Q&A for How to Fit a Door

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How do you take the measurements for a new door?

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.

Ryaan Tuttle

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

You can measure the opening. Measure the top width and the bottom width. Measure the height on the right and left sides. That will be the door size.

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Question

How do you fit a door frame?

Ryaan Tuttle
Home Improvement Specialist
Ryaan Tuttle is a Home Improvement Specialist and the CEO of Best Handyman, Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. With over 17 years of experience, he specializes in building home service businesses, focusing on creating scalable and efficient brands. With the help of his global team, the companies have achieved over 10+ million in sales and received recognition through magazine features, and enjoy partnerships with wikiHow and Jobber field service software. Boston Magazine and LocalBest.com have named Best Handyman Boston the Best Handyman in Boston. Ryaan holds Construction Supervisor and Home Improvement Contractor Licenses.

Ryaan Tuttle

Home Improvement Specialist

Expert Answer

First, you should locate the hinge side. Then find which way the door is going to swing. Is it going to move inside-outside or right side-left side? After that, center the door frame in the rough opening, plumb it with your level and then shim it in place on both sides. Take some screws and screw them through the wooden frame and the shims into the rough opening.

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Question

Should you start removing the old hinges from the bottom so the door doesn't fall on you when you are removing the lower one?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

Yes. If you're removing all of the hinges, begin at the bottom and work your way up to keep the door as sturdy as possible for as long as possible.

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Question

My door frame is crooked. Should I cut the door to fit the frame or cut the door so that it fits and pack up area (in this case, at the bottom on the left) by attaching piece of wood to frame?

Community Answer

A real pro would reset the frame square before hanging a new door. An out of square door frame indicates that the structure of the building has settled and if still in motion show a much bigger problem with beams and / or foundation.

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Question

I have bought a used door which has slots and a plastic lined-hole in the bottom (or top?) of the door. Do these serve some purpose?

Community Answer

Looks like this might have been designed to be used as a sliding door. The slots would have fit over a guide pin fitted in the floor and suspended from runners at the top.

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Question

Will the door fit if the top and side frame are square?

Community Answer

If it's a standard door size, then no. However, doors can be built in order to be fitted to any type of frame.

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