Although replacing the interior door in your apartment may seem like a difficult undertaking, it can actually be a manageable and even enjoyable project if you take the proper approach. Replacing your old door yourself can save you money and allow you to add a personal touch to your living area, whether it is broken, out-of-date, or you just want a new look.
Getting ready involves gathering all required equipment and supplies. A new door that fits the existing frame, shims, a level, a screwdriver, a hammer, and a tape measure are required. Everything will go more smoothly and effectively if you have everything ready before you begin.
The old door must then be carefully removed. Remove the door from its hinges first, and then any hardware that is attached to the hinges should be taken out of the frame. You’ll have the old door out in no time if you follow a methodical approach and have steady hands. This part does require some patience.
Making sure the new door is plumb and level in the frame is the first step in installing it. To achieve the ideal fit, some shim adjustments might be necessary. You can tighten the hinges and fasten the door to the frame once you’re happy with the alignment. Installing the doorknob and any extra hardware is the final touch.
You can confidently replace an interior door in your apartment by following these easy steps. You’ll feel more accomplished because you did the project yourself, in addition to making your space look better and function better.
- Do-it-yourself replacement of canvas in an apartment
- Required materials and tools
- Dismantling the old structure
- Assembly and installation of the box
- Installation of door leaf
- Fastening platbands
- Installation of the stop
- Hanging doors and sealing gaps
- Lock installation
- Video on the topic
- Installing an interior door: Dismantling old doors
- Assembly and installation of interior doors.
- How to Correctly and Quickly Install Interior Doors with Your Own Hands
- Installing interior doors yourself. Lifehack. Door installation. How to install doors
Do-it-yourself replacement of canvas in an apartment
Required materials and tools
The following supplies and equipment are required to replace the interior door:
- Hammer. They use it to enlarge the opening by drilling and make holes for the anchor dowel.
- Drill to form mounting holes.
- Screwdriver, attachments for it. Secures screws in hinges, door handles and locks.
- Jigsaw. The function of the tool is to unravel the extensions and platbands. Work is carried out in places difficult to reach for saws.
- Electric milling machine with cutters. Cuts hinges, locking mechanism.
- Marker or pencil. To display and mark the required operating ranges.
- Roulette.
- Calipers. Determines the depth of the cut, applies markings for fittings.
- Chisel. Cuts door hinges and fittings.
- Bubble level. They measure the vertical and horizontal slopes of the surface.
- Steel measuring ruler.
- Test metal square.
- Kiyanka.
To work, you must possess:
- screws;
- loops;
- awnings;
- lock;
- bars for cutting;
- reverse strips;
- the door leaf itself.
Dismantling the old structure
First, get the surface ready. The old door must be removed in order to replace it. Both the old canvas and the door’s trim have been taken off. The manner of initial attachment will determine how they are replaced:
- When installing the structure using the glue or tongue-and-groove method, to remove it you need to lightly pry the elements and pull them to the sides.
- If the platbands are nailed to the box, you need to pry them well and pull them out. It is important to remove all the fittings along with the lock and hinges.
Make use of a crowbar and grinder to speed up the process. Parts of the box are torn from the wall in the opening and sawed in half. It’s critical to make an effort to reduce wall destruction.
You can learn how to disassemble an interior door by watching this video:
Assembly and installation of the box
- First you need to measure the size of the crossbar and sidewalls.
- After choosing the type of cut, prepare the beams and cut them into fragments of the required width. Work is performed at an angle of 90 degrees; sometimes doorways require a more delicate approach. The cut is made at an angle of 45 degrees. The box should be assembled on the floor on a horizontal surface. Then all fasteners and latches will be installed correctly, and there will be no distortions.
- Along the perimeter you need to lay out the elements of the box so that they are at a small distance from the canvas itself. This must be observed so that the door does not rub during movements.
Installation of door leaf
- It is necessary to mark the joints and then fasten the box with nails, self-tapping screws or by joining using the tongue-and-groove method.
- When lifting the door frame, it is immediately transferred to the doorway and leveled.
- Support strips secure the frame, spacers and wedges.
- All cracks between the wall and the beam elements are sealed with polyurethane foam.
- After the work has been done, you must wait for the material to dry completely. Then you can start other work. This is necessary so that the fixation is tight, and other manipulations do not cause a slope.
- When determining the position of the hinge plates, you first need to try them on from the end of the canvas; on the plate box, determine their place along the side.
- After removing the top layer of material, the remaining parts of the plate are installed. First, their outline is drawn with a chisel. This is done by scraping the coating along the entire perimeter.
Fastening platbands
- The plates are fastened with self-tapping screws. To choose the size, you need to look at the dimensions of the openings and fasteners.
- Both parts of the hinges are slightly raised and placed on the support network of the lower parts.
- To ensure that the platbands are attached smoothly and opening the interior door is easy, you need to check whether the door leaf is rubbing against the door frame and the floor covering, and if necessary, you can change the position of the elements to the original or opposite.
After installation, but only after the foam has fully dried, trim any excess foam to ensure proper installation and repair. Otherwise, uneven part installation could cause damage to the structure.
