How To Hang A Door (Solid Core)

How to install a pre-hung solid core door frame.

[@rockstopsthetraffic]

Yes, Ben! I'm making a door with a window for the laundry room, and here you are with the installation guide so I don't mess it up.

[@fratelliremodel]

You’re right! It is surprisingly difficult to remember what you’re you’re going to say, while not messing up what you’re saying in the moment, while actually working and not messing up what you’re doing 😂. Super respect and appreciate how well you do it!

[@carpnotes4607]

Very helpful reminder on door installation fundamentals. Clearest explanation of trimming door leg I've ever seen - it really simplifies the out of level floor issue. Thanks for sharing best regards

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thank you!!!

[@billm.8220]

More details to look at than I expected, but that’s what is needed to do the job right the first time. Filming & explaining IS harder than just doing from memory & experience.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thank you. Yes it is much harder.

[@bw9980]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Ben! As an older skater myself I enjoy your skating videos, but as a husband/home owner I enjoy your carpentry videos. Keep on keeping on!

[@lokinakor1]

The thing about these prehung doors is: they all come with the hinges racked and twisted. You need some blocks of wood and hammer to beat it back into the proper position. When they are being assembled, they will drive one screw halfway in on the top hinge, then let the door go. While picking up other screws and hinge, the weight of the door tweaks that top hinge, bending it. This will make the door hang with a sag that is wrong enough to rub.

[@Wabit01]

I think these videos are great but one thing I’ve learned recently is how an experienced professional can make a difficult job look easy. I recently put up a wall partition with a door, did the whole job myself… from framing to plastering. I got it done, but boy was it an effort. I have so much respect for this guy and others that do this. What your actually watching here is a skilled pilot or a surgeon - It’s a skill that cannot be underestimated.

[@cozier89]

Impeccable timing. Going to be installing a new door on our nursery tomorrow! As always, great video!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks :)

[@evangrace192]

Simple, quick and straight to the point. Good video.. I install doors nearly every day and this is one of the best door install videos I've seen.

[@mitchmcqueen8425]

Your videos are a godsend. For what it's worth, you can still buy a house for what it costs for a condo down there elsewhere in the province. You'd have a market in the Okanagan for sure!

[@fgalaxie123]

Best door video I have seen, and I am done looking at them now, ready to try it. Thank you! I always appreciate your clear explanations. My drywall skills have improved drastically thanks to you, I am ready to get the finish carpentry to follow suit.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thanks!

[@nathanhearn2069]

I’m so glad there are people in this world who are good at and are willing to install doors. I’m a remodeler and I’ve never met a door install that I liked. You make it look easy though. Thanks for all you do brother 👊🏼

[@MV-wb2cz]

This method works only when the framing is perfect. On older homes, a lot of the time the framing isn't perfect and can be 1/8" to even 1/4" out of plumb in each direction, and even sometimes the stud is turned in plan where you have to shim all sides. Good job on the door hanging :)

[@luisbernardez4853]

Good work as always my friend. I been following you for a while now ,and you never disappoint.keep up the good work.

[@stevedimartino683]

Great job I’m going to use your technique to put my door up, thank you.

[@dwlsml4118]

You are fun to watch. Have watced for years and learned a lot. Thanks!

[@fratelliremodel]

Always great education! Thank you!

[@myrrhavm]

Straight framing is the base. Found a guy years ago on the KZbin on adjusting hinges. He would either pinch or span the hinge more. Could use pliers and a rag not to damage the hinger to pull the door toward the hinge side or with door open and from the inside place a nail or screw drive in the hinge and close the door that will make for a larger gap in the hinge pushing the door to the knob side. Not sure if I conveyed or explained that plainly or not.

[@tay13666]

Pretty sure Ben did a video like that.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

I don’t think I’ve ever done a messing with hinges video yet. I don’t mess with the hinges if I can avoid it. I feel like it makes the hinges more prone to squeaking.

