Little help? Prehung door kit wasnt...

[AndyL]

I guess I'm nuts, prehung to me means its already in the frame ready to go... pop out the old jambs/casing, slide in new, level, shim, anchor, trim - done.

instead it came with all the casings/jambs/hinges in a flat pack. We know how useless the building center people are, so requests for r/o or directions got a "huh?" Answer...

So can anyone point me the way? Pulling out a 70s vintage 36" bifold, installing a 36" double. Frame appears to be 3/4" oversized (ie sides 80 3/4, top 37 3/4), so not totally clear on what to cut/shim it to....

its a good thing it was cheap and had a clearance "no returns" on the receipt...

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Bifolds don't have a frame so yo could reclaim maybe an inch if you rip out the drywall on either side of the door opening. Then maybe shave or remove one of the jack studs...

 

[Gary S]

My prehung doors came fully assembled into their frames. I suggest buying your doors somewhere else.

 

[kevin47]

I would ask around and find someone who does this for a living and have them do the hanging part...Your not talking much money and you may as well save yourself the headache...I gotta do this myself...But, they'll get it gone in a day...or less...And the wife will thank for it...lol

 

[AndyL]

Rural, so trip fee was way more than install was worth... and just these 2 door units (they're worth the aggravation, pairs of nice craftsman style double solid hemlock doors for less than my last 2 builder grade prehung hollow cores). Current r/o is 38x81

old bifold had a frame, not drywalled jambs, just unclear on what I should build the finished frame to, 36x80? Or 36¼ x 80¼? Looks like they're giving me extra material so I can build to suit...

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

Rural, so trip fee was way more than install was worth... and just these 2 door units (they're worth the aggravation, pairs of nice craftsman style double solid hemlock doors for less than my last 2 builder grade prehung hollow cores). Current r/o is 38x81

old bifold had a frame, not drywalled jambs, just unclear on what I should build the finished frame to, 36x80? Or 36¼ x 80¼? Looks like they're giving me extra material so I can build to suit...

Build/assemble your jamb on an open floor. Go at least 36 1/4 if the door is 36 and 80 3/4 or more if the door is 80. Test opening and closing door while laid out on floor. Remove door and install assembled frame, level and attach hinge side, reattach door, square and attach rest of frame...

 

[Blue]

I would ask around and find someone who does this for a living and have them do the hanging part...Your not talking much money and you may as well save yourself the headache...I gotta do this myself...But, they'll get it gone in a day...or less...And the wife will thank for it...lol

Agree with this.

Hanging doors always seemed to be kinda tough to do.

 

[Kevin54]

You'll only have three pieces of wood in the box. The left, right, and top of the door jamb. Put them all together, fasten the door to it, take an extra piece of wood that will go jamd side to jamb side, square the door in the frame and fasten the extra piece of wood towards the bottom to hold the sides at the correct width.

Rip out the old door and measure. If you have to remove one side of the existing opening, then take that wood off. You may have to rip down a piece of plywood to get your correct spacing. Once you get the correct spacing of the doors plus a little to allow for shimming, if the hinge side of the opening is plumb, tack your door to that side. Shim the other side so you have everything correct and run a couple of nails through the jamb and shims into the stud.

Once you have it all in and fastened up, cut and nail your trim on both inside and outside.

 

[AndyL]

Thanks all, almost done, stuck waiting on a 7month old to nap

note to self - next time laser the jamb before starting to set in the frame... bottom right was a full inch out of square (the wrong way, in of course)...sledge didn't make a dent in that - guess we have some cutting to do

weeee! Excuse to pull out the big mofo sawzall

 

[BlindViper]

Hmmm they must do prehung doors differently in canada

 

[AndyL]

I think we have a scenario of the ad writer was clueless prehung vs frame kit, I'm not complaining, its a new skill to learn, and honestly - money saver long term (I'll happily do the door frame for what they usually charge to make it pre hung) - as I have 9 more doors to do (just went back and ordered another to replace another bifold)

Just got caught off guard by the not pre-hung... when I was expecting fully assembled and ready to install.

Now onto trim!