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[I315]Install A New Door

by Vince Paxton, Vin

First, choose the type of door that will be put up. There are three basic groups to choose from. There are entry doors, interior doors and combination storm/screen doors. By following five steps entry doors can be replaced with ease. Once you have this skill under your belt you will be able to put up interior doors with no problem.

When putting up any door the general premise is the same. The only real difference is whether or not it is an exterior or interior door. You begin by taking off the old door. Tuck a wedge under the outside corner and release the hinges. Once the door is off there are two options available. The first one is to hang the door from loose-pin hinges. Part of the hinge is hooked into the door and the other half is hooked into the doorframe. If you are working in an old house, the hinge might not be so cooperative due to years of paint build up. When this happens you should unscrew the hinges and take off the doorframe to get the door off.

Next you will take the hinge leaves off of the door. You can hang new ones or use the old ones. Buff the old ones with a sander and use a clear protective coating to cover it. New hinges should be the exact same size as the previous ones.

Shape the hinges they way that you would like and put the new hinge leave on the frame of the door. The screws must be long enough to go trough the stud-wall framing and the frame of the door.

After that you will need to trim the door. Take notes from the previous door if needed. If the new door is in line with the old one than trimming may not be necessary. However, if the old door is not a good example, measure the door opening and leave a 1/8 bottom clearance and 1/16 at the side and top. If there is carpet to take into account you need to have a bottom clearance that is 3/4 more than that. A fine tooth saw will be needed for the trimming.

Get the door ready for the hinges. New mortises need to be made. There will be routed or craved out depressions in which the hinges blades will be placed. This will keep the surface level. The old door can be a pattern to follow for this or you can use the new door. Put in the doorway and wedge it 1/8 away from the bottom. Put the hinge locations on the door.

After that put the door on the latch edge and take a pencil or knife and trace the line to the door edge from every hinge. The new hinge on of the door should be outlined with the hinge leaf template.

Use a wood chisel to leave marks on the hinge mortises. Level the cutes with the thickness of the leaf hinge. Three hinges is the usual standard for six foot tall doors.

Next you need apply some wood sealant to the door and put wood screws in the hinge leaves. Next hang the door.

Installing new carpeting is one job that can easily be done by a do it yourselfer. It does require a little know-how and preparation is the key. If you are thinking of installing your own carpet, make sure to research how it is done before you attempt it on your own home, carefully budget the project, get a little experience, estimate the time, and then try it on your own.

Research Online and Classes

There are many tutorials with step-by-step instructions online, if you are interested in installing carpeting. If you are more comfortable with having someone tell you how it is done, many home improvement stores offer workshops for the novice. Take advantage of these and sign up.

When you are researching either online or in a workshop, take notes on the tools you will need and try to get some hands on experience before you commit to doing your own carpet. Become acquainted with the tools of the trade, some that you will buy and others you will need to rent.

Tools to buy: Tackless strips, safety glasses and kneepads, stapler, hammer, utility knife, measuring tape, chalk line, and work gloves.

Tools to rent: Seam roller, strip cutter, knee kicker, seaming iron, power stretcher, seam cutter, wall trimmer, seam tape.

Create Your Budget

Measure your room and begin to make a budget that includes the cost of the rental equipment, the tools, the carpet and the pad. Once you have a good idea of what it will cost to buy the materials on your own, you can figure out whether you really want to install the carpet on your own, or if a contractor can offer you a good deal.

If you think you might be getting in over your head, then call three contractors and ask for an estimate. At the very least, you will know how much money you have saved even if you decide to do the job yourself.

Set Aside The Time And Prepare The Area

Pulling up old carpeting is actually pretty easy. You will also have to pull up all the old tackless strips. You will want to replace the old carpet pad, if it is worn down. You will want to clear the area of all dirt and debris before you even think about laying new carpet. You want to make sure the subfloor is in good shape and nothing is sticking out.

You should have all your materials on-hand so that you don't have to stop in the middle of the job to get something you need. You should have, by now, research how to do the job and gotten some hands-on experience either on a small project or in a home improvement workshop class. You should be familiar with the tools and know how to use them safely.

Installing The New Carpet

You will have to put down new tackless strips and lay down the carpet pad. You will want to make sure these are secure and in place correctly. You will then have to lay out the carpet. Obviously, this is the part that requires some skill. You want to be able to match the seams and cut the carpet correctly. This is why you went to the workshops and why you need a little experience before you start. If you do not get this, the job will look unprofessional and you will not be happy with the results. However, it is not difficult to get the hang of laying carpet once you understand how it is done. You will want to attach the carpet along the edges and stretch it make it look flat. Do a little excess trimming and tucking and you are done.

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About Author

Both Vince Paxton & Hunter Pyle are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Vince Paxton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Modern and Contemporary Furniture, Home Management and Home Renovation Ideas. Vince Paxton regularly creates detailed papers on latest developments in woodworking jigs and woodwork routing. You might discover his contributions on