Best door pros near Troy, AL

The width of your door jamb should match your wall thickness exactly, so it depends on your wall. For standard door openings, the width is equal to the width of a 2-by-4-inch  stud, plus the width of the drywall on both sides—about 1/2 inch each—which comes out to 4 9/16 inches. Block walls and framed walls that use 2-by-6-inch framing require a door jamb that’s 6 9/16 inches. You should always measure your finished wall thickness to get an accurate width for your door jamb material.

Begin by determining which way you want the door to swing based on the layout of your room. Traditionally, left-handed doors have a doorknob closest to your left hand, and right-handed doors include a doorknob closest to your right. Right-handed doors with left hinges swing inward and vice versa. This can vary based on the layout of your home, though.

As long as you do it carefully, you can sand and restain hollow core doors. However, it’s risky because the veneers on hollow core doors are so thin that sanding and restaining might cause damage to the doors. If you do move forward with this project, sand the doors lightly with a medium-grit sandpaper.

When choosing between an inward- or outward-swinging door, there’s no right answer. Inward-swinging doors are great for avoiding debris and keeping hinges inside for added security. Alternatively, outward-swinging doors can give you more space inside your home, and some homeowners feel they’re harder to force open. Ultimately, neither is “better,” but a door expert can help you figure out which fits your needs.