Nowadays, installing or replacing an interior door is easy. You can select pre-built doors in many styles and materials.

If you plan on painting or staining your door, do it before you install it. It will be easier to apply the paint or stain if the door is laid flat.
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Standards
1. Measure your opening
2. Assemble the doorframe
3. Place the jamb in the opening
4. Screw the door
5. Trim off the shims
6. Nail the mouldings
7. Insert the lockset

Standards

The width of interior doors varies between 24 and 36 in. (610 and 914 mm). Typically, 30 in. doors are used for every room in the house except for the door that leads to the basement. It should be 32 in. wide (or greater). Note that if you want to keep your washer and dryer in the bathroom, you should install a 32 in. door (or greater), if space allows.

When we talk about a 30 in. door, we are talking about the width of the door itself. The frame adds an additional 2 in. (50 mm) in width and 1 in. (25 mm) in height. Standard doors are 80 in. (2,032 mm) high. You must allow a clearance of ½ in. (13 mm) between the bottom of the door and the floor.

1. Measure your opening

Ensure that the height and width of the wall opening in which you are planning to install the door are suitable. Ensure the floor is level.

2. Assemble the doorframe

Assemble the doorframe on the floor by attaching together the side and head jamb with glue and screws.

3. Place the jamb in the opening

Start shiming at the hinge side of the door first by placing tapered cedar pencil shims firmly between the jamb and the framing.

Make sure the jamb is plumb.

4. Screw the door

Screw the door hinges to the frame, using the hinge slots provided. Be sure the door is level before nailing the frame to the wall through the shims, using finishing nails.
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