New Pre-hung door

tb582 · 04-03-2010, 08:26 PM

Hey guys,

I'm going to purchase a new pre-hung door to replace an old crappy door... One might assume that as long as I keep the current jam/length that I'll be good to go with the new one?

**kwikfishron** · 04-03-2010, 08:34 PM

You know what they say about assuming.

You have the trim off, just measure the opening of the frame and take the numbers with you when shopping for the door.

ralphfravel · 04-04-2010, 09:48 PM

As Kwikfishron says, simply measure the existing opening to determine the size door you need. For a 30" door (many bedroom doors are this size), the opening will be around 32" or greater (30" door, 1.5" for two jams and 1/4" space on each side).

If you're buying a pre-hung door, I assume you're going to remove the existing jam and replace it with the new unit. Easiest way to remove the jam is to use a 6" metal cutting blade in a SawzAll and cut the nails on both vertical jams. BTW, the conventions for determining if the door is right- or left-handed seem to be somewhat dependent on who you talk with. I have found the best for me is to stand on the side of the door that it swings toward, see which hand you would use to pull it toward you, and that determines which handedness it is. In your picture, a left-hand door is shown.

tb582 · 04-25-2010, 02:35 PM

Well bought my door probably about a week ago at this point and just got around to unpacking it today... Sadly only to realize that for some reason I didn't take the depth into account and apparently the only prehung door that home depot stocks is 30x80x4 9/16 meanwhile my max thickness to get the jamb flush with the wall is 3 11/16d !!

**kwikfishron** · 04-25-2010, 02:50 PM

Is that going into a hallway?

tb582 · 04-25-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwikfishron

Is that going into a hallway?

Yes, the bedroom is off of the hallway

**kwikfishron** · 04-25-2010, 03:25 PM

Well, you basically have 4 choices.

1) Return door and order custom for your skinny walls.

2) See if you can hang you new door in the existing frame.

3) Install new door flush to the hallway side and build out the trim in the bedroom.

4) Rip the new frame with a table saw to the width you need and install door.

tb582 · 04-25-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwikfishron

Well, you basically have 4 choices.

1) Return door and order custom for your skinny frame.

2) See if you can hang you new door in the existing frame.

3) Install new door flush to the hallway side and build out the trim in the bedroom.

4) Rip the new frame with a table saw to the width you need and install door.

I think I'm just going to custom order the door for my stupid frame. My lack of a table saw eliminates option 4 option 3 just seems wierd.

**kwikfishron** · 04-25-2010, 03:42 PM

#3 is weird but I’ve seen it done.

#4 is what I’d do but you need the right tools and it’s a pretty tricky cut.

#1 can cost you 2-3 times what you paid for the door you have and take weeks to get.

jogr · 04-25-2010, 07:45 PM

You don't need a table saw to rip down the jam. Pull the hinge pins and take the door off the new frame. Draw a thin pencil line on the jam at the desired thickness. Use an inexpensive saber saw to cut the jamb down just outside the line. Then with a sander sand down to the line.

You could also use a cheap power planer from Harbour freight and many, many passes or a combination of the saber saw for the rough cut, planer to get close and sander to finish. It really depends how careful and precise you are with tools. A good carpenter could do it with a hand saw and a sanding block.

**kwikfishron** · 04-25-2010, 08:23 PM

Yes, there are other ways to cut the door jamb back other than a table saw, TS is just the easy cleanest way.