Installing New Interior Door Jamb

Check the fit before installing a new door and enlarge the opening as necessary.

Installing new interior door jamb.

If you have more than an inch to remove take half off the top and half off the bottom. Unless you are installing a prehung door you ll need to trace the outline of the hinges on the jamb and cut an indentation using a router or utility knife. Go slowly and make a long clean cut. Once you are satisfied with the fit of the door remove it and apply several thick beads of silicone caulk to the bottom of the doorsill.

If you have more than 3 16 of an inch to remove you can use a circular saw to do so. Place the door in the jamb and fasten it to the hinges. Remove the old door and cut the new door down to size. Any changes to the door frame should be made before installing the new door.

A new door jamb with decorative trim can make a dramatic enhancement. If the holes on your new hinge plates don t match the holes in the screw holes in the door jamb drill pilot holes for the new screws. It s not always necessary to use shims on the top doorjamb the casing will hold it in place. Hang the door in the jamb.

Allow the glue to cure and drill the pilot holes. If the holes in the jamb are too large for the screws use wood glue to secure a short portion of dowel tightly in the hole. Caulk underneath the spots where the bottom of the jamb and brick moulding will be. And on new homes and additions walls can compress as they settle and push down on the top shims causing the jamb to bow down.

If you would like to paint repair or alter the door frame in any way now is the perfect time to do so. Only shim the top jamb if you re working with a 3 ft wide door and the top jamb arrives bowed from the factory. Screw the hinges onto the correct side of the jamb. Pry the side jambs away from the studs and then pry down the head jamb.