Prehung doors are not the right choice for every situation. While they have many benefits, some people don’t need them. Perhaps you have an excellent door frame and wouldn’t want to replace it. Or maybe you love the style of the frame and want to preserve its original construction. Whatever the case may be, a prehung door might be an unnecessary expense. If this is the case professionals like door installation Sacramento give different alternatives you should be good with.
One type of prehung door has hinges, which require a mortise cut. Mortise cuts allow for a door to fit into a frame flush. In most cases, this allows the door to be shut. Mortise cuts can be made with a router, chisel, or hammer. Thresholds bridge the gap between the floor and the bottom of a door, improving energy efficiency.
Another type of prehung door is a slab. Slabs are rectangular pieces of wood, fiberglass, or steel. It is a door without any frames, hinges, or hardware. A slab door costs less than a prehung one, but it does require more work than a prehung one. But the difference in price can be worth it. Slab doors are usually cheaper than prehung doors, so you may want to consider them if you’re in the market for a new door.
When buying a new door, you need to be sure that it fits your opening perfectly. It is best to measure the rough opening twice the width of the jamb. Make sure that the jamb is a good match for the thickness of the wall, because otherwise, the door will not fit. Once you’ve measured the doorway, you can place shims on the floor where the hinges are to be installed.
A prehung door is an all-in-one package, consisting of a slab door that is already connected to its frame. However, if you don’t have a door frame, you may want to look elsewhere. A prehung door includes the slab, hinges, threshold, weatherstripping, and a pre-cut hole for the handleset. It is the ideal option for interior doors that do not require much customization.
While you may be considering a prehung door for your new home, consider the weight. Most prehung interior doors weigh between 50 and 100 pounds. While the smallest prehung interior door is the hollow core slab, it is still heavy. They may require two strong people to lift them. You’ll also need the right tools to make sure the door fits securely in the wall. Even if you do decide to go with a prehung door, you should make sure you are confident that you can handle the job.