How to Disassemble a Wood Door

Swing the door as far open as it can go. Place wood blocks under the end to support it.

Remove the screws from the inside of the lockset and deadbolt. You may have to pry off a cover to get to the screws on some locksets. Move to the edge of the door and unscrew the metal plate around the lockset hole as well.

Unscrew each hinge from the door. Be careful on the last hinge, as the door is no longer connected to anything. Remove the door from the area, and then unscrew the hinges from the door frame.

Run your utility knife down the gap between the trim and the door jamb, to cut the paint that normally connects these two pieces. Insert your pry bar underneath the trim and gently pull back to pry off the trim. Be careful not to damage the wall when you do this, and also be careful with the trim if you plan on using it again. Remove all three pieces of interior trim.

Use your utility knife to cut through the caulk that connects the outside trim to the siding of your house. Insert your pry bar underneath this trim and pry it off. Do this for all three pieces of trim. If you are disassembling an interior door, you should skip this process and remove the trim on this side of the door the exact same way you removed it from the other side.

Look at the gap around the door jamb, on the inside of the door, to find the nails that connect the jamb to the walls. Use a reciprocating saw to sever these nails, then pull out the door jamb.

Insert your pry bar underneath any threshold plate or sill at the bottom of the opening. Push down on the bar to pry up this piece and remove it.