20.4. Hanging a door

Hold door against jamb. The door may not be at the right height and width. Make marks at the top and at the side. When marking the door, mark it with a clearance between jamb and door. This clearance is usually 1 to 2 mm. Plane down the edges of the door until it reaches the pencil line and put the door into the jamb for testing. If the door still does not fit, mark it again and plane it.

Figure

a) Hinging: - Put the door in the jamb and press it with the aid of a chisel into position. Take a hinge and mark across on both door and jamb. Remove the door and house the butt hinges at the door and jamb. Screw the hinges at the door. Hold door at right angles, and wedge it with chisel under outer edge, push top hinge into place and enter one screw. Remove wedge, put one screw in the bottom hinge, close and test for clearance. If it fits drive the other screws home.

Figure

b) Fixing stops: - These should be finished with a smoothing plane and glass paper. Fit the top piece in first and find position with door closed, allowing for thickness of paint. Cut upright stops in tightly, tack in position and try. If the stop against hinge edge is too close, it will cause the door to bind.

Figure

c) Door handles and latchsets:

- Latchsets and snibsets are normally fitted to internal doors and locksets to external or security doors. The first step for installing a latchset is to slide wedges under the door to keep it firm to work on. Square a line at latch height on edge of door to handle position. Mark position for holes for cylinder or tubular latch and mark the hole for locking mechanism plus a little room for play. If mortise locks are being used, drill a series of holes to the depth and height of the mortice mechanism and chisel the remaining wood away. Again allow a little room for play.

Figure

- To rebate the edge of the door to accept face of latch, install latch in hole and mark the outer edges of the flanges on the door. Using a chisel, rebate to the depth of the flange thickness, ensuring a flush fit. Install latch and handle mechanism. Adjustments may be required to enable latch bolt to move freely. Often a binding latch is the result of too tight a fit.

Figure

- Install striker plate on jamb by first closing the door and marking the position of the latch in the jamb. Rebate the housing for the striker plate. Also drill and chisel the hole to receive the latch bolt and attach striker plate. Door stops can now be fitted.

Figure