Door Install Trick - DON'T SCREW THROUGH THE HINGE!!!

[@brucegregory9900]

I’ve been doing that for 30 years. It truly works well!

[@MarkWilliams-yh4zz]

I've been a carpenter for a long time and I appreciate watching your videos. You never cease to show me something new or a different way of completing a task....you're a great carpenter..

[@mjac8373]

That's a new one on me, retired capenter age 73 hung hundreds of doors, many from scratch not pre-hungs. This is a good idea, I like it.

[@SavedByJesus-pi3yu]

I’m just a 40 yr old mom cruising KZbin for home repair advise but I just wanted to comment on your post and say it’s refreshing to see another professional who actually has something positive to say to another professional. The comment section of these kind of videos are full of no it all “pros” (or so they say) who criticize the person who made the video and want to give their credentials and explain how they do it better, smarter or faster and they don’t say it in a helpful way but in a demeaning and rude way meanwhile I don’t see any of those people making any videos trying to help others. For example, the first couple comments in this video is people criticizing how he didn’t do a pilot hole or split the wood and mocking him for the bags he has. It’s so unnecessary. Wish there were more people like you on the internet.

[@mjac8373]

@@SavedByJesus-pi3yu You hit the nail on the head. I'm usually disappointed reading comments but now and then there are others who acknnowledge a good idea or time saving "hack" not seen before. All the best to you.,.,

[@Dan_Ohhh]

Excellent tip, I never knew this. You should make a video sharing the tip of installing screws behind the weather seal for storm doors. I’m almost always working on exterior doors and do this every time, even on low income housing. The people appreciate the quality work because nobody else ever seems to get it done right. Glad to see the pride you take in your work! 💪🏻

[@normanjacques4092]

Thats a great idea. I've been doing it thru the hinge for 33yrs. Painter has screwed it up in the past. Thanks

[@joescheller6680]

no the door installer screwed it up

[@vinceferraccioli4661]

Predrill the hole first. Because you just split the jam

[@jefferydec6257]

​ 0

[@Quickened1]

@@jefferydec6257 i think someone is off their meds!

[@PartTimeYooper]

Bingo

[@ralph5450]

@@Quickened1 Or on too many.

[@deaconjr5473]

First clue should be the framer tool bags... they can never fully adjust to fine woodworking inside

[@jeffhaman9010]

As a painter, when I remove the hinges, I label every single plate so that it goes back up in the same spot, and I also label every hole that has a long screw in it. But yet, I can see a lot of painters not doing this.

[@Beauvincelli]

Man you should have kept going. You could have slipped in their “I labeled where your wife keeps my long screw”😂😂😂

[@liverpoolliverpool6688]

Must a take you 2hrs to paint and reinstall one door😅😅😂😂😂 hope you remember to paint the top and bottom of the door😢

[@johnspence567]

To hell with the haters, I'd hire you again to do another paint job. I get so sick of doing some renovations when I have to deal with stuff from crap painters and electricians because they were too lazy.

[@Shankscy]

Bro said 2 hours 😂 take off all doors that need painting and label them as you go depending how big the house is it should take 20 mins

[@TCHrulez]

yeah but did you use a level or check the reveals or just sink the screws and move on

[@claudemaddox6029]

Good point about the painters. But on a heavy door, I would do both, as a screw through the hinge is stronger.

[@charlesp9493]

Great install takes pride in his work. Keep up the good work!

[@apyorick]

As a painter, I don't lose screws, but I already know I'm an anomaly. This is definitely the way to go.

[@markcollins457]

Good point with the hinge screw, the walk through punch list is always my last eyeball on the job nothing better than a nice crisp paint line😊

[@nannesoar]

Wooo gonna be showing up to my first job today, stuff like this has me so excited

[@garonjohnson5922]

Hey man it's been a year. Are you still at this same job?

[@taylorlewis7972]

I love this tip! Simple extra step to ensure long lasting quality. Thank you

[@funkmanone]

This is just a great idea all around and I will be doing this from now on.

[@ChannelOne-1]

Great idea. I thought I heard it all, but this is simply genius

[@kennethschilling3029]

I've been hanging doors for years and this is a good trick

[@cslloyd1]

Maybe do both, but i like a long screw through the hinge because the door frame really isn’t beefy enough to hold a heavier door

[@jimbendtsen8841]

Yes. Thank you.

