How to Install an Interior Door to a Masonry Construction

This article is about how to install interior door to a masonry construction. This is part of the Countryside House Project so I thought it would be a good idea to document the installation of the oak interior doors to the masonry walls. I really loved these doors because they are made from solid oak and I am a big fan of natural wood. We used polyurethane spray foam to set the doors between the masonry walls.

I recommend you to leave the new door installation to professionals, if are not that sure on your skills, because this is a project that you need to get it right from the very beginning. If you decide to install the doors by yourself, you will save money because installing each door costs about $150 if done by a handyman. This is a blog where I share my methods and experiences. See all my Premium Plans HERE.

Made from this plan

Materials

Pre-hung door
Polyurethane foam
Door shims

Tools

Tips

Make sure the door is level, before fixing it

Time

Two hours, two persons

Masonry-construction---door-opening

We installed the doors to a new construction, so we didn’t have to waste time on removing the old doors and making repairs, if necessary. As you can see in the image, the house has brick walls with cement render.

Aligning-the-door-to-the-opening

Next, fit the door to the opening and start installing the shims under the jambs and between the walls and the jambs. Use the spirit level to plumb the jambs and to check if the top jamb is perfectly horizontal. In addition, you need to align the door jambs with the face of the wall. Make sure you determine where is the front of the door, as well.

Fit wooden spacers between the side jambs after you lock the door into place with shims. The spacers will keep the door jambs locked into place while adding the polyurethane foam between the jambs and the wall. The foam exerts pressure against the jambs, so if you don’t place these blockings, the jambs will curve and the door won’t open / close properly. We used 3 blockings for each door. Make sure you use the spirit level every time you set a shim or a blocking, because they will move the door from position.

Protecting-the-door-jambs

Notice that we have used cardboard between the jamb and the wooden spacers, so we don’t scratch it. In addition, you need to lock the door before applying the foam spray.

Spray-foam-for-door-installation

Once the door is locked into place and flush with the front wall, you need to check if it opens properly and closes as well. Apply the spray foam around the doors, slowly and steadily. Don’t insert too much foam because it will expand a lot, so there is no need to waste it.

How-to-install-an-interior-door-to-a-masonry-construction

The foam is all set so we will be leaving it to expand and dry out for one day, before taking the blockings out.

Repairing-after-installing-the-new-door

Once the foam is dry, use a cutter to remove the excess off. Then you need to do a few repairs around the door and close the gaps with plaster. Use masking tape to protect the jambs when applying the plaster.

Repairs-around-the-new-door

We did the same thing on the opposite side of the door.

Installing-doors-with-sray-foam

We installed 7 doors in totak in one day and I am sharing a few pics with you, so you can see lhe mess we made during the installation, but also that we replicated the same techniques to all doors. These doors are all the same model but they vary in width.

Installing-interior-doors

How-to-install-an-interior-door-in-a-masonry-construction

I am very pleased with the result and we saved a few hundreds by choosing to install the doors by ourselves. I report one year later that all doors are fully functional.

Thank you for reading our article about how to install an interior door to a masonry construction and we recommend you to check out the rest or our projects regarding door and windows.

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