Replace A Bedroom Door

The door separates your bedroom from the rest of the world.

A hollow core bedroom door does not provide much protection, but it does offer a sound and sight barrier that provides privacy. If you want to update the look of your bedroom or take care of a damaged door, replacing the door and frame with a new, premounted door and frame may be the answer. Bedroom door replacement is a bit complicated. With the right tools and a bit of know-how, though, you can swap out the doors, regain your privacy and have a brand-new look.

Instructions

1. Place the tip of your nail set against the bottom of the hinge pin in the lowest hinge of the current door. Strike the head of the nail set to knock the hinge pin loose. Pull the hinge pin free and set it aside. Remove the center and the top hinge pins while an assistant holds the door in place. Lift the door free of the hinges and set it aside.

2. Place the sharp, flat edge of the small arm of your nail puller against the crevice between the wall and one of the facial trim boards on the inside of the door frame. Hold the long arm of the nail puller and strike the angled section of the tool. Pry the facial board away from the wall. Remove the left, right and upper facial boards on the inside and the outside of the door frame. Remove the main center boards from inside the frame. Remove the nails from the facial and center frame boards.

3. Hold your level against the inner edge of the rough framing of the doorway. Place shims against the door frame and tack them into place with the nails as needed to make the side of the rough framing plumb. Check the plumb of the frame. Add or remove shims to achieve perfect plumb from top to bottom. Repeat on the other side. Shim the top edge of the rough framing to achieve perfect level.

4. Remove the hinge pins from the new door. Set the pins and the door aside. Remove the outside facial boards from the new door and set them aside. Hold the new door frame up to the rough frame. Cut the bottom of the new door frame as needed to make the new door fit the opening leaving 1/2 inch of space between the floor and where the bottom of the door will rest. Slide the new frame into the rough opening of the doorway. Nail the inner frame to the rough opening. Nail the new frame into place in line with the shims on the rough opening. Nail the inside facial boards to the rough opening. Put the outer facial boards in place and nail them to the new frame and the rough opening.