Framing a Pre-hung Interior Door
If you're building a new partition wall that includes an interior door, you'll need to frame the door opening properly. A properly constructed door opening reinforces the wall above and on either side of the door. You can save yourself some potential headaches by purchasing the pre-hung door unit you plan to install before beginning the framing. That way, you can be sure the opening you build is about 3/4 inch wider than the pre-hung door unit. This allows enough room to make the necessary adjustments. In moist basements, it's a good idea to use pressure-treated wood for the sole plate.
What You'll Need
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Skill Scale
Easy Time Required It should take about an hour and a half to frame an opening for an interior door. |
Tools |
Materials - Framing lumber††Available at retail stores. |
On the ceiling, snap a chalk line to indicate where the top plate of the new wall will be installed. Cut the material for the top plate to length, then nail the top plate through the ceiling into the ceiling joists or blocking.
Use a plumb bob to mark the floor where the sole plate will be installed. Nail the sole plate to the floor, driving the nails into the floor joists or blocking. Remember, don't nail the sole plate to the floor between the jack stud locations because this portion of the plate will be removed before the door is installed.
Measure and cut the king studs, and position them at the markings. Drive nails at a 45-degree angle to make a toenailed joint, or you can attach the studs with metal connectors.
Measure the length of the jack studs to 80 7/8 inches. Mark and cut them to size.
Make a header by sandwiching two 2x4s around a 1/2-inch piece of plywood. Cut the header to fit between the king studs. Install a cripple stud between the header and the top plate, halfway between the king studs. Toenail the cripple stud to the top plate and the side of the header.