[@nowonmetube]

Also what a bs claim. Why couldn't you use long screws, even when you put a screw behind the hinge?! You still could!

[@Josh.1234]

Exactly. If you dont put a long screw through the hinge, you are still relying on those short screws to hold the hinge to the door jamb.

[@GENECARP]

@@nowonmetube Hinge serves as a washer distributing weight more effectively

[@nowonmetube]

@@GENECARP that's the point I guess?

[@NextLevelCraftworks]

I also like to pre-drill with a counter sink bit, that way the screw is not gonna make the hinge all wacky.

[@lancecharles4623]

Not necessary

[@barrelmitt1544]

​@@lancecharles4623 👍. The C-sink of the hole is not functional and does not add value. Whereas pre-deill is usually required by the MFG instructions. And, if you are doing hardwood, it is mandatory just from the the skill of the craft. You split em' you own em'. The homeowner or the GC has standing to ask for their removal and replacement. It is your dime. It's kind of like what the tobacco executive said back in the early 80's about those who smoke. Something along the lines of; you don't listen you can't read you just don't care or you're lazy. The head of the screw rests in the steel of the hinge and not the wood. Technically if you did a tolerance stack up of the max and min Eng dims, MB a 1/32" - 1/16" of the C-sink might engage the wood.

[@coreyhamilton6485]

I’m more impressed with that bit attachment to the drill

[@19dperez84]

Thanks for all the tips Spencer! 👍🏼👍🏼🔥🔥

[@dustinmarquand5301]

I do both. Top and bottom hinges. Painters are usually pretty good at putting screws back where they go...

[@r3alfish]

Such a simple yet good idea

[@younglee4666]

Keep saving for myself. Thanks for the pro tips!

[@zephyr1408]

One of thee best Finish Carpenters in the business bar none!

[@DB-GGWW]

Spencer is the best. So efficient, so productive, so clear and no bs, no time wasting.

[@_JohnRedcorn_]

It also helps if your house isn’t on 60’ of clay and shifts back and forth all year

[@brianmw8559]

Exactly, like the extremely shitey soil in Texas.

[@OffGridInvestor]

You need trench type foundations instead of individual stumps or a floating slab. It's a major issue in my area

[@ebisu8824]

"fourth" 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@_JohnRedcorn_]

@@ebisu8824 thanks

[@MissEAG]

Or in Mexico City where we have earthquakes on the regular

[@pfsmith007]

I just learned something. Liked and subscribed.

[@NoIwont]

Hung hundreds of prehung doors in my life...I used screws to temporarily hold my hinge side jamb stable while I finished set the entire door jambs with hand driven 16d galvanized casing nails...wether the door was an exterior or interior door, they never moved when installed with hand driven casing nails.

[@stevepotter654]

Totally agree 💯!! Pro speaking 🗣️.. Makers.. We need them

[@7628739]

A master carpenters advice

[@jayonez137]

Agreed. Also paint behind the hinges on the jamb and the door. And also the bottom if you cut it down. This prevents moisture from entering and keeps everything consistent summer through winter.

[@ElegantFinishes]

Prime 1-2 coats max behind hinges, I’ve had coats of finish throw off precision alignment

[@michaelhawkins7835]

Years ago I got in trouble after installing like 100 doors at apartment complex. I primed and painted doors. Including hinge and strike side. However we didn't paint top or bottom edge. Turns out that voids the warranty. I was forced to go back and remove all doors to properly paint them. Pain in the butt but lesson learned.

[@InsiderCarpentry]

They make it a part of the warranty because they know its such a paint that no one does it, and thus they never have to warranty anything.

[@5280ryan]

That’s the voice of experience right there. 3 weeks ago I was at a house fixing doors the painters put back up wrong. Lol. Nice work Spencer as always.

[@rasandberg]

I appreciate the attempt to advise us. I am not a carpenter or an experienced home repair person. But what do you mean put a screw behind the hinge? How will it hold the hinge when it's behind the hinge. Btw, I asked this with all due respect.

[@chadhouse1375]

I apply every bit of knowledge that you share. Your a brilliant young man.

