Installing New Interior Door Jamb

If you re not steady with your saw you can use a straight edge as a guide.

Installing new interior door jamb.

Go slowly and make a long clean cut. If you have more than 3 16 of an inch to remove you can use a circular saw to do so. Any changes to the door frame should be made before installing the new door. If you have more than an inch to remove take half off the top and half off the bottom.

And on new homes and additions walls can compress as they settle and push down on the top shims causing the jamb to bow down. If the holes in the jamb are too large for the screws use wood glue to secure a short portion of dowel tightly in the hole. Remove the old door and cut the new door down to size. If the holes on your new hinge plates don t match the holes in the screw holes in the door jamb drill pilot holes for the new screws.

Once again take care not to damage the frame or the wall during this step in the process. Hang the door in the jamb. 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. Screw the hinges onto the correct side of the jamb.

Check the fit before installing a new door and enlarge the opening as necessary. If you would like to paint repair or alter the door frame in any way now is the perfect time to do so. Make sure it s tight and opening in the right direction. Allow the glue to cure and drill the pilot holes.

A new door jamb with decorative trim can make a dramatic enhancement. Once you are satisfied with the fit of the door remove it and apply several thick beads of silicone caulk to the bottom of the doorsill. Pry the side jambs away from the studs and then pry down the head jamb. It s not always necessary to use shims on the top doorjamb the casing will hold it in place.