re ask. I have a newer all in 1 frame- metal door. It is lower on 1 side by 1/2 inch and will not latch.?
Answers:
You door is "racked". Now, this is not the fault of the door, but the way you are attempting to install it. If your door opening is high enough, the floor has little to do w/hanging the door. Try this:
Take a deep breath and relax.
Check to see if the hinge side of your opening is level. If so, great. If it is not, you are going to have to shim between the frame and the stud to get it level. I like to get an idea what its going to take in order the get the opening level BEFORE you put the door in the opening.
Start at the hinge side of the door. Place a couple of shims under the frame, hinge side only. Attach the hinge side of the frame to the stud, shimming when/where necessary. MAKE SURE THE FRAME IS LEVEL BOTH WAYS. Your wall may not be level. If you fail to level the direction of the wall, the door will not open level.
Now, consecrate on the top of the door. Go to the inside of the door, so you can see the crack between the door and the frame. Now, think of it this way. The hinges are level, so the door is too. Its not going to go anywhere. You now need to move the frame to fit the door! Place the correct amount of shims UNDER the strike side of the frame. The distance (crack) between the frame and the top of the door must be the same. Remember, the door is leavel. If the crack in the same, this will make the frame level too.
Now all that is left to complete is shimming the strike side of the door frame to the stud. Take a minute to look at the gap/crack between the door and the frame at the top. When you are finished, this gap should be the same all the way down the door.
Even guys that do this every week have problems sometimes. Pour a cup of coffee or pop a top on a cold one and think about what you'r doing. You'll get through this.
Good Luck.
Other answers:
First thing is to make sure the FLOOR(or building) is 'perfectly' LEVEL >>>check ALL 4 sides. just one low or high corner can twist the whole frame.and the door...use at least a 2' level and make sure the level is a good one...Also measure the door frame diagonally..both ways .. measurements should be within 1/8" or less .of each other, if not. shim either the top or bottom.to achieve equal lengths...this means the door frame itself. is SQUARE!
First thing is to make sure the FLOOR(or building) is 'perfectly' LEVEL >>>check ALL 4 sides. just one low or high corner can twist the whole frame.and the door...use at least a 2' level and make sure the level is a good one...Also measure the door frame diagonally..both ways .. measurements should be within 1/8" or less .of each other, if not. shim either the top or bottom.to achieve equal lengths...this means the door frame itself. is SQUARE!