shimming a door Archives

The Door Is Installed Level & Plumb, but it still doesn’t work!

Written by JENTRA on January 19, 2019. Posted in Doors 101. Leave a Comment

Has this ever happened to you?

We Can Help!

You’ve tried to do everything right, taking your time to find level & plumb perfectly. Even shimming properly at each hinge location, but no matter what you try – the door frame will not line up correctly with the slab. (learn some shimming tricks here)

Let’s trouble shoot some of the possible causes below:

1. The door slab is level, but the sill is not

This is one of the most common issues when you’re facing the problem the door being installed level & plumb, but it still doesn’t work. Look at the picture below to get a better idea of what’s going on here.

A level sill is the foundation for a good door installation

As you can see, even if the door is level & plumb – if the sill isn’t, you will have a hard time getting your reveals to line up correctly. (learn more about getting a level sill here)

2. The door’s frame legs are not installed true with one another

Here is a picture of another trouble-spot that we’ve seen on job-sites.

Note how the door legs don’t align with one another

It is possible to have a door slab level & plumb and one side of the door frame level & plumb. But if the other side of the door frame isn’t true with its partner – the door slab can appear warped because it will pop-out from the frame in one corner. (you can learn more about what installing a door true means here)

3. One of the door’s components was manufactured incorrectly

Even though it’s rare and door manufacturer’s try very hard to produce every unit correctly, it is possible for a part to be made incorrectly and find its way into the field. Fortunately, you can check that your door was made correctly by measuring both frame legs to make sure they match and both head and sill to make sure you have a matching pair. As for the spacing between the door and frame (usually called the reveal) it is recommended that there is at least 1/8” on both the Strike and Head sides of the door and 3/32″ on the hinge side of the door. We’ve put together a diagram below to help explain this.

Proper reveals are required to maintain Energy STAR® ratings on exterior doors

4. The door slab is warped

Again, this is rare for a new door. But it is possible for the door slab to warp before it has been installed. If this has happened, the door will pop-out from the frame in one corner as mentioned above. It will also not match with its frame. An easy way to test for this is to use a string pulled tight from the top of the bottom of the door corners. (as shown in the picture below) If the gap is larger than ⅜” from the string to the door, it is warped.

DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE?

Here are some more you might be interested in! We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about door installation and wrote it down for your use

5 Cool Tools that can help with your next Door Installation

Written by JENTRA on February 4, 2017. Posted in Doors 101. Leave a Comment

you might want to see these.

Our pick of 5 cool tools to help with your next door installation.

Below are 5 of the most ingenious tools we’ve seen when it comes to door installation. Take a quick look below to see if you could use any of these!

#1. Winbag™ USA

First on our list of cool tools, The Winbag acts as a reusable, inflatable shim. You simply insert it in-between the components you wish to shim and then as Arnold would say, you “Pump it Up!” The Winbag has an impressive shimming range from 3/32″ – 2″ and can lift up to 300lbs. Retailing for around $20, we think this is a must have for any handyman’s tool bag. Learn more at Winbag™ USA.

#2. Heavy Duty Vacuum Cups

These are great for getting a grip on heavy door slabs that would otherwise be difficult to handle. Basically a strong suction cup with a handle, these clever cups come in 8″ – 10″ sizes and can lift from 100lbs all the way up to 300lbs securely. Depending on what you want to spend, you can find a good selection of vacuum cups ranging from $40 up to $100 at WGS Online.

#3. The Hinge Tweaker™

Over time, heavy doors tend to sag and need some adjusting, this company has come up with a unique solution that almost anyone can tackle. By “tweaking” the hinges back and forth, you can easily adjust them back to their original position. Your commercial doors will thank you and for less than $85 you can get them swinging like brand new! Learn more about this cool tool at the Hinge Tweaker™ website.

#4. CHEATAH™ door level

Another cool tool, the CHEATAH door level helps anyone easily install a prehung door. The CHEATAH can help by showing Level & Plumb simultaneously. Plus the built-in SHIMPADS™ help to create perfect reveals between the door and frame. This results in improved installation and function of doors, resulting in fewer warranty callbacks. You can buy the CHEATAH™ door level here.

#5. Trim Gauge™

For those of us who are perfectionists, the Trim Gauge can be a best friend when it comes to getting the perfect reveal on your next trim installation. Designed to set the spacing between the trim and the door frame, for less than $30 you can keep all of your trim jobs spot on. Get yours at the Trim Guage™ website

DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE?

Here are some more you might be interested in! We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about door installation and wrote it down for your use

The Ups and Downs of a Door Shim

Written by JENTRA on November 30, 2015. Posted in Doors 101.

a door shim has a top?

