How To Hang A New Door On Existing Hinges

How to hang a door in an existing jamb.

How to hang a new door on existing hinges.

Next place your hinge on the door and trace around the hinge with a pencil. Cut the door to length with a portable circular saw. If you are hanging a slab door to replace an existing door and you still have the original door you can measure your new door slab to fit the frame by aligning it with the old door. Mount the hinges on the new door and hang the door.

If the old door was trimmed at the bottom and you were happy with the gap at the floor cut the new door to match. Once you ve finished mortising the hinges set the door upright and bore the lockset holes. Check that the door jamb on the hinge side is plumb and shim as necessary. Drill pilot holes for the hinge hardware so that you don t accidentally split the door s edge.

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. Temporarily screw the hinge jamb in place by driving two 8 3 inch drywall screws through it. If your door sticks make a mark on the edges where it s not closing flush. Clamp a straightedge to the new door and score the cut line with a sharp utility knife.

Align the old and new door slabs if you have the original door. Mortise the hinge openings using a chisel and utility knife photo 4. Use a utility knife to score the outline. Set old door on top of new door and transfer the hinge mortise locations to the new door using a combination square.

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. One about 2 inches above the top hinge and the other about 2 inches from the center hinge. Hang your new door and test fit everything. To do this place both doors next to each other on the thin long sides with the hinges on the old door facing up.

Knock the pins out of the hinges with a nail set or punch and a hammer and lift the door out. With a sharp chisel and hammer cut the wood in the shape of the hinge. Install the hinge knuckles lock set and door knobs. To install door hinges on a new door measure and mark where your hinges need to go on the door frame and on the door you re hanging.