Door Frames for wooden doors can be made on site by purchasing lengths of door framing material and fabricating the frame to suit the door size. This is an acceptable method and has been done this way for many years.
Nowadays wooden door frames are available off the shelf in a wide variety of timber species and sizes for both internal and external doors. They can be supplied factory finished or unfinished for painting on site to meet with your needs. Transportation of the frames is easy as the frames are supplied in flat pack for assembly on site. A pre-hung door and frame is also very popular for new and refurbishment projects.
A door frame is made up of a head piece, two jambs (sides) and a cill section typical for an external door frame.
Internal walls are usually about 130 mm thick (wall built from concrete block or brick with plaster finish on each face). For internal walls the door frame is usually the same width as the overall thickness of the wall. The joint between the frame and the structural opening is then covered with door trims or architraves finishing of the door and frame (see diagram below).
Detail of internal door frame and trims
Internal Frames for Doors
Internal frames are generally in two types as follows:
Rebated Frame – A section of solid wood with a rebate cut out to form the door frame. The door is hung with hinges in the rebate of the frame and when closed the door face is held against the shoulder of the rebate. This frame type is quite often used for fire doors
Detail of a rebated frame
Frame with Planted Stops - Frame or lining with a planted door stop. The door is fitted to the frame and separate piece known as stops are planted and fixed to the frame against the door face ensuring a tight joint between door and frame
Details of frame with planted stops
Internal door flat pack frames are usually supplied with an extra long head section that will accommodate two door sizes e.g. 686 mm (27”) and 762 mm (30”)
External Frames for Doors
External frames are usually made from hardwood or oak. Softwood of pine can be used but it is essential that this timber is treated against rot prior to fitting. Frames can be solid timbers or laminated timbers (recommended) for better stability. The framing includes a slot to insert rubber weather stripping making the door draught free. Depending on the orientation of the frame the door can open inwards or outwards. Again these frames can be made on site or bought as a flat pack.
Detail of external wooden frame
The above principles for frames are also apply to metal door frames, steel door frames, aluminium door frames and for an uPVC door frame.