[@TeeJayyzx]

Don't even need to install a solid core door but just wanted to see what my favorite skate youtuber was up to.

[@underscr0e]

I made the mistake of grabbing a pre hung door from home depot that had a twisted and warped frame! A good start is having a prehung door setup that is not warped!

[@WorkThrowaway]

I just hung a door on an interior frame that I built. The house is old and the walls are not level at all. It was a real challenge getting it hung. Needless to say it's not perfect, but at least it opens and closes!

[@jayroberson2288]

What it was was you needed to move the whole upper part pf the door over with shims to get the bottom reveal, plus its good to have a little space between framing and jamb. Depending on what time of year your hanging the door is how you set the strike side reveal. Bigger in summer smaller in winter. Door shrinks in summer and grows in winter. If you set that reveal in the summer time, come winter it'll rub. Good job talking thru it and I'm not trying to knock anything, I've hung thousands of doors and believe me I could say a whole lot more about the subject but I'm not a great writer. Peace

[@normandfontaine5508]

Hi Vancouver carpenter, tank’s for video. To increase the the gap at bottom hinge side instead of putting a chim behind the hinge put a shim above the hinge behing the jam and the wall. It will only works if you have pin the bottom of the jam. See Gary Katz video name installing pre-hung doors at 34min 50 secondes. It is the weight of the door that close the gap. I suggest to watch the video to the begin until the end. Sorry my english is not very good. Tank’s for your videos, I have learn with it how to tape dry wall.

[@phillyfathead]

Excellent video, thanks

[@Jeremy-pf3bb]

Good timing. Doing it this weekend

[@user-hq3cg3ir1e]

I like your job. I'm from Brazil.

[@bradleydavidgood]

Great job. Please do another one for a replacement door with removal of trim and door install with more uneven problems and trim install after. Thanls!

[@Timbo428CJ]

It's definitely not for the faint of heart! Nice job !

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Thank you!

[@stopdropanddrumroll]

Thanks Ben!

[@Quadrille763]

Great tips

[@jayjudd6518]

Great help. 😊😊😊😊

[@Whiteboytripping]

I’m open to this advice. 😎

[@johnyork6174]

Had to watch, i love your vids so i always watch, but i am a expert in hanging doors

[@justbroome]

Wait, so I can't hang a solid core door with taping mud OR hot mud? I'm so confused, is this the right channel? 😅 Good to see you stretching your carpentry legs and hoping the vid does well enough to convince the algo to reward you (and you therefore get to continue making more).

[@vancouvercarpenter]

It’s not doing well yet😂. But I didn’t expect it to. Not in the short term. I’m going to be doing way more stuff that isn’t drywall. I feel like I’m flogging a dead horse when I film drywall videos now.

[@ATrainGames]

You use the term "small" in relation to a couple of measurements... What do you mean exactly when saying that? (I install window treatments for a living and I'm not familiar with that terminology. Then again we always round down to the nearest 1/8"). Thanks for taking the time to make this and sharing!

[@misodinamosa]

Thank you!

[@jackdawg4579]

What about mounting a door into an existing framed up doorway?

[@chrisburns5691]

will have to chisel/ router out for hinges and drill out for handle. Possibly cut/plane to fit.

[@dustinkrebs8229]

Let's go big BEN!👏👏👏👏👏

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

When the bottom hinge jamb is pinched, you should take a pry bar above the hinge and push it out, youll see it opens the gap and then you can shim it properly.

[@dhammer5645]

The way I learned to tell which hand a door is to put your but against the hinge side and does it swing the left or the right.

[@killabeez2562]

I would probably not use tucktape to do ramboard, it has a tendency to leave a residue. You can just use blue painters tape scotch brand 2-3in To save a bit of money you could even use the green tape to secure the seams only paper to paper.

[@sheenaanderson4196]

I think your videos are great! Very helpful, I noticed you shop at HD though. Not judging, I have worked for Lowe's for 15 years. Any reason you don't shop Lowe's?

