In this article we will walk you thru the Steps on How to Install an Interior Door

Here is a list of tools you will need. 4ft Level Hammer Pry bar or Wood Chisel Shims 8d Finish Nails Nail Punch Tape measure Two small blocks of wood 1/2 thick You should allow yourself about 2 hours to replace a door. The time will go down as you become familiar with the process. Please read all installation and Safety Instructions provided with your door.

There are a vast amount of different styles of doors on the market today. The style of door you want is personal choice. ie; Flat, Six Panel, Luann etc. There are three standard types of doors. Hollow core Doors. Solid core Doors. Solid Wood Door. Depending on your budget for home improvements and whether you want to stain or paint your interior doors you can choose from these three styles. There are also different styles of prehung doors, There are Flat Jamb or split jamb, Either kind can come with the trim installed or without. These instructions are for a flat jamb without the trim installed.

First you have to remove the old door. Using your hammer and nail punch, gently tap the hinge pins up until the head of the pin is about 1/4 in. up. You should remove the hinge pins in this order. Top first and bottom second and the center last. Then using your pry bar and hammer, place the pry bar under the lip of the hinge pin and gently tap upward until the pin comes free and out of the hinge. When you get to the center pin slide your foot under the door and apply a little upward pressure to hold the door while you remove the final pin. This allows you control of the door so it doesn't fall. Ease the door out of the hinges and discard it..

Start by using the pry bar at the bottom of the trim on the door. Take care to ease the trim away from the door frame by prying it strait out starting at the bottom and working your way to the top of the trim board. When you reach the top of the trim board at the mitered joint take special care to separate the mitered joint. Most of the time the mitered joint will have a pin nail pinning it to the top piece of trim thru the side. Never try prying the trim in the center for it will normally break, always start at an open end. When you have removed the trim from both sides of the door carefully inspect it for nails. To remove the nails use the Channel locks or pliers grasping the nail on the back side of the trim, carefully pull it through the piece of trim and out the back side. If you try to pound the nails out thru the front it will normally splinter the front of the trim and look very bad. Pulling it through only leaves a small hole where the nail was at and can be puttied easily. Thus you can use the trim piece again and save the cost. Check the exterior of the door where the trim was for nails and gently tap any nails left in it in with the hammer.

Starting at the bottom of the door frame use the pry bar and pry the frame inwards towards the other side of the frame. Work your way up to the top of the frame and then using the pry bar pry down on the top corner of the frame , keeping the side free so the top can slide out. Then pry the other side of the frame loose the same way. Discard the old frame, be sure to bend all the nails that are sticking out down to avoid any injury. Using the hammer pound in any existing nails left in the door opening.

Installing the new Door Using the level, check the door opening and see if it is plumb. Most prehung doors come with pin nails holding the door and the jamb together. Use the hammer and remove these. Place one small block of 1/2 thick wood on each side of the bottom of the door to rest the jamb on. This will allow for carpet or any transition. Now set the door in the opening and on the blocks. Be sure to set the hinge side of the door flat against the opening, we will not use shims on this side. Making sure the outside of the jamb is flush with the outside of the wall, at the top of the hinge side of the jamb, 3-4 inches above the hinge, place a 8d finish nail to tack the door in place, leave some of the nail showing in case you have to pull it free to adjust the door. Now use the level and make sure the frame is level and flush with the wall at the bottom. Some slight adjustment might be necessary. Tack the bottom of the frame 3-4 inches below the hinge. Once you are sure the door is level place a tack nail 3-4 inches above and below the center hinge. This will hold the door and allow you to set the other side. This side will require the shims. Take one shim on each side of the door frame and slide them together until the door frame snugs up to the opening. Make sure the frame is flush with the outside wall. Place these about 6in from the top and the bottom of the frame. Do not nail these yet. Gently try closing the door to check the operation. Make sure the door opens and closes without hitting the frame. Also check the revel and it should be the same all the way down the door and across the top. You may have to adjust the shims a little to get the revel even. Once it is even place a tack nail in the frame going thru the shims to hold the frame and shims in place. Now take two more sets of shims and place them 3-4 inches above and below the door knob latch area. Double check the door operation and tack these shims also. Once you are sure the door is right, drive the nails in leaving about 1/8in.of the nail sticking out. Now use the nail punch to set the nails below the surface of the door jamb. After setting the nails take a small amount of wood putty and fill in the holes left by the nails. Your door is installed.

To reinstall the trim, use the top piece and the level. Hold the trim across the top of the door and set the revel about 1/8, check it with the level and make two small marks on the door frame at the bottom of the trim with a pencil. The revel should be the same all around the door. Taking the side trim pieces see if they will set flat on the floor and the short point of the miter will stay at or below the marks. If not you will have to move the top trim piece up some. If so Install the top piece with the 6d finish nails and then install the sides. Repeat this on the other side.