Replies

1. 
   John_Sprung | Oct 24, 2000 10:34pm | #1

   *
   Put the floors in first. That way the bottoms of the doors can be cut correctly for the final floor level.

   -- J.S.

1. 
   Mr._Pita | Oct 24, 2000 10:36pm | #2

   *Plus, they won't be in the way as you're working in the door/threshold area.

1. 
   Tommy_B. | Oct 25, 2000 03:35am | #3

   *You can do it either way with excellent results.Which goes in first depends on who your asking. If I'm trimming, I'd like to put in the doors first and the floor guy can cut the jambs with his jamb saw. If I'm installing the hardwood, I'd like to go first and the trim guy can scribe his jambs. Honestly, its more work to scribe the jambs in my opinion ( you basically have to set the door twice).The other consideration is do you want to install the hardwood without shoe moulding. No shoe, means no base which means that the trim guy comes in and just sets doors, in the harwood areas. A pain in the ass, particularly if he has to come back and install base. If your doing the work yourself or GC'ing it its your call.Thats my opinion, but I would like to hear others because the same arguments apply in other situations, like vinyl, kitchen cabs, etc.Tom

1. 
   Qtrmeg_ | Oct 27, 2000 02:14am | #4

   *There is no question here for me. Install the doors first. Ok, there is one question. Do you know what it takes to properly install a door? Off the top of my head I can think of a half dozen things you need to pay attention to.

1. 
   Tim_Kline | Oct 28, 2000 08:04am | #5

   *b WBA At Your ServiceIt is easier for the trimmer to hang the doors first. But then it is harder for the floor installed to install the floor. The reverse is also true. It can be done either way. Our flooring instlallers don't gripe about installed jambs because they are used to cutting all of them with jamb saws. Personally, I think a nicer job can be done installing jambs after the hardwood is in with sanding done and 1 or 2 coats of finish on the floor. The jamb saws usually do a nice job, but sometimes the jambs end up a little short. If you sand before jambing it eliminates the humped edge at the face of all of the jambs where the edger could not get in perfectly tight. I'm being fussy but this is how I usually do it if I can.

2. 
   GACC_DAllas | Oct 29, 2000 06:33am | #6

   *Floor first.........always if possible.Ed. Williams

3. 
   Jim_Walters | Nov 04, 2000 02:24am | #7

   *I'd get a piece of the flooring and set the door using it as a spacer, after it's attached, take away the spacer and slide your permanent flooring under the jamb. It's easier to do the floor first though.

4. 
   Mike_Lang | Nov 04, 2000 09:51am | #8

   *With all due respect to those who would go it otherwise, there is absolutely no way you'd find me pushing to get the doors in first. as the trim carpenter or the flooring installer I'd prefer it that way. why fight the door jamb to get the floor down, sanded, stained and clear coated. Assuming the cabin is well built( walls that are plumb and floors that are level) there is no need to scribe the jambs. knowing the height of the door the margin you want at the head jam, the margin under the door and the thickness of the head jamb, you just establish the high side of floor(use a 24" level between jambs) measure up the rough opening on the high side, if there is one, and make a mark on the wall at the appropriate height. use a 4' to level to mark the other side and bingo you can accurately establish jamb lengths and get a level head jamb. I may have misunderstood tom, but I can see no reason to scribe the jambs to a new hardwood floor in a new house unless something has gone wrong earlier in the job.

2. 
   Ann_Berg | Nov 04, 2000 09:54am | #9

   *
   We are FINALLY finishing up our 10 year building project, a lake cabin in NW Wisconsin. Wood floors of heartpine are scheduled to be installed in December. Here's my question. We have the interior doors (6 panel doug fir) purchased, but it would be a "push" to get them in before the wood floor is installed. However, we could do it. Is it a good idea to wait until the floors are installed before installing the doors, or should the doors be installed first, or doesn't it matter?