When you plan to do a door replacement by yourself, make sure you are doing it right. You may think that door replacement is a simple task that can be done by yourself easily. But when installing a door, there are many small details that you can overlook like the levelling, improper frame sizes and misaligned plates and hinges. This would lead to incorrect installation of the door. A wrong installation of the door can irritate you as it may not close properly. Some issues can be fixed quickly, but some might need a long time to get fixed. Knowing about these issues before replacing the door will be beneficial.

1) Installing Doors Parallel to the Wall

When installing a door parallel to the walls, there are chances that it may not fit properly. If the wall that supports your door is not levelled properly, then your door will also be not levelled properly. This would make your door to swing while opening or shutting. When the door replacement is being done, first, you need to measure the walls, both vertically and horizontally to ensure that the wall is straight. You will also have to measure the opposite wall because it may be the case that opposite walls may not run parallel. You will have to measure the door and the door frame correctly so that the door fits in properly.

2) Using Improper Hardware

When doing the door replacement yourself, you need to be aware of the hardware materials that you will need when fixing the door. A proper kind of hardware will make your door fit properly. You would need to use the materials like screws and hinges with accuracy. When fitting the door with a screw and hinges, the size of the screws needs to be accurate. Using screws and hinges of small sizes can lead the door to shift and it would not be able to handle the weight of the door. The door would shift and sag causing the door and the frame to crack. Your door may get damaged, and you would need to reinstall a whole new door again. So using the right kind of hardware items will be efficient for the door replacement.

3) Ignoring the Floor Alignment

There are high chances that you may overlook the floor alignment. You would align the floor with the bottom of the door during installation. But the floor of the house may be uneven. So you should also check with the floor as the door may not align with the uneven floor adequately and may be left hanging. When the door is installed at an angle, it will also make the door shift and slag due to the unnecessary pressure on the hinges and jambs. That will result in a cracked frame and the door and would cause more serious damage if gone unattended.

4) Placing Shims Backwards

People may get confused when installing the shims and put it backwards. That would make the door shut improperly. The thick end of a shim should always face the door’s hinge pin. Installing a shim properly will help the door to swing properly. Installing the shim backwards will make the door resist from shutting. Backwardly installed shim also results in the door swing open or shut on its own.

5) Underestimating the Opening Arcs

Always measure the opening arcs of the door before installing them. You have to see how much comfortable area is available for the door to shut and open. Make an accurate measurement of how much space will you need to open the door comfortably. An opening of the door should not be a space issue for your other furniture in the room. Doors open most of the time inwards, so there are two solutions that you can apply. If you require space in your room, then consider the pocket opening or bifold opening for the door. You should resolve any issue with the opening arc of your door.

6) Trimming the Door too Much

There may be times when you need to trim the door from the sides so that it fits in the frame properly. Even if your measurements get slightly incorrect, you would need to trim the door. But whenever you are trimming a door, be cautious with it, because there are some risks associated with trimming. You don’t need to trim too much because it could lead to exposing the core material of your door and will have more gaps between the door and the frame. You trim the door to make it fit in the frame, but it can be possible that it would still not fit. And you may think that the problem is with the door, but the problem can be with the frame too, so always check.

7) Choosing the Wrong Finish

When your door is ready, you would need to coat it with a finish to protect it. If the door appears to be primed or unfinished then you should cross-check the oil, paints or waxes that you are using for the door finishing. Paints or oils should be suitable for your door. With suitable paints or oils can only your door have a good finishing. Using an unsuitable material for a veneered door can lead to delaminating after the reaction with glue. Exposed or planed edges should be sealed and finished properly so that the moisture does not seep in the door.

These are the issues that you can face when doing the door replacement yourself. Now you are aware of the problems that can occur, you can choose the right door and complete the door replacement work adequately. Another smart way to avoid any of these issues is by letting the professionals install the door. Our door experts can install all kinds of doors with precision.