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of Home Improvements

*Install a Interior Slab Door*

1. Measure your jamb (finished opening) from floor to head and from side to side in several places to determine the correct door size.If you have the old door and it fit well you can use it as a template. Lay the old door on top of the new door and mark where you will have to make adjustments. If you don't have a helper a good set of clamps will act as a third hand for you.

2. If your door needs to be trimmed to fit the existing jamb, use a fine-toothed circular saw and wood plane. To minimize chipping, stick masking tape to both sides of the door along the cut line. If the door needs to be trimmed on the top or bottom I use a circular saw with a fine tooth blade. The guide for the saw helps me make a nice straight cut.(photo1)If for some reason the floor is angled under the door you may want to cut the bottom of the door at that same angle. For minor adjustments on the sides of the door frame I usually use an electric planer and bevel the edges with a sanding block.

3. Solid wood doors should be trimmed symmetrically by removing an identical amount from each side. The maximum amount that can be trimmed from either side (usually 3/8") is determined by the thickness of the solid edge band. Trimming beyond the edge will expose the fingerjointed door core. While this will no affect the door structurally, it should be avoided for reasons of appearance. I no case should a door be trimmed to expose the wood dowels that help hold the stiles and rails (horizontal and vertical members) together. These wood dowels are 4" long and penetrate the stile (vertical door member) 2" in from where the stile and rail meet. Be careful not to trim so much off the door edge that there will not be enough room for the lockset to fit into the stile.

4. When trimming solid wood door height, remove no more than ½" from the top (3/4" is allowed, but may cause your lock to be too high) and no more than 2 ¼" from the bottom of the door. Do not cut through a dowel. Always cut between the dowel leaving 3/16" of wood between the cut and the dowel. It is important that at least two dowels remain (one on each side) in both the top and bottom rails after trimming.

5. If you have a flush or molded wood fiber hollow core door, be sure to trim hollow core doors symmetrically, and ensure at least 1" remains on both stiles and rails.

6. Interior doors should be slightly beveled on the latch edge. This will improve the fit when the door is closed. Using a wood plane or fine-toothed saw, trim the latch edge of the door to a 3" or 4' bevel. This bevel will result in the door being slightly narrower on the side of the door that rests against the stop or jamb. Beveling allows the door to operate freely while maintaining a clearance between the jamb and latch edge of 1/8".

7. Looking at the hinge side of the door when it is closed, there should be a uniform perimeter clearance of 1/8" between the door and the door jamb

8. Using a template and chisel or router, notch the hinge side of the door for hinges. Three hinges are required for solid wood doors up to 84" in height and four hinges for doors over 84" in height. If you are reusing existing jambs, position the hinge as needed.




If you are installing new jambs, measure down from the top of the door 6" to position the top of the top hinge. Measure up from the bottom of the door 11" to position the bottom of the bottom hinge. Place the middle hinge halfway in between. Route or chisel the jamb to match.

9. Start hinge screws with an awl or drill pilot holes to esure the screws are srewed in straight and the wood does not split.

10. Drill for lockset following the instructions provided by the lock manufacturer. Generally, a 2 1/8" diameter hole is needed for a lockset. Paper templates are provided with the locks., however if you have a lot of doors to install you should get a door lock installation guide to make your work quicker and more precise.

The center of the hole for the lockset is usually 36" from the bottom of the door and either 2 3/8" or 2 ¾" from the edge, depending on your latch. For doors that have a rail (horizontal member) across the center of the door, the lockset should be centered in this rail, either 2 3/8 or 2 ¾ inches from the edge. Drill a 1" hole through the edge of the door into the center of the lock hole to accommodate the latch for the lock.

Some latches have a rectangular face plate that will require the door edge to be chiseled for fit.Other latches are round and can be tapped into place with a hammer.

Reinstall your lockset or if you have a new lockset to install follow the instructions included in the package.

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