Interior Door Installation Tips
Looking to cross over into a new dimension? If you want to make a fairly minor modification to your home without the major expense, then changing out your interior doors might be the answer. VanDenBosch has included tools and techniques to install new doors; however, keep in mind that there are potential risks including damage to your new doors, your house or your frame. This could mean additional costs for repairs and labor as well as valuable time spent on a project not properly completed.

There are a variety of tools required to replace your doors:

• Cordless drill with extra-long Phillips tip
• Hand Plane
• Straightedge guide for circular saw
• Combination square
• 2 1/8 inch hole saw
• 7/8-inch spade bit
• Centering bit
• Tape measure
• Hammer
• 1/2 and 1 inch wide chisels
• Utility knife
• Screwdriver
  

Step One: Remove the old door

1. Stand on the hinge side of the door and remove the pins from the hinges. Start at the bottom hinge and work up to prevent injury.
2. The pins might not come out by hand – you will need to gently tap it out with a hammer and screwdriver.
3. Have someone support the door as you begin to remove the top pin.
   

Step Two: Mark the new door for trimming

1. Remove the lockset (doorknob) and hinges from the old door.
2. Lay the new door across a pair of sawhorses and set the old door on top, aligning the top end and the lockset edge of the old door perfectly flush with the new door.
3. Trace around the old door with a pencil to indicate where the new door must be trimmed down to size.
   

TIP: Correct clearance for an installed interior door is 1/8 inch on the sides and top (to jamb) and 5/8 inch at the bottom (to flooring/carpet).

Step Three: Cut the door down to size & layout hinge mortises

1. Score the pencil marks on the new door with a sharp utility knife and straightedge – this will help prevent the wood from splintering when you cut it with a circular saw.
2. Cut the door to the correct height using a straightedge guide and a circular saw. If you need to remove more than 1 inch, you will have to take half off the bottom of the door and half off the top.
3. Trim the door to the correct width in the same manner utilizing the straightedge and circular saw.
4. Lay the old door back on top of the new door, aligning them so that all four edges are flush.
5. Line up a combination square with the old door’s hinge mortises and transfer their locations to the new door.
   

Step Four: Chisel out for & screw on hinges

1. Lay a protective pad on the floor and stand the new door on edge, with the hinge layouts facing up.
2. Chisel out for the hinges (hinge mortises). Hold the chisel vertically and tap it with a hammer to outline the mortise. Then make a series of closely spaced cuts as deep as the thickness of the hinge.
3. Hold the chisel at a low angle with its beveled face flat against the wood to prevent it from digging in too deeply when completing the mortise.
4. Lightly tap the chisel with the hammer to chip away the waste wood a little bit at a time.
5. Check the depth of the hinge mortises by test-fitting a hinge leaf; it should be flush with the door edge. If necessary, use the chisel to pare away a bit more wood. 
6. Set the hinge leaf into the mortise. Use a drill and centering bit to bore pilot holes through the screw holes.
7. Screw the hinge to the door.
8. Test-fit the door in the opening. Check that it closes without binding and that there's proper clearance (1/8 inch) between the door and frame. If not, plane the edges.
   

Step Five: Drill for and assemble the lockset

1. Mark where the strike-plate hole meets the door edge.
2. Position the template supplied with the lockset on this mark and mark for the doorknob and latch. If reusing the old lockset, take measurements from the old door. 
3. Drill the doorknob face bore with a 2 1/8-inch hole saw. You will also need to cut the latch’s edge bore with a 7/8-inch spade bit.
4. Paint or stain the door. Make sure that it is completely dry before proceeding. This step will lengthen the process by a few hours.
5. Insert the latch assembly into the edge bore and trace around it with a utility knife. Chisel out a shallow mortise inside this outline.
6. Screw the latch to the door and install the doorknobs.
   

Step Six: Hang the door

1. Hold the door in the opening and interlace the hinge knuckles.
2. Once all the hinges are aligned, have a helper insert the hinge pins.
3. Test the door, making sure it swings smoothly and that the latch engages the strike plate on the doorjamb. If necessary, reposition the strike plate.
   

Though these six steps may seem to simplify the installation process, it can still be tedious and timely with the potential for damaging both your new door and your home…not to mention the risk of harm to yourself. The professionals at VanDenBosch Interior Door Replacement will come visit your residence to complete the work for you so that you can enjoy your spare time and the fresh new appeal of your home!