How to Hang Pre-hung Door - Part 5 of 15 - Installing Door

By Gary Boutin

Claw Hammer

Supplies and Tools:
Cordless screwdriver with Phillip bit
Claw hammer
Deck screws 3-inch
Drill bit set
Level 4-foot and 2-foot level
Painter scraper thick blade
Pre-hung metal door

Mr. Victor Longpont hired my services to remove his garage door that had become damaged after a bad rain storm. The door had not been painted for over 30 years, the bottom of the door was damaged by a badly worn door shoe and sweep that allowed water into the bottom of the door. In this job Dave Vickers, was invaluable in solving the details of this job.

This post shows the ten steps on how to install a pre-hung garage door.

Step 1: Fig.1 shows Dave's truck that was used to pick up and deliver the pre-hung door. Fig.2 shows the pre-hung door that was purchased at Lowe's Warehouse Store.

Fig.1 Truck to transport door

Fig.2 New door and wood frame

Step 2: Fig.3 shows the door must be unpacked before placing it in the door area. Remove all the cardboard packaging around the door. The hard fiberboard on the bottom of the door and both sides of the door shoe will needs to be removed. Fig.4 shows a claw hammer with a thick blade scraper that will pull away the fiberboard away from the door. There are staples in place to protect the bottom of the door. The staples are very sharp watch your hands.

Fig.3 Remove hardboard 
from bottom of door

Fig.4 Use a scraper

Step 3: After the fiberboard have been removed, the next step is to remove the plastic lock plate.  The lock plate locks the door in place while at the store to prevent the door from popping its hinges and damaging its integrity. This plastic lock must to be removed before the door is placed in the doorway area. Fig.5 shows the black plastic lock in the pre-drilled lock plate area.

Fig.5 Remove lock bolt

Step 4: The door has has brass hinges plastic caps, remove them before placing the door in the doorway. The caps are there to keep the brass hinge polished and in good condition for transport. 
Step 5: Next with a friend place the pre-hung door in the doorway. Use a 4-foot level to level the door in both directions. 
Step 6: Notice fig.6 and fig.7 shows the door is in the doorway, the door is not secured and needs to be screwed into the wood studs.

Fig.6 New threshold plate

Fig.7 Sides need caulking

Step 7: Fig.8 shows the handyman holding two small wood drills that will be used to pre-drilled the door wood frame. This pilot hole will reduce damage to the exterior wood frame prior to  installing the decks screws into the door. Some installers use nails but with screws the door can be adjusted within the door area to get a good fit.

Fig.8 Titanium wood drills

Step 8: Fig.9, fig.10 and fig.11 shows the drill used to make the pilot holes. Three holes on the side of each door jamb top, middle and bottom and matching on the other side.  The top door jamb only needs tow holes on each side.

Fig.9 Pilot hole for the top

Fig.10 Pilot hole for the middle area

Fig.11 Pilot hole for the bottom jamb

Step 9: Fig. 12 and fig.13 shows that after the pilot holes have been drilled, use the cordless screwdriver to drive in the deck screws into the wood stud.

Fig.12 Inserting deck screws

Fig.13 Inserting 
bottom latch side

Step 10: Fig.14 shows the one hole by the brass hinge and fig.15 shows the two holes that have been screwed into the wood stud.

Fig.14 New clean hinge

Fig.15 Holes in new frame

How to Hang a Pre-hung Door:

Part 1 of 15 Introduction Why Replace This Garage Door

Part 2 of 15 Removing The Damaged Door

Part 3 of 15 Door Hardware Removed

Part 4 of 15 Door Threshold Removal

Part 5 of 15 Installing Door

Part 6 of 15 Recycled Metal Removed

Part 7 of 15 Caulking Outside Door Edges

Part 8 of 15 New Door Hardware Installed

Part 9 of 15 Caulking Door Screws Holes

Part 10 of 15 Inside Door Mud

Part 11 of 15 Inside Door Taping

Part 12 of 15 Inside Door Painted

Part 13 of 15 Applying Stucco To Door Edge

Part 14 of 15 Exterior Door Molding

Part 15 of 15 Old Door Cut to Trash

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Note: The DIY Advisor assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any jobs. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed contractor if in doubt about any steps on these posts. All names were changed to protect client's privacy. DIY Advisor. Reproduction of site content including photos without permission prohibited. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-