Making An Exterior Door Jamb

Fasten the 3 sides of the exterior door jamb.

Making an exterior door jamb.

Begin with the mortises on the door then the mortises on the jamb. Nail one door jamb to the wood frame you built on the hinge side. Insert shims between the doorjamb and the door frame. Temporarily insert the vertical doorjamb planks into the door frame and have a helper hold them in place.

Make sure it s tight and opening in the right direction. You now have a frame. Overlap the shims by sliding one in from the outside and one in from the inside. Screw the hinges onto the correct side of the jamb.

Make sure that the shims are tight. Place the door in the jamb and fasten it to the hinges. Insert the shims at the top on both ends and along the sides at the top middle and bottom. This is where you ll hang the door.

It s much easier to do now before the hinges are screwed in and the whole thing is attached to the door. Cut one stud to the width of the door and place it on top of the door opening. Cut or break off any protruding wedges that extend beyond the door jamb. Hang the door in the jamb.

Drive all nails slightly below the surface of the jambs with a hammer and nail set. Screw the hinges to the jamb using 3 4 inch screws. Using a mortising template route matching mortises for the hinges on the door and jamb. Measure across the top of the door frame to the inside edges of the 2 doorjamb planks.

Nail this header top piece to the studs that you put on the side. Use shims to adjust the head and latch jambs so the reveal is consistent along the top and side edges of the door then nail the head and latch jambs in place. Trutrim 37 5939 in x 6 8359 ft pine primed finger joint exterior door jamb kit. Use more shims if two are not enough.

After your three door frame pieces are cut to the correct size prime and paint them. Place the doorjamb into the door frame. Unless you are installing a prehung door you ll need to trace the outline of the hinges on the jamb and cut an indentation using a router or utility knife. The door should be 90 degrees to the jamb.

Wedge thin wooden shims between the frame and the jamb so everything will be level.