[@linsteadpeck9288]

I add the long screws after the painters done with the doors and I’m reinstalling them, then I can tweak the door just before occupancy.

[@reagomyeggo]

I’ve only been doing this for 5 years, but I’ve never heard of that!! Great idea

[@RobertMoore-yy3nw]

I will do this next time.. 65 an still learning. 👍

[@divine1ful]

The painter could always remove pins from the hinges to remove the doors. If I am going to enamel the doors and trimwork, I don't want the thickness of the enamel to throw off how the hinges fit if I take the doors off via the hinges. Its an extra step of prep work leaving the hinges on the jambs and doors, but you never have to worry about the doors fitting right when they're put back on the jambs. Doors are finicky sometimes...

[@bigpjohnson]

I hung my own doors, trim, and did all the painting with doors and hinges removed. I learned real quick to remove the paint under the hinges otherwise doors would rub or not close once reinstalled.

[@Scorp497]

​@@bigpjohnsonPro Tip: Don't paint under the hinges

[@Scorp497]

The screw technique is much simpler

[@thetruthspeaker1978]

​@@Scorp497 I do for a uniform look. My trick is to check the reveal first to make sure it's not to tight then make sure the edges are clean and put only a very thin coat. A good painter is a carpenter too💯👍

[@jimbendtsen8841]

Yes. Thank you.

[@Nagantfan762]

I have been doing this for a while, my grandpa used to put a 16D nail behind the hinges before cordless screw guns.

[@garonjohnson5922]

I think that's probably still the way to go. It's not gonna be moving after hammering one or a couple of those Bad Larry's in.

[@Nagantfan762]

I can’t even remember the last time I drove a 16D by hand 😂 I guess we are spoiled with all the cordless power tools and nail guns. I remember being a little kid and watching my grandfather hang doors with a hammer, hand plane, nail set, and a Disston cross cut saw.

[@grandpa9607]

Learn something new every day.

[@stanRmeyer]

Oh that is such an excellent idea i've never thought about that

[@allaboutgreen1]

Awesome video and tip! What is the attachment on your drill to hold the bits?

[@shanek62]

Excellent advice

[@eagleeye9549]

Good idea for residential work!

[@vincejo7953]

Damn! This changes everything

[@michaelgnafakis430]

Interesting. Going to put this in my memory until I do my next doors

[@johnmurphy9688]

Great advice. Thanks for all you do ,buddy. 👍🇮🇪🇺🇸

[@timothyknight9043]

I even foam the door jamb. Does two things. Keeps the shims in place and makes the door solid.

[@andrewparis1398]

What do you mean by foaming the door jamb? I have an idea, but what’s your trick? I am always looking to improve

[@doug8237]

@@andrewparis1398spray foam behind Jambs before installing door casing.

[@davidd5712]

I love when people give this kind of advice. Lol

[@e-taysbeats5279]

Awesome tip 🎉

[@josephtoman-xr2qu]

Awesome Idea 👍👍

[@kennethspencer2371]

As a painter I am perfect! Thanks 😂

[@MrDorf007]

Great trick...thanks !

[@robsierra516]

Thanks for sharing. Great tip

[@cgschow1971]

In our area, the finish carpenters rehang the doors during the Bump Out. During this time, they also base the hard surface floors, install door hardware, closet rods, and bath accessories. The painter touches up the base and any other scars and imperfections as tbe last trade on the job.

[@marcmescher2335]

The other benefit is the length of a screw that is too large to go through the hinge will hold better. This is especially true if you’re using Jack studs to hold a header over the door. The screw will go through the Jack stud and into the king stud. But pre-drill the jam, Jack and king stud before driving that 3 inch screw. It might seem like a lot of work, but that door will hang perfect forever.

[@garonjohnson5922]

Why not hammer in a 16D nail?

[@fakawat7220]

good point but i do both especially if its a heavy door. the long screw throgh the hinge is for beefing up your door security and some holding power for your door....

[@quantumtechcrypto7080]

Be Use a long screw in the hinge AND the strike plates to help reinforce into the solid wall framing. Also helps on the door side too especially if stripped out.