[@stevebeaulieu2617]

Good job ! When you screew your 3'' screews do you go into the shims to ? Thanks.

[@user-rs1uy8vb2j]

I would love to see you install one in a knarley opening. Real world problems. Unfortunately I've haven't seen one that straight on the hinge side. Thanks!!!

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Watch all my old door hanging videos. I have lots. Just search “Vancouver carpenter door” and they will likely come up.

[@peep39]

Nothing makes me happier than Ben using inches

[@LexiTDanh]

Can you do a video on how to make an old door new? My bf’s home’s door is I think the original from 1949. Wood is chipping off, and it was painted over many times by previous owners.

[@chorgzent.3978]

Next step.... just call Ben so he could do it!

[@verdon3696]

I can't believe it wasn't a drywall video

[@bradleydavidgood]

What countersinks did you use? Brand?

[@ssl3546]

Wow that sure goes in easy if you never take it apart first. I had tried taking the door and hinges off to spray the slab and jamb separately but then the paint cracked at the top of the frame and it was a huge pain to wrestle with. When is the best time to paint?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

After everything is installed

[@zephyr1408]

You got the gap on the hinge side because you sunk that 3” screw to far and the jam bowed! U can see it on camera! Doing doors with the wrong levels, wrong counter sink, and cutting your jam legs with a circ saw is just exactly how a painter, drywaller, door hanger, would do it! Not saying your out of line but ppl will not pay me to hang doors at 350 a door ( solid core) when they can talk you into it and who cares if it has a few minor issues? Stabila makes a great extendable 42” level that sits flat and it’s not expensive, plus an inexpensive 6’ one! I would hv turned around and got my tools ! But I think it’s your trade mark? I don’t remember any of your videos where you had all the right tools? You did a good job and as a contractor I would keep you in a lane and let you perfect it!

[@chrisburns5691]

out of curiosity, what would you use to cut the jamb leg? I've always used a circ saw, and seen others on site do the same.

[@zephyr1408]

@@chrisburns5691 well I used to and found it seems I am not steady enough to get each one exact ? About 1 out of 3 i miss a tad & hv to take some more? So I bought a track saw (which I use on tons of other stuff) set it right next to where I work on a horse with a short track 36” I believe and I can take right down to a 32nd. It pays for its self if you do this for a living ; which I do finish carpentry , including built-ins & it’s great for breaking down whole sheets instead of a Cir Saw. I guess more than anything us carpenters just screw our selfs when let cheap builders hv us do drywall and framing, plus finish carpentry!

[@TLOYA1]

Please please can you do a tutorial of installing bullnose on a door with no casing and the process of installing the door afterwards?

[@Ultegra10SPD]

What do you do when the casing doesn’t lineup flush on both sides with thickness of the wall (in terms of when you want to trim)? For instance, in the garage that might not have had drywall before but now it’s been added versus the entrance door to the garage from the house. I could even apply the same question to a window in the garage that is now surrounded by drywall. I used five eights so the casing is recessed just like the door versus the drywall. Thx -U10

[@mickenzie5863]

Add square (rectangle, 90 degree) stock to the door frame so that it becomes flush with the finished wall. Basically just widen the frame. If you do a good enough job it wont be noticeable after sanding and painting.

[@sgwsteve1665]

Wait, you do other work besides drywall???

[@johnmolnar2957]

only thing I would do is add a long screw thru the top 2 hinges into the framing

[@jeffdavis9738]

I approve this video😂

[@NAXHEreshkigal]

Hello, I'm folliwing you since 2021, I was in Vancouver on 2018, and I would like to talk to you, I don't know if you could answer me, but I'm planning to move to Vancouver again, now for settle there. I don't know if I could work with you learning more, I will try to get my residence there, but I need to learn about this job working there, I won't move from Vancouver for long time, I am from México, I like this kind of works.

[@dhammer5645]

Those are some thick jambs you guys have in Vancouver, or is this a fire door as well?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

No. It’s the standard

[@conradcoolerfiend]

summary: get the top jamb level, then the hinge side plumb, then work on the latch side reveal.

