Shiming Out A Garage Door Plumb

If your door rubs near the top or drags on the floor use a screwdriver not a drill to tighten the screws.

Shiming out a garage door plumb.

Step 1 remove door and trim if you re adjusting an existing door frame in your house first you will have to remove the door itself and all of the trim surrounding the frame. A crooked garage door could potentially be the sign of a much larger problem. Newer doors are equipped with adjustable thresholds which make it easy to adjust the bottom of the door. Once a door is adjusted it should stay that way permanently as long as there is no settling or trauma to the door.

Determine which hinge must be shimmed to adjust door and create even spacing. First make marks to indicate the centers of the hinges. The hinge side of the door has to be plumb or the door will swing open or closed on its own. Place the door into the opening and open the door.

Place a few shims under the end of the door so there s no stress on the door frame. With the rough jamb plumb it s easy to get a head start on an easy install. Using built up layers allows shimmin. Remove appropriate hinge from door and jamb.

Then use a long level or a long straight board along with a short level to plumb the shims. Start by shimming the hinge side of the rough opening. This short video shows a great way to shim an out of level subfloor prior to installing a new front door with sidelight. Make sure all the screws are tight tighten the hinge screws in the door and the jamb.

Without this support the weight of the door will pull the top of the frame away from the rough opening. Trace the edges of the walls on either side of the door along the back of the board with a pencil. Put it back against the door. Tack a pair of tapered shims at the top hinge.

The door is simple enough. Close door and check the spacing at the top and latch side of the door. Steps to repair a skewed door. Take the board down and cut along the lines with a circular saw.

Just pull the hinge pins out of place tapping them from beneath with a screwdriver and mallet if necessary. Hold door hinge against cardboard and use utility knife to cut around hinge.