Installing New Interior Door Jamb

Remove the old door and cut the new door down to size.

Installing new interior door jamb.

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. It s not always necessary to use shims on the top doorjamb the casing will hold it in place. Screw the hinges onto the correct side of the jamb. 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. Make sure it s tight and opening in the right direction. Caulk underneath the spots where the bottom of the jamb and brick moulding will be. Once again take care not to damage the frame or the wall during this step in the process.

If you would like to paint repair or alter the door frame in any way now is the perfect time to do so. If you have more than 3 16 of an inch to remove you can use a circular saw to do so. Allow the glue to cure and drill the pilot holes. If you have more than an inch to remove take half off the top and half off the bottom.

Any changes to the door frame should be made before installing the new door. Only shim the top jamb if you re working with a 3 ft wide door and the top jamb arrives bowed from the factory. 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. Pry the side jambs away from the studs and then pry down the head jamb.

A new door jamb with decorative trim can make a dramatic enhancement. If you re not steady with your saw you can use a straight edge as a guide. Place the door in the jamb and fasten it to the hinges. Hang the door in the jamb.