[@bobos245]

We get crap pre-hungs up here in the Midwest. I always screw off hinge side and striker side, otherwise they swell with the humid weather, and don't close anymore. Doesn't help when the hinges that come with the pre-hungs aren't strong enough for the solid core doors so the knuckles open up over time.

[@Mike1614b]

Painters rarely- if ever- remove hinge screws. They remove the hinge pins. then take the door down to spray paint it in the garage.

[@blamuk]

So they prefer to mask both the hinge plates on the door and on the frame?

[@Mike1614b]

@@blamuk yes, and the reason why is- if you get paint behind the hinge plates, the alignment of the hinges changes and the doors may not close properly anymore- a huge problem that's difficult to solve. It's best to not mess with them at all. I learned this by making all of these mistakes- over 35 years.

[@tristanallen2448]

This is a false statement, unless you're a hack painter!! What about the jam?? Mask it!?

[@KingKing-bo5yf]

I was a professional painter for almost a year. If it is a new house with new unpainted doors. We will remove the hinges completely. Once painted, we put the hinges back on. This is how we do it in New Zealand.

[@chadsnyder301]

Well as A Painter I can call bullshit on this comment.What you just described is Hack work. We Label and remove Hinges, Tape mask the hinge cut out, Paint and re-install. You need to work with better Painters Guy.

[@Worldwidegiantgrowers]

As a painter of 45 years, I never remove hinges to paint a door I can paint around a hinge with a quality brush

[@TheManic.5-OH]

Good information 🙏🏻

[@clivemartin8852]

That's a great idea!!

[@jessehickman668]

I accidentally figured this trick out trying to get my weather beaten front door to stop sagging. I put 2 - 3.5” screws behind each hinge and it took all the sponginess out of the door. Great trick!!

[@gleff3345]

Glad to see I'm not the only one regularly coping with a "spongy" door. Now placing hinges further in frame.

[@nobodyspecial6436]

I remove the stop strip and put 3 or 4 woodscrews in each jamb then put the stop strips back and always have nice solid doors

[@jeffstandish5226]

Not if they’re rabbeted jambs.

[@jeremyolson4280]

EXCELLENT advice!! Thanks

[@thomasflynn8712]

That’s a great tip thanks

[@scottdurick6216]

What? How is a screw BEHIND the hinge (as in this video) going to prevent ANYBODY from removing said hinge???? What am I missing?

[@slatsgrobneck7515]

The screw behind the hinge is to anchor the door frame!

[@sparkoceanic]

Oh he's talking about anchoring the door frame to the building, nothing to do with the door itself. The margin around the door frame was a confusing opening to the video.

[@ubroc]

Good idea terrible explanation

[@mwilliamson3989]

I was totally missing the point also and so confused

[@snarecat3441]

The long screw has little to do with the hinge. It’s holding the door jamb in a position where the door operates properly with proper clearances . The carpenter does this. If the carpenter puts that “ control screw” through the hinge, the door gets messed up by the painter ( the next logical person to remove that hinge for painting) . Thats why he says to simply place the “ control screw” on under the hinge leaf… no one will ever mess with it unintentionally..

[@Nite20fly]

thanks you very much ideas ❤

[@ralph5450]

Thank you for the higher education institute of Screw U. 🤣👍

[@mauriciorodriguez3974]

Great tip! 🙏🙏🙏

[@sumguyonabike8776]

As a carpenter from UK I use 10 screws on each side of liner 😂 but we don't use pre finished and hung rubbish.

[@jwlafferty]

The algorithm is literally reading my thoughts now.

[@jacklarson6281]

I just drive in a 60d nail. works every time

[@vanorsdelry]

Thank you for this

[@PartTimeYooper]

That's a great idea....now you split the wood behind the hinge and can hide it for the painters. You also shot a nail right next to the hinge...

[@chrisr5090]

On doors that are being painted, I pull off the center trim piece, and them put in screws . It keeps it from getting pulled one way. Then just tack the strip back on and done!

[@Pilgrimm21]

Damn! That is still one terrific idea!

[@itaintrocketscience]

As an electrician, I wire my doors a lot differently than you do. I didn’t even see your bonding strap.

[@tracykooken2606]

😂😅😊

[@richardmccann4815]

Use electrically conductive black paint, and neon sign transformers. Wired for life!

