Building a frame for french doors is harder than it sounds. The process can get confusing and frustrating for anyone who is inexperienced with this kind of project. We’ll walk you through the process step-by-step to help ensure you have a better experience than we did using the same tools and building the same door.
Imagine a blog post that not only makes you feel knowledgeable and excited, but takes you step by step through the process of building and installing your verY framing a door in an existing opening, how to frame a door in a passageway, how to build a door jamb this old house own frame for french doors.
how to build a frame for french doors
Step 1: Cut the top and bottom plates. The top plate is parallel to the floor, and the bottom plate is parallel to the ceiling. You may need to notch out any obstructions such as joists or beams. To make sure your cuts are level, mark the cut lines on either side of the obstruction and then use a bevel gauge or speed square to draw lines that intersect at 90 degrees. Saw along these marks, then chisel away any excess wood until you’re left with two straight edges that are parallel to each other.
Step 2: Install the door header. This is a piece of lumber that spans between two adjacent walls and supports the weight of the roof above the doorway. In most cases, it’s installed directly above the jamb (the part of the door frame that runs vertically between jambs). Use 16d nails or screws to secure it in place (photo 1). Make sure there’s at least 1/2 in. space between it and any other framing members running parallel with it (for example, if there’s another beam running parallel with it on
Framing a door in an existing opening
If you’re replacing an old door, you may be able to reuse the existing door jamb. But if the opening is too small, you’ll need to frame it out. If the opening is too large, consider adding a header above the top rail of the jamb to make it more attractive and secure.
This article will show you how to frame a door in an existing opening using either a new or salvaged door jamb. It’s best to use pressure-treated lumber for any framing that will be exposed on both sides because it’s naturally resistant to rot and insect damage. You can also use treated pine if you’re only installing one side of the opening with siding or other cladding that will cover your wall framing.
Step 1: Measure and mark the height of your new jamb
Use two measurements when measuring for your new jamb: The height should be equal to the distance from the top of your rough opening to its bottom edge plus 1/4 inch for overhang at each end. (The overhang allows for seasonal expansion.) The width should be equal to the distance from each side of your rough opening plus 3/4 inch on each side for nailing surfaces at each end (or
Door framing is the process of constructing the frame around a door. The framing is made up of two vertical pieces called stiles and one horizontal piece called a rail. Typically, these three pieces are made from 2-by-4 boards (2 inches by 4 inches). The top and bottom rails serve as the outside edge of the door, while the stiles form the sides of the door opening.
If you’re replacing an existing door, you can use your old frame as a guide for building your new one. Use a hammer and chisel to remove enough material from each side of your old jambs to create clearance for your new door jamb. Then, measure the width of your new door jamb and cut 2-by-4 boards to fit between them. Check with local building codes before proceeding; some jurisdictions require that exterior doors be wider than interior ones.
1. Measure the opening for the door, and cut two 2x4s to that length. Place one on edge on the floor, then place the other 2×4 on edge perpendicular to the first. Check that they are level with a 4-foot level. Drive nails through each board into the plywood subfloor beneath it. The 2x4s will form part of the cripple wall around the opening, so make sure they’re long enough to span at least 6 inches beyond each side of your opening.
2. Place another 2×4 flat on top of these two boards, flush with their ends against them (Photo 1). This will be the header above your door opening; it should extend at least 3 inches past each side of the opening (Photo 2). Nail it into place using 16d framing nails driven every 12 inches along its length (Photo 3). Add more nails if necessary to achieve full penetration into both sides of each board (Photo 4).
3. Cut a third 2×4 that’s long enough to span across all three boards at once (Photo 5), then nail this “riser” between
How to Frame a Door Opening
Measure the distance between the door frame and the studs on either side. Cut two pieces of 2×4 lumber to this length and nail them to the studs to create a header for the door frame.
Hold up the piece of plywood that will serve as your new door jamb. Trace around it with a pencil, or use a jamb saw to cut out the rough opening. Then measure and mark each stud with a level line that’s 1/2 inch lower than where you want your finished flooring to be. This will allow for any bulges or dips in your subflooring. Use this mark as a guide when cutting out your new frame using a jamb saw or other power tool.
Use these measurements and marks as a guide when installing new framing members in your existing opening: First nail together two 2x4s into one long vertical member at least 3 inches longer than the width of your door jamb; then nail shorter horizontal members across both ends of this vertical member so that they form an “X” inside your existing opening (see above illustration).
Nail together two more 2x4s into one long vertical member that’s at least 3 inches longer than the width of