Installing A New Exterior Door Jamb

Remove the old door and cut the new door down to size.

Installing a new exterior door jamb. To install a door jamb start by measuring the door frame and cutting the wood to size. Next add glue to the end of 1 of your longer pieces of wood and attach a shorter piece to it. Shim tight using solid plywood behind the strike plate and at the top and bottom. Then use a nail gun to secure the 2 pieces together before attaching the other side of the jamb in the same way.

If you re not steady with your saw you can use a straight edge as a guide. If you also plan to get a new door the easiest thing to do is to purchase a prehung door. This plywood gives solid backing to screw the strike plate into. How to build install an exterior door jamb by debbie tolle.

Common jamb widths for stock doors are 4 9 16 in. These doors work great for newly constructed walls and for replacing doors in newer homes. Use a scrap of the door jamb to scribe the threshold angle transfer the angle to the door stop on the replacement jamb and notch the jamb. Measure the old door.

Most home centers stock prehung exterior doors in a limited number of styles. Also measure the jamb depth. The new door should be 1 2 inch less than the height of the rough opening and 3 4 inch less in width. Remove the interior trim and measure the width and height of the frame.

If your door got kicked in due to a break in the most important thing is feeling secure again. It s a good idea to measure the actual door too. The door is already installed on a premade doorjamb. If you have more than an inch to remove take half off the top and half off the bottom.

Exterior door jamb parts. And 6 9 16 in and they usually include two inch wide brick molding for exterior trim. By learning how to install an exterior door you effectively update one of the key features of your home s appearance this guide reviews how to install an entry door including how to remove the old door position the new one and update such hardware as the hinges and door knob. Hopefully your not here because it happened to you.

Slip the new jamb in place test the door by closing. Go slowly and make a long clean cut.