Hang A New Door

Tools:

level
straight edge
tape measure
circular saw
combination square
wood shims
utility knife
chisel
hammer
power drill
Phillips-head screwdriver
holesaw
spade bit
safety glasses
door and hardware

1. Check door jam to make sure it's level and plumb (figure A). If it is, proceed. If not, you'll need to call a professional carpenter to align the jam.

2. Measure width and length of door opening and transfer measurements to door (figure B). Cut door to size, if necessary, using a circular saw and straight edge.

3. Test fit door and use wood shims to align the door. Insert shims under the bottom and along the side of the door opposite where the hinges will go (figure C). Mark the door where the hinges need to go.

4. Hold the hinge in the mortise in the doorway, and measure how much of the width of the hinge will be attached to the doorframe using the combination square (figure D). The mortise on the door for the hinge must be the same width, or the door will bind.

5. Draw an outline of the hinge plate onto the door edge with a pencil. Set the combination square to the same width as the door mortise (in this case one inch), and mark the correct depth on the door (figure E).

6. Take the utility knife and score along the outline (figure F). Press in to score to the depth of the hinge plate.

7. Make a series of slices in the area with the hammer and chisel. Slowly and carefully chisel out a little material at a time to create hinge mortise (figure G).

8. Smooth out the surface with chisel and then attach hinge plates to door. Hold the plate in place and use a Phillips-head screwdriver to make indentations in the door where the hinge screws need to go.

9. Pre-drill holes for hinge screws, then drive hinge screws in with a manual screwdriver.

10. Use the chisel to clear old paint out of mortises in the doorframe (figure H). Attach hinge plates to doorframe, again using a manual screwdriver.

11.Hang door and insert hinge pins.

12. Use the template that came with the knob hardware to mark where you need to drill holes on door for the lockset and knob (figure I).

13. Drill a hole for the knob through the door using a 1-inch wide hole saw (figure J). Use the spade bit for drilling the lockset hole through the side of the door to meet the hole for the knob (figure K).

14. Attach door hardware and test the new door.