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If you do need to replace an internal door, then go through a few
basic checks before buying:
-
Check the door is not a
‘fire door’. If it’s leading to a garage or to an individual living
space in a rental property, then it has to meet specific requirements
of the Building Regulations to prevent fire and smoke spreading. If
this is the case, call an expert or talk to building control at your
local council who can advise on the requirements for the specific
location.
-
Check the size. This may
seem obvious, and it is true that most doors are of a ‘standard’ size,
usually in an imperial measure (inches). Replacements must be of the
same size, at least approximately. Remember that you cannot cut more
than about an inch off a modern ‘hollow’ door, as the wood around the
perimeter only extends for limited distance internally. If you have a
non-standard sized door, don’t worry - it’s usually possible to
reconstruct a standard-sized door.
-
Check that the door is
suitable for its location. Front and back or side doors opening onto
the street or garden need to be of specific quality.
-
Remember to measure both
sides and top and bottom of the door. Many doors will have been cut to
fit frames that are not square, particularly in older properties
-
It’s usually advisable
to replace the door ‘furniture’ (the handles, hinges and lock). Not
doing so is often a false economy, unless you are concerned about
restoring originals. It can cost more in time to recover the old parts
than the cost of new ones. If the old hinges are in reasonable
condition, it can be best to reuse them, especially if replacements
are of a different size.
When replacing doors,
do not remove the old until you have the replacement on site. The
old door forms a ready template for cutting the new one to size. Without
it, the work can take far longer.
Finally remember a new
door will need painting. Even if the door comes with a white finish,
at least 2 coats of paint will be required. Paint can be rolled onto
doors and often rolling leaves a better finish, as well as being faster.
How long will the job
take? Changing one door is typically a two-hour job excluding
painting and assuming the new door is a reasonable fit. The same does
not however apply to external doors, so let’s take a look at these.
External doors (apart
from UPVC) are normally of solid wood and take far more time to
install, because cutting to size and fitting is a longer job. It is
worth investing more in quality exterior furniture, as cheaper finishes
will not take the ravages of the British climate for long. Preventing
ingress of rain is important, so don’t forget the weather strip if your
current door has one. Many suppliers sell these separately.
If the external door
needs cutting to size, it makes sense to have the supplier do most
of the work. But don’t get the replacement door to an exact size, as the
chances are it will be wrong. Careful use of the old door coupled with
measurement on site is key to fitting an external door that won’t be
draughty or ill-fitting.
Finally, the finish on
external doors must be undertaken carefully. Entrance doors make an
immediate impact on the value of a property, so a good and lasting
finish is important. A lacquered wood finish could be more enduring than
a painted one.
Roger Runswick is a director of
50plus Handyman and a member of the
Institute of Electrical Engineers. He can be contacted at
roger.runswick@the50plus.co.uk .
Previous articles in this series:
Fixing drips and changing
your taps
Can I still change my light
switch?
Fitting an outside light
Pre-winter maintenance
Thinking of installing a
shower?
Decorating – are you getting your money’s worth?
Estimate or
quotation?
Replacing a door?
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