The Ups and Downs of a Door Shim

The pitch of the door shim is important!

Did you know that door shims have a top and a bottom, and that if you put them in the wrong way they don’t work? Let’s take a look at this.

A Shim Has A Taper for a Reason

To start, we’ll call the thicker portion of the shim the top and the thinner end the bottom. The taper this creates is designed not only to help make up various gaps when combined with another shim, but it also sets the “projection” of the door. Take a look at the picture below.

All bound up?

Have you ever tried to shut a door that feels like it is binding when you try to close it the last few inches? More than likely, this was caused by putting the shims in the wrong direction creating the bad projection and the door hinges to bind.

The Taper Helps the Door to Swing One Way or the Other

By correctly placing a shim at each hinge, you will help the door easily close all the way. It’s all about the top and bottom when it comes to a door shim.

DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE?

Here are some more you might be interested in! We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about door installation and wrote it down for your use

5 Mistakes You Might be Making Installing a Door

Written by JENTRA on June 5, 2014. Posted in Doors 101.

we’ve been there too.

Our pick of the top 5 most common door installation mistakes

Below are 5 of the most common problems seen when it comes to installing a door. Take a look below to see if you’ve ever struggled with any of these!

1. Hanging the door parallel to the wall, even if it is out of level

If the wall is out of plumb, it’s hard to install a door correctly and it may tend to swing open or closed. If the wall is plumb but the door frame is not, the door frame may need to be adjusted to ensure an even reveal on each side of the door. If the walls on either side are not parallel, extra time may be needed during shimming to ensure the best results.

Don’t Expect Good Results if you Don’t Start Right.

2. Using the wrong hinge screws or over-tightening them

The right screws, or 3 ½” screws, keep the door stable over time. Too small of screws can allow the door to migrate over time, which can cause it to rub or scrape on the floor or not shut at all. When the screws have been tightened improperly, the door will experience uneven tension and will eventually warp.

Go Slow and Steady.

3. Placing shims improperly or backwards

When installing a door, thick end of the shim should face the door’s hinge pin. This helps it swing shut properly. If the shims have been installed backwards, the door will begin to resist before it is completely shut. Putting door shims in backwards can also be a large contributing factor to a door that swings open or shut on it’s own. Read more about proper shimming techniques here: The Ups and Downs of a Door Shim.

Proper Shimming is Important.

4. Failing to check the reveals

As the industries top cause of warped doors, uneven reveals can cause significant long-term problems with a door. The reveals must be parallel to ensure proper operation and a long life for the door. If the reveals are uneven, the door will build up pressure over time and warp as the moisture level changes. If a door is hanging with even tension across all three hinges, it will operate properly for years to come.

EnergySTAR Ratings can be Voided by Improper Reveals.

5. Not starting with a level sill

As seen in the picture below, by starting without a level sill, it’s practically impossible to end up with a good result to your door installation. The sill is the door’s foundation, if it is out of level; the problems compound over the height of the door and become much more difficult to troubleshoot. Read more about proper level sill here: How Important is a Level Sill?

Installing a door with a level sill is like building a house on a level foundation, start right to end right.

DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE?

Here are some more you might be interested in! We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about door installation and wrote it down for your use

Tag: shimming a door

Has this ever happened to you?

We Can Help!

Let’s trouble shoot some of the possible causes below:

1. The door slab is level, but the sill is not

A level sill is the foundation for a good door installation

2. The door’s frame legs are not installed true with one another

Note how the door legs don’t align with one another

3. One of the door’s components was manufactured incorrectly

Proper reveals are required to maintain Energy STAR® ratings on exterior doors

4. The door slab is warped

you might want to see these.

Our pick of 5 cool tools to help with your next door installation.

#1. Winbag™ USA

#2. Heavy Duty Vacuum Cups

#3. The Hinge Tweaker™

#4. CHEATAH™ door level

#5. Trim Gauge™

a door shim has a top?

The Ups and Downs of a Door Shim

The pitch of the door shim is important!

A Shim Has A Taper for a Reason

All bound up?

The Taper Helps the Door to Swing One Way or the Other

we’ve been there too.

Our pick of the top 5 most common door installation mistakes

1. Hanging the door parallel to the wall, even if it is out of level

Don’t Expect Good Results if you Don’t Start Right.

2. Using the wrong hinge screws or over-tightening them

Go Slow and Steady.

3. Placing shims improperly or backwards

Proper Shimming is Important.

4. Failing to check the reveals

EnergySTAR Ratings can be Voided by Improper Reveals.

5. Not starting with a level sill

Installing a door with a level sill is like building a house on a level foundation, start right to end right.

JENTRA™

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