[@fev3rd]

Lol

[@SchwartzMonster]

I almost spit my drink out

[@TheChuckools]

Other door installer using shims on interior doors. Crazy as hell.

[@scottmcbrearty6831]

If the screw behind the hinge wasn’t in place like he’s shown in this video the screw on the hinges being took out by the painter to start his painting. He would then screw them back in once he’s finished and maybe over tighten or not enough drive and it’ll tweak the door frame either way resulting in losing your consistent desired margin throughout. The reason for this screw in behind hinge it makes sense once it’s in the door frame aint budging and no reason for the painter to remove it. Yes I get it decent TIP👍

[@adrianadios5041]

Im a painter and always put screws back, sometimes even reincforce with better screws. But i can fit doors too.

[@christiancruz777]

This helped me a lot

[@semajwelton6159]

I don't do much new construction but here in Florida you have to put 2 long screws in each hinge on exterior doors.

[@kookyabird]

Yeah there are two different reasons to use long screws. One is to keep the frame secured to the wall independent of the hinges. The ones through the hinge are to secure the door itself to the wall to increase physical security. That's why people have been saying to put long screws through the hinges.

[@benharrison5816]

I replaced all my interior doors and did it this way, I used 3" screws behind all the hinges actually, and used a countersink bit so the screws don't interfere with the hinges sitting flat. I think maybe I put in a few of the screws too tight, such that the jamb ended up a bit "wavy" I guess on the hinge side. Not really visible to the naked eye, but a couple doors have a crack sound when opened. I think I have to go back, and back-out the screws a bit, and check the hinge side of the jambs with a long level to make sure they're perfectly flat. Just something to watch out for.

[@SprouseyTheHandyMan]

Good advice

[@derekgrether1745]

We never give the painter the opportunity to "screw" the door up. As soon as we install the door we take it off the hinges, label the doors behind the hinges, cover the number or letter with a piece of tape and stack the doors upright somewhere out of the way, (in a way that they won't warp, obviously). When the painters have finished we come back and hang all the doors back on the hinges, trimming any doors that rub on flooring, fill any screw holes that may have stripped out and finish with a matching 2 1/2" screw in the top hinge. Then proceed to install door hardware making sure it operates properly. Keep power tools out of painters hands as much as possible!

[@DougMoore-es6zg]

Use GRK trim head deck screws. You and even use them to adjust the reveal in latch side. If you get stuck installing the big box store’s prehung doors,you will understand why that is so cool

[@joelewis9433]

That's great intill you have to adjust your door them you have to take hinge off and adjust your door ?

[@timothyconnecticut1910]

Great proactive step . But many sloppy painters would just paint over hinges.

[@first--class]

when i seen the thumbnail i thought he was putting a trip mine on the door frame 😂🎉 hold tight all the gamers ❤

[@aaronoconnor606]

This is a good tip

[@mikeanderson6422]

About time someone on the net gives solid advice but quit giving away our secrets though !

[@danieldastous6763]

Great tip

[@jeosua]

That's a great tip. Thanks

[@tektonwooddesign3390]

Great idea!!

[@60davesussurplus]

But it loses security against forced entry . I would suggest having a long screw through the hinge as well.

[@PoisonJarl71501]

It’s an interior door…they can just punch through the drywall

[@OffGridInvestor]

Forced entry is an OUTER DOOR concern. You know these internal doors are just 1/8" ply OR THINNER, sometimes masonite and honeycomb cardboard. Your FIST will go thru them. I put one as an outer door on an outside toilet and learnt about THAT the hard way. Rain destroyed it quite quickly and it doesn't PROPERLY freeze in my area

[@carbb5760]

I like to put screws behind the doorstop personally. This method is also good though

[@bsmith2120]

Great point!

[@bdog0720]

Do both. The short screws that come in the hinge pack aren’t enough to grab the jamb. Especially large paint grade wood like poplar, alder, and pine. Big heavy 8’ doors made of particle board or MDF core will need longer screws on all 4 hinges. You want the screws to grab the studs.

[@robertnorth1462]

Have you tried hanging clips, and if so what do you think of them?

[@InsiderCarpentry]

I've never tried them.

[@pibblesnbits]

I taught myself this trick after a ton of trial and error. Gosh I hate working on doors.