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Stesso

Shim and Tack Hinge Side

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What makes a door installation strong 💪 #doors #carpentry #learn

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What happens here

Insert shims behind the hinge side of the door frame, aligning them at the height of the door hinges. Shims are best installed in opposing directions (one from the front, one from the back) to create a flat, consistent thickness, preventing twisting of the jamb. Use a nail gun to tack the shims in place once the jamb is plumb. You'll continue shimming this side more precisely once the door is in the opening.

Goal: Plumb the hinge side of the door frame using shims.

Tools and materials

  • Nail Gun Milwaukee M18 Fuel Brad Nailer — Tacking shims in place
  • Nails — Temporarily securing shims
  • Wood Shims — Plumbing the door jamb and creating proper spacing

What they say

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for a stronger door install. Frame your opening 2 and 1/4 wider than your door, make a level mark, use shims to plumb your hinge side. Shims are best installed in opposite direction so you can shim flat. If they get stacked, you'll see that this side is thick and this side is thin. And this can twist your jamb. So we'll tack up our shims at our hinge height. Now we measure down from our level lines and trim down your high side. Now you can set your door.

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