Replacing Exterior Door Hinges

Follow these instructions to hang a solid core door with minimal effort and a higher degree of accuracy.

Replacing exterior door hinges.

The hinges are installed at the factory when the door is assembled. While replacing an interior door in an existing opening doesn t require many tools it does require patience and care. Place the door with the exterior side down across two sawhorses. Natedra banks senior merchant of exterior doors at home depot says it is possible to replace just the door slab but hinge positions and lock bore positions vary from one manufacturer to another.

Replacing exising hinges is one possibility and installing hinges on a replacement door slab is a different job. Leave the hinges on the door. Most home centers stock prehung exterior doors in a limited number of styles. Use a utility knife to score the outline.

A door that is hinged on the left side for instance swings to the left. Common jamb widths for stock doors are 4 9 16 in. And 6 9 16 in and they usually include two inch wide brick molding for exterior trim. Entry doors come in a variety of styles colors and finishes making it easy to find one that matches your home s design and your personal preference.

These doors work great for newly constructed walls and for replacing doors in. If your replacing your entry handleset or other door hardware it s a great time to replace your door hinges as well. With a sharp chisel and hammer cut the wood in the shape of the hinge. Leave the wall side knuckles attached to the door jamb.

Measure the hinges you are replacing. One of the most important doors for your home it boosts curb appeal and creates a first impression for visitors or anyone driving by. Next place your hinge on the door and trace around the hinge with a pencil. To install door hinges on a new door measure and mark where your hinges need to go on the door frame and on the door you re hanging.

Exterior door types the front door. Using both hands lift the door off the hinge knuckles. Most new doors are sold in a pre hung format. Entry sets with handles or knobs can typically be adapted to a right or left hand door swing but ones with levers are not so forgiving.

Measure your door hinges from side to side top to bottom with the leaves open. Use a cordless gun to unscrew the hinges from the jamb. Most door hinges are the same measurement in height as they are from side to side when open. Buying a new prehung exterior door.

To determine if your door has a right or left hand swing stand outside and note which side the hinges are attached to.