Install which first -Wood floors or prehung doors?

Question

We plan on having a contractor install wood floors for us and we also want to install a solid core prehung interior door, which I am capable of doing myself. Should I hang the door before or after the floor guys?

Answer 1

Your contractor would like to be in there first. It will make his job easier. Undercutting jambs makes the job a lot harder. But it does make it a bit harder for you if between the door jambs is not level and you have to adjust the jambs a bit. If I was doing it myself, both jobs, I would do the floor first, put down floor protection, and then do the doors and trim. One compromise is if you have solid jamb doors hang the doors, but leave the casing off until after the floor is done, then finish trimming the casing and base. It still makes it a bit harder for the contractor, but definitely easier without casing, you won't be as likely to scratch your new floor floor. If they are split jambs, I'd let the floor contractor go first.

Answer 2

Installing A Prehung Door

Answer 3

if you like, install the door first just leave the door stop off the floor about 1 inch and the door about 1 1/2" but be prepared to caulk around the jamb if your contractor is careless (hanging a solid core door first can and most likely save the floor from some unnecessary damage) also if you have hung enough doors then get the flooring and sub-flooring (if used) in a couple small pieces and place them under the jamb before you install and this way you can also case the frame as well, the contractor will be much happier ,good luck

Answer 4

Floor first. floors have a subfloor that must be at a certain height depending on the floor, and you can't change that. Install the door after the floors, because you can always sand the bottom of the door for clearance.

Answer 5

install the door first so as not to damage your new flooring after wards. flooring requires an expansion joint the size of the thickness of the flooring. so if your floor is 3/4 of an inch thick you need a 3/4 inch expansion. use a scrap piece of floor to set your door at the proper height. the space under the jam will be hollow when all is said and done.

Answer 6

So it appears to me that it is a matter of preference. We have purchased laminate tap n lock flooring and new door frames. I think that we will install floors before doors.... Any ideas?

Answer 7

if the flooring is unfinished install door after floor is in for ease of sanding and urethaneing.
if flooring is pre finished, install door first easier to paint or stain door before floor is installed,flooring installer has tools to undercut any door jamb to exact even heights if he is pro(make sure he has appropriate undercut saw, and monitor his work on jambs this must be done before flooring is installed,the quallity of his jamb cuts will speak volumes about the quality of install you are about to recieve,if he butchers jambs DON'T let him do your floor

Answer 8

I install first the doors and you can finish after(depends of the floor ) with some special finishes for floors or even with aluminum and caulk outside first.check that your floor is treated first against humidity.(so check before that your floor are at the same level of your finished doors depends of the tickness of the floor...

Answer 9

manekineo has installed pre-hung metal hurricane doors over terrazzo floors on house.

floors first, then doors for nice, smooth look and perfect function, lending your home a sophisticated, professional appeal such as one would find in commerical space perfectly executed.

all is well
manekineo

Answer 10

either way works well. i personally install the floor first so that when the door is cut to size i can sit it down directly on the hardwoods and create a tighter fit to the floor.