Framing wall - installing used door

[dkerfoot]

I am framing a new wall in my basement and am using a door that was given to me by my father-in-law.

I installed a pre-hung door once before (with a guy who knew what he was doing). We made the rough opening a bit larger than the door frame, but I don't remember how much it was. Is there a rule of thumb for this? How much of a gap should I leave for shimming?

Thanks!

-Doug

[Handy Al]

I would go at least 1 to 1-1/2 inch wider than the frame and 1 inch higher,

[Rand]

I like to make the rough opening about 1/2' bigger than the jamb. Make sure your studs are plumb though!

[Rand]

Duh.. that's 1/2" inch not 1/2' foot! :P

[dkerfoot]

Duh.. that's 1/2" inch not 1/2' foot! :P

About 1/2" is what I was thinking. Planning to make sure the hinge-side stud is absolutely plumb and mount the jamb directly to it.

Handy Al - What advantage is there to going so much bigger?

[crokett]

The advantage is you have that much more room to get it plumb. The prehung doors you buy are specced to have a rough opening 2" wider and 1" taller than the door jamb.

[Handy Al]

What Crokett said. a 1/2" on a side doesn't give much room for shims if the opening is not plumb.

[sparkeyjames]

1/2 inch (1/4 per side) and 1/4 inch at the top. Use as many shims as you feel necessary to make it snug and straight. 2 nails (minimum 15ga) for every shim set. I made some from scratch door frames in my ancient 1925 house to replace ones that were there from the dawn of time and looked UGLY. I used 3 shims sets at the top and 5 on each side. Mostly to make up for some slightly warped frame boards. Then I got crazy and counter sank 2.5 inch drywall screws into the frame/shim/stud instead of nails. You cannot budge my door frames.