Step-By-Step on How to Frame a Doorway

Framing a doorway is not a tedious task for the experts, but it could be a whole different story for those who never did it before. Framing a door doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you follow the guidelines and learn several vital things before you get started.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to frame a doorway and all the necessary door installation stuff.

How to Frame a Doorway

There are several basic door-framing tips that you must know:

• Consider purchasing doors that are already installed in the frame, as it will save you from the arduous task of installing the doorway.
• The regular size of the doors is around 30 to 32 inches. If you require extra space, consider choosing a 36-inch doorway.
• Usually, the rough door opening is 2 inches taller and broader than that of the doorway. The rough door opening with a height of 32 inches and a door frame width of 80 inches will be 34 x 82 inches.
• Consider buying solid-core doors if noise is a significant consideration.

The tutorial below is for making the rough opening for a 32-inch door.

1. Mark the upper and lower plates in the same manner when you frame a wall—mark every 16 inches in the center for studs. Leave one or two studs in the doorway.
2. Cut the right number of studs. Measure from the bottom to the upper part, and subtract for around 3.5 inches, just like when you frame the wall.
3. With 12D nails, start nailing the frame. Apply two nails on the bottom and the upper part of the door frame. Make sure you use a full-length stud.
4. To use for the trim studs, make two cuts of 80.5-inch studs and 1.5-inch studs on the bottom plate as it all will be nailed.
5. Cut a 3-inch stud that is wider than the rough opening. It’s the door’s header, so it must fit the jack studs.
6. Measure and cut one or two studs to fit between the upper part of the door opening and the upper part of the plate.
7. Tip the wall in place and apply 12D nails on the top and bottom plates. Use Tapcon screws or other fasteners at the bottom. The last step is using a handsaw to cut through the base plate.

But what if you have to frame a door in the existing wall?

How to Frame a Doorway In An Existing Wall

Knowing how to install a door frame is vital, and this task is not overly complicated than framing a doorway in the existing wall. Here is the step-by-step on how to frame a new rough opening:

1. If the rough opening is around 6 feet, you only need one stud on each side of the opening. But if the rough start is more than 6 feet, you should have two studs on each side.
2. Make sure the opening is high enough from the rough floor.
3. Before you begin to install the doorway, read and comprehend the installation instructions for the door. Pay attention to the areas and fastener types the manufacturer recommends to use.

Read also: Is it Cheaper to Buy or Build a Shed?

How to Frame an Exterior Door

Here is the step-by-step to frame a doorway for the house exterior:

1. Prepare all the tools required and remove the surface of the interior wall.
2. Measure and mark the width of the place. Also, mark the areas for the jack studs as well as the king studs.
3. Measure the king studs, then applies 10D nails on the top of the king studs.
4. Measure and mark the height of the rough opening on a king stud. Then, decide the header’s size, measure, and mark where the upper part fits the king stud.
5. To make the top of the bottom plate reach the rough opening, cut two studs. Nail the king and jack studs by using 10D nails. Then, use a circular saw to cut through the previous studs that must be removed.
6. Knock out several stud sections. Tear out the rest of it by using a pry bar. The final step is to cut through the bottom plate with a reciprocating saw and remove it with a prayer bar.

That is the tutorial to frame a doorway, and it’s understandable if the procedure is quite complicated. Consider calling a professional to do the job if you don’t think you can do it.