93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
5/6/23 11:02 p.m.

So I bought this prehung door at Lowes a few days ago but I don't understand how to install it. All the how to videos I can show a door with no trim. Just the door and the jams. Do I have to pull the trim off or something?

 

No Time
No Time UltraDork
5/7/23 12:29 a.m.

So I fully expect someone to tell me I'm wrong, but looking at the photos you posted by first though is to pull all the staples in red and any others along that same seam in the jamb (all the way around). I would then separate the two halves of the split jamb along that seam. You can see the tongue and groove joint in the blue circles. 

Hang the said of the jam with the door being sure to shim properly, especially around the hinges and latch. Then install the "non door" side and secure, nailing though the previously installed shims (from installing the door side) to avoid skewing the jamb and causing the door to bind or jamb to go out of plumb. 
 

edited to add Link to video

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
5/8/23 11:49 a.m.

In reply to No Time :

Thanks. I got it in mostly straight over the weekend. Good enough for goverment work.

SV reX
SV reX MegaDork
5/8/23 11:58 a.m.

Yep. That's a split jamb.  Pull the staples, hang the door and half of the jamb, then install the other half. Don't remove the casings!
 

The other instructions you found without casings would be solid jambs, not split jambs.

Glad you got it figured out!

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
5/8/23 12:42 p.m.

In reply to SV reX :

I wish I had of done the solid jambs, not the split jambs. I just grabbed something from Lowes and didn't really look into what I was getting. The back side casing fell apart because the staples were not in there well at all and it would have been a better match to use different trim. 

SV reX
SV reX MegaDork
5/8/23 10:04 p.m.

In reply to 93EXCivic :

Lowes rarely stocks the solid jamb pre-hungs.  Those are special order. 

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
5/9/23 10:01 a.m.

In reply to SV reX :

If I ever have to do this again, I will get a solid jamb and a second set of hands.

triumph7
triumph7 HalfDork
5/9/23 11:36 a.m.

Split jambs are normally used when the wall thickness is "odd" because of an extra layer of drywall or having a 2x6 wall instead of 2x4.

SV reX
SV reX MegaDork
5/9/23 12:19 p.m.

In reply to triumph7 :

That's not actually correct. 
 

Split jambs have now become the standard in new construction.  That's why they are readily available from big box stores and solid jambs are not.

And split jambs would never give you enough adjustment for a 2x6 wall.  There is probably only about 1/4" of adjustment (maybe 1/2").  If you pull them out too far they don't lock tightly, and leave a gap where they meet (because the tongue is tapered, and won't fill the groove)

preach (dudeist priest)
preach (dudeist priest) GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
5/10/23 2:20 p.m.

You should not have to install the door. It's pre-hung installed in the frame...

Happy to help.

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
loIdY45A8Bfz86d58BbT3GRUyjaDo8VTGGv31KF6s3RUPAaIDd5xDfju3qf4gQCR