How To Hinge A Door Slab

Purchase your new door as a slab meaning that it will not have any routes for the hinges or any holes drilled for knobs.

How to hinge a door slab.

Take the door down and trace each hinge outline on the edge of the door with a sharp pencil or knife allowing each hinge leaf to extend 1 4 inch beyond the edge of the door so that the knuckle will clear the casing. That way we can line everything up to make it work perfectly with our existing jamb. Make the knuckle inside not outside the house. Repeat the process for the other hinge along with the lock set.

Line up both doors and lightly clamp them together photo 1. Center the middle hinge between them for exterior doors. Next measure the door s height and thickness. Next mark the new slab photos 2 and 3.

Go slowly and test fit your hinge a few times until you get it mounted flush. Most door hinge kits come with the screws that you will need. Measure for the new door slab by checking the old door s width in three places across the top middle and bottom of the door. Using a drill drill the screws into place to attach the hinges to the slab door.

Measure the width and height of the existing door and check the new slab. If you accidentally go too far you can place a thin wooden shim under your hinge to bring it back flush with the edge of the door. You want to make a nice flat surface for your hinge to lay into. We ll also so you the tools required for this moderately diffi.

Place one of the hinges on the door as if it already was installed on the door. Attach the hinges to the slab door. Jot down the widest dimension. Mortise the hinge openings using a chisel and utility knife photo 4.

Once you ve finished mortising the hinges set the door upright and bore the lockset holes. Measure your old door. Slab doors typically do not have a left or right side but if your door clearly has an exterior side the hinge.