How to Install a Wood Replacement Entry Door

Place the level flat across the floor at the bottom of the rough opening. Slide wood shims under the level to level the floor for the pre-hung door jamb if the hinge side is lower than the latch side as indicated by the level. If the latch side is lower, you do not need to shim the floor. Hammer an 8d finish nail through the shim to secure it in place.

Hang a plumb bob at the top of the hinge side of the rough opening. Measure out from the rough opening wall over to the string at each of the hinge locations. Shim the wall at each hinge location to get the distance measurements to all be the same. Hammer an 8d finish nail through each shim to secure them in place. Remove the plumb bob from the wall.

Fit the door into the rough opening and make sure that the hinge side of the door jamb is flush with the hinge side of the rough opening. Hammer an 8d finish nail through the casing into the rough opening framing 6 inches down from the top edge on the hinge side of the door jamb. Hammer a nail through the casing at each hinge location and continue hammering nails every 16 inches along the length of the casing.

Hammer finish nails through the latch side of the casing into the rough opening framing along the entire length every 16 inches. There will be some flex in the latch side of the casing. The standard reveal past the edge of the casing is approximately the thickness of a nickel. Hold a nickel along the edge of the casing (and adjust the casing as needed) as you hammer each nail in place to ensure that the reveal along the edge of the casing is uniform.

Slide the split jamb with casing onto the opposite side of the rough opening and butt it up against the door jamb. Hammer 8d finish nails through the jamb into the rough opening framing boards every 16 inches along the entire lengths of the sides.

Slide the latch and door handle into the holes in the door. Screw the latch and door handle in place with the screws that came with the door using a screwdriver.