How To Use An Existing External Door To Frame A Wall?

This video teaches the basics of framing a wall with a door opening, covering how to measure, solidify the stud wall, and attach it to the door’s existing framing using a toe-nailed or toe-screwed 2×4 bridging connector. It also covers how to deal with studs and reframe your pass through.

To install a new doorway through an existing wall, you must first frame the door opening to prepare it for the installation. With a ladder, nails, and a hammer, you can outfit your rooms at a fraction of the cost. Before starting, lay out the bottom plate location(s) and snap lines, measure and mark the plates, fasten the bottom plate, and transfer the bottom to the new doorway.

The basic steps include choosing the wall’s location, creating a new frame, and tilting it into place. Building a frame requires some knowledge of basic carpentry and tools. To ensure compliance with local building codes, measure and plan the wall for the new opening, which should be 20mm wider and 10mm higher than the door frame.

In the entire framing process for an exterior door, including cutting through drywall, assembling new studs, and building a new door frame, follow these steps: remove the studs, base plate, and header for where the pocket door and frame will go, install the door and frame as a unit, and replace the drywall.