By Sgt. Brandon Nash — Nash Legacy Homes LLC Veteran-Owned • Precision • Family-Built Craftsmanship

1.  Start With the Rough Opening

Before touching the door: – Rough opening should be 2 inches wider than the door size. – Header height typically 82 ½ inches. – Studs must be plumb or the door will never sit right. Florida Building Code reference: https://codes.iccsafe.org

2.  Set Floor Shims First (The Trick Most Builders Skip)

Before the door ever touches the opening, I slide a small shim under each side of the jamb. Here’s why this matters: If the floor is unlevel and one side is already sitting too high, you can ONLY lower a door — you can’t raise it once it’s installed. By lifting the door slightly from the start: • You gain downward adjustment. • You prevent one side of the door from being locked too high. • You protect your reveals from tightening or widening. • You avoid trimming the door or casing later. • The casing hides the gap, so nothing is visible.

3.  Insert the Door (Always Closed)

Place the entire pre-hung unit into the opening with the door closed. On the hinge side, make the jamb flush with the drywall and tack it: • One 18ga nail at the top hinge area. • One 18ga nail at the bottom hinge area. This holds the frame while leaving it fully adjustable.

4.  Set the Height Using My Strike-Plate Trick

Close the door and check if the latch hole lines up with the strike-plate cutout. If they match, your height is correct. If not, adjust your floor shims up or down.

5.  Plumb the Hinge Side to Perfection

Using a 6- or 8-foot level, plumb the hinge side. When exact, secure the jamb: • Nails above and below each hinge. • Nails directly across from hinge locations.

6.  Move to the Latch Side

Align the latch-side jamb flush with the wall and tack it. Close the door and inspect the reveal. Use opposing shims behind the hinge jamb to prevent twisting. Place shims opposite the contact area to rotate the frame until the reveal is even.

7.  Shim & Nail the Top Jamb

Once everything is even: • Shim the top jamb where needed. • Nail two nails near each top corner. • Nail every 12 inches across.

8.  Final Professional Tests

Every door should pass three tests: • Swing Test — Door shouldn’t drift open or closed. • Latch Test — Should latch smoothly. • Pressure Test — Door shouldn’t bounce back when gently pushed.

9.  Why My Method Works

I learned discipline in the U.S. Army and craftsmanship from my father’s 40+ years in building. No shortcuts, no sloppy reveals, no guesswork. Just clean, precise carpentry.

10.  Florida Resources & Code References

Florida Building Code (FBC): https://codes.iccsafe.org ASCE 7-16 Wind Load Standards: http s://www.floridabuilding.org/fbc/thecode/2020_7edition/ASCE_7-16_Fact_Sheet_final_2_colu mn_format052820final.pdf Florida Product Approval: https://floridabuilding.org/pr/pr_app_srch.aspx

Want Your Doors Installed Professionally?

Nash Legacy Homes LLC provides clean, disciplined, professional door installations in Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco County. Contact: Brandon: (352) 593-1019 Darran: (727) 226-2283 Email: workwithnash@nashlegacyhomesllc.com Website: NashLegacyHomesLLC.com