Interior platbands are made of the following materials when installed:
- Wooden.
- MDF.
- Pressed paper.
The way platbands are fastened can also vary. The selection of the suitable one is contingent upon the materials employed. You can affix platbands:
- on nails;
- glue;
- docking with the box according to the tenon-groove principle.
Choosing telescopic trims frequently requires the use of glue in addition. Here, they are secured at either a 45- or 90-degree angle. If nails are to be used, they must be headless. Furniture plugs or mastic are used to seal the fastening points after the work is finished.
The transverse strip is straightened after the side trims are put on.
Installation of the stop
Rubber bands must be inserted to seal the joints for a good stop. Adhere a rubber tube or strip around the box’s edge. Since adhesive tape covers the reverse side, this task is simple to complete. Making sure that there aren’t any significant gaps is essential. Small spaces or diameter exceedances cause the door leaf to experience excessive pressure from the elements, which loosens the fasteners.
The same procedure is used to install the emphasis: every joint is examined to ensure it is positioned correctly. It will not be possible to correctly fix the elements if large gaps are not removed with tools.
Hanging doors and sealing gaps
Try the door leaf on the opening before hanging and securing it to the fixing strips. Use a ruler and homemade measuring devices for this. Installation cannot begin until precise measurements have been taken.
To achieve this, make one or more of these marks on the door frame. Only then will the hinges be installed evenly on the door.
- The optimal distance between the lower hinge and the lower edge of the leaf is 20 cm.
- The upper hinge and the end of the leaf should be suitable in size (approximately 15 cm). The hinges must strictly coincide with the end of the door. They are fixed with self-tapping screws.
- The door is installed on the mounting hinges.
- It is necessary to check that nothing interferes with the door opening and closing. Opening too smoothly should also not be allowed. Fixation must be clear, exactly according to the measured dimensions.
- The box must be level. If there are any deviations, then the canvas cannot be installed. It is necessary to re-measure and adjust the dimensions to the standards.
- Drill and fasten parts in the openings using anchors and dowels.
- After the next hanging of the canvas, the accuracy of measurement and the dimensions of the fasteners are checked once again.
- Panels with channels are placed on the sides:
- on the left – a fixing bar;
- on the right – locking plate.
- Use end strips to connect elements.
- Additional fixation will be provided by stoppers.
- Make a couple of holes in advance for magnetic latches on the lock plate, mount them.
Lock installation
Choose a model to insert. Pen includes:
- push and turn elements;
- locking mechanism;
- counter plate;
- halyard tongue.
To mount the handles, use a drill or screwdriver with a funnel attachment to drill a hole in the blade.
- A small rectangular recess is made at the end.
- A mechanism is then inserted inside, which is fixed with self-tapping screws with plates.
- Then the handle is fixed.
It is frequently necessary to cut the axle and install a decorative rosette on top in order to fix it. To ensure that the lock is correctly installed in the prepared opening, this procedure can be completed independently.
Last to be installed is the strike plate. It is penetrated by the halyard tongue. The installation is clean. In the same manner, the plate is mounted on the canvas. Use a pen and chisel to deepen the necessary diameter. Every joint in the elements needs to be examined once more.
Although it may seem difficult, many homeowners can perform the task themselves with the right equipment and some guidance when changing an interior door in an apartment. This post will walk you through every step of the process, from taking out the old door to installing and finishing the new one, making sure you get a polished finish without hiring a costly contractor. Whether you’re replacing a broken door or changing the look of your house, we’ll show you how to do it quickly and correctly.
Question | Answer |
Is it difficult to change an interior door in an apartment? | Changing an interior door can be a manageable DIY project if you have basic tools and follow instructions carefully. |
How do you remove the old door? | First, remove the door from its hinges by unscrewing them, then carefully detach the door frame from the wall. |
How do you prepare the new door? | Measure the door frame and trim the new door to fit, if necessary. Also, mark and cut out spaces for hinges and door handle. |
How do you install the new door? | Attach the hinges to the new door, then screw the hinges into the door frame. Ensure the door swings smoothly and adjust as needed. |
What tools do you need? | You will need a screwdriver, hammer, chisel, measuring tape, and possibly a saw for adjustments. |
Any tips for success? | Take precise measurements, work carefully, and don’t rush. Having an extra set of hands can make the process easier. |
Although replacing an interior door in your apartment might initially seem difficult, it’s a doable do-it-yourself project with the right supplies and a little perseverance. It’s an easy way to give your house a new look that you can accomplish in a weekend.
First, take care to remove the old door and frame without damaging the nearby walls. To make sure the new door fits perfectly, take precise measurements of the doorway. This is an essential step to prevent needless adjustments in the future.
Make sure the new door is properly aligned when installing it. Verify that it is straight and hangs properly on the hinges by using a level. The door frame will operate more smoothly and last longer if it is secured firmly.
Incorporate the doorknob, lock, and any additional hardware as the final touches. A professionally installed door improves your home’s functionality as well as its appearance. You can replace an interior door with confidence and take pride in your work if you follow these steps.