Assembling Casing Before Triming A Door

WNYcarpenter

I'm remodeling an old terribly built cottage where we're trimming 1 1/2" to nothing off 2'8" doors. My mechanical sub-contractor/do it all three man team suggested I precut and pocket screw the legs to the head casing. He says it ensures a perfect joint that won't move and makes for quick work.

I like the idea, but only on a new home. Jambs are never entirely flush with the drywall, dealing with sloping floors, and keeping nice reveals is hard enough. In my opinion pre-assembly would take too much figuring and would take longer than the conventional leg,leg,head.

I forgot to mention simple square 1x4 stock without mitering.

Any opinions?

mdshunk

What in the devil is that?

troubleseeker

If you have to cut the bottoms that uneven, the chances are not good that the top of the doors are square either, so to pocket screw the joints, you would have to fit up all three pieces with the proper angles cut everywhere, then remove and assemble with screws, then reinstall. Unless you have lots of money in the job, I believe it to be way to time consuming.

troubleseeker

I believe it is the off season occupation of the Jamacian bobsled team

WNYcarpenter

Exactly!!! This guy is friends with upper management, has a lot of knowledge,and experience with mechanicals but thinks he's a carpenter as well.....Has anyone ever pre-assembled casing? aside from brick mold on an entry door?

john5mt

Pre assembling casing is a waste of time unless you're one of those who think caulk is a carpetner's tool.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

Hey everyone knows caulk is the boss and putty is your buddy!!!!!

john5mt

Or Spackle and Paint is for what a carpenter aint.

Greg Di

Sometimes it's cleaner to prebuild a casing with pocket screws. The times when I do it are when I am installing a new door where one side is drywall and the other is the original plaster. By preassembling, I don't have to worry about the joint "wobbling" so to speak. I would rather any inconsistencies show up where the casing meets the wall than where the casings join.

I hope that makes sense...

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Steve Unkie

Depending on the style and width and material, pre-assembling your casing can be the best method IMO. Just like pocket screwing face frames for cabinetry is better than just nailing your face frames together stick by stick. The joints can't open and are perfect.

Is it always practical to pre-assemble? No. And in WNYCARPENTER's situation I think that pre-assembling is not practical.
Steve Unkie

EyeLevelTrimmer

Check out the website of Jim Chestnut (Fine Homebuilding article). He's been doing it for years.

A.W.Davis

Everyone has there own technique I prefer just to glue and nail all of my miters its fast efficient and looks just as good.

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A.W.Davis

Thats a good one I have never heard that before

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AtlanticWBConst

Some good one liners in this thread...

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K2

I remember installing "split jambs" in the southeast in the 70's and early 80's. The jamb could adjust moving in and out depending on the wall thickness. The casing was pre attached. I think/hope they still don't use these things. They had to be engineered by a Georgia pig farmer.

chrisleecoley

Measure the casing,back off 1" and cut out the sheetrock. This helps to ensure a tight fit to the jam.