[@MooseDoesStuff]

at 10:50 , was that bottom hinge cut in too deep? I'd think that if they were cut properly it would hold it at the proper spacing, even if the jam did kick in at the very bottom?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Maybe…sometimes it’s easier to figure out how to fix it than it is to figure out why you need to fix it.

[@TapelessDrywallFinishing]

👍👍

[@martyboywex]

Wahey, carpentry❤

[@dspears666]

So what do you do with the screws? Fill over the big heads with putty? Wouldn’t brads be cleaner?

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Brad nails don’t hold up over time. Especially on a solid core door. Slam that thing a couple times and there will be a lot of movement.

[@chrisburns5691]

many carpenters/installers will nail jambs with a 15g finish nailer (not a brad nailer) then install a long screw behind each hinge. Some will replace a short screw in hinge with longer screw, but problem with this is if painters take hinge off sometime in the future, it can put the door out of whack. Can also put a longer screw behind latch plate. 15 g holes are easier to fill. But screws work too, can just use filler/bondo, or use plugs.

[@dspears666]

@@chrisburns5691 Ya, that’s what I meant. Finish nailer.

[@mikev.1034]

👍🤘🤙

[@jerryleejohnsonjr1377]

I need some drywall work done in the detroit area, do you know anyone in my area? it is a pretty large kitchen remodel.

[@suspicionofdeceit]

This guy is in BC Canada buddy.

[@mattfitzgerald3438]

Man I wish you had installed the doors I just had done this summer. The guy I hired screwed up both pretty badly. I was able to fix one. But the other is still very messed up

[@vancouvercarpenter]

Sorry to hear about the doors.

[@soundman6645]

Here is a seasonal question. Iceing the christmass cake ........ knife or trowel

[@hardnaaklife]

I thought this was a drywall channel 😂

[@AlainStar]

🙏👏👍💪

[@jefflemay66]

Need to treat yourself to a FESTOOL HKC 😁😁😁

[@RJFerret]

I'm so confused, what are all those tools, where's the mud? *baffled

[@drott150]

Just call them shimges. We get it. lol

[@Mindcore777]

I've made that swing mistake before :)

[@HelicopterBill]

As I say in IT, “I can’t talk and geek at the same time.”

[@georgehiggins336]

Lazer

[@shepherdfree]

This was the weirdest drywall video I’ve ever watched

[@garethjolister]

Thanks.

[@tristanmartinez2667]

🫡

[@mikelight2965]

Dude never shim a hinge out! You bend the riders on the hinge otherwise the hinge sits proud of the cutout.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

It was not noticeably proud. Probably why it was binding in the first place. I know you can bend hinges but I wasn’t up for it for this video.

[@tristanmartinez2667]

Because manufacture has never been known to foul up the depth of the hinge dap 🤔 not like they run their tooling out of spec to meet deadlines or wait for budget replenishment. Shit happens bro 😂

[@mikelight2965]

@@tristanmartinez2667 depends on how much you spend the pro door manufacturer for commercial in my area nails it within ridiculous tolerance but an 8 foot veneer red cherry will cost ya 2k for your fancy office lmao

[@DieselPowerLifter]

I came here for crack filling tips??

[@weekendwarrior3420]

If you don't have a 6' level or a straight edge you have no business installing a door. You'll need it anyway when you do flooring. But sometimes a laser level can be substituted.

[@vancouvercarpenter]

No business installing a door? I literally just installed one without one. That is such a “can’t do” attitude.

[@weekendwarrior3420]

ONLY because that side happened to be plumb and straight. The title should be "how I forgot my level and got lucky" 🙂Anyone should own a 6' level anyway, it's such a waste of time to live without one. It's not like your video is helping poor people who can't buy a level, to install a door @@vancouvercarpenter

[@Jcooper96]

A carpentry video?!? What’s wrong.

[@AMMAZZARE]

Y’all should see this guy skate.