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Installing a doorstop can be an easy task. It is useful to learn how to install a door stop yourself because not all homes come with one. Or, you may find that you need to replace an old doorstop. Here, you can find a few simple tricks that can make this task a lot easier.
You will also discover important things to consider when installing a door stopper. Let’s dig in!
Things You Will Need
You will save time and avoid frustration by having all the necessary items and tools lined up before embarking on this do-it-yourself project. Here’s what you will need:
Different Types of Door Stoppers
Door stoppers come in different shapes, sizes, and types. No matter what type of doorstop you want to install, the things listed above will come in handy. The following are the three most common types of door stoppers on the market:
Let’s check how to install each of these door stoppers.
How to Install a Door Stop
Method 1: How to Install a Door Stop on the Floor
Floor-mounted door stoppers are recommended for the weak walls the doors are slamming on. These are also excellent if there’s a hanging rack at the back of the door.
Just like any other type of door stopper, floor-mounted stops ensure that the door handle doesn’t bash into the wall. These stoppers should be fixed to the edge of the door. Follow these steps to get it right.
Step 1: Open the Door
Keep the door open to ensure that the stopper is installed at the preferred position. Still, the door should stay near the hinges and horizontally to the nearby wall.
Step 2: Measure & Mark out the Place for the Stopper
For this step, get a tape measure. There’s no need for costly measuring devices like laser measuring tools.
Reach the door edge on the side where the hinges are placed. Measure two inches (about 50 mm) from the front of the door toward the hinges.
Use a pencil or felt pen to make a mark on your floor at the two-inch measurement. You should also mark out the spot at the edge of your door facing the nearby wall.
Step 3: Bore a Hole in the Floor
Next, you need to drill a hole in the marked spot on your wood flooring. A drill bit would be useful for this task. The stopper screw should have a slightly larger diameter than the drill.
As for concrete floors, use a masonry bit to install the doorstop. In this case, the diameter of the bit and the anchor holding the screw should be the same.
Maybe you need to work on concrete flooring. If so, the anchor should be driven into the hole using a hammer. Then take the screw and push it through the stopper head to secure it in place.
Step 4: Fixing In the Stopper
Insert the stopper into the hole you have previously made on your floor so that the bumper doesn’t face the wall. Once the door stop is set, screw it to the floor with a screwdriver.
Lastly, you should check if it’s installed properly. Simply open your door all the way to see whether the door touches the wall.
Method 2: Set Up Hinge-Mounted Door Stoppers
Unlike wall- and floor-mounted door stops, their hinge-mounted counterparts do not require boring holes in the wall/floor. That means your flooring or walls will be safe from any scratches and holes.
Step 1: Choose the Right Doorstop(s)
Hinge-mounted stoppers can be purchased at just about any hardware store. They are available in different sizes to fit almost any door.
You will want to get one with a compact metal body consisting of two rubber pads – one of which can be adjusted – and a durable metal ring.
Step 2: Remove the Hinge Pin
You will see a pin on the upper hinge of your door. Pry it out with a flathead screwdriver by placing its tip under the flared pin top and forcing it out gently.
The screwdriver will act as a lever. While removing the hinge pin, the door should be closed.
Step 3: Install the Stopper over the Door Hinge
In this step, the hinge pin should be connected with the stopper. This can be done by fitting it through the doorstop ring.
Make sure the pin reaches the hole situated directly below it. Then rotate it on the door hinge using gentle movements. The goal is to make the doorstop stay on the hinge securely.
It should be aligned correctly. The fixed rubber pad needs to be flush against your door while the adjustable pad is facing the wall.
Once the doorstop is attached, reinstall the hinge pin by hammering it back into place. If your doors are heavy, consider installing another stopper over the lower hinge.
Step 4: Adjust the Hinge-Mounted Doorstop
The last step is about adjusting the stopper to the appropriate opening distance. This way you should get the desired ‘travel’ of your door, making sure it’s greater than 90°.
That’s quite simple. All you need to do is turn the threaded set screw (the rod connected to the adjustable rubber pad) in or out. Rotate it – with either a screwdriver or your fingers – until you get to the right position, which ensures that the door is open to the desired extent.
Method 3: Attach a Fixed Post Stopper to the Baseboard or Wall
Many people prefer fixed post doorsteps because they are affordable yet sturdy and effective. These are great for slighter doors.
A typical fixed post doorstop consists of 2 main parts. On one end, it has a rigid, short post with a built-in pad. The other end of the stopper is intended to be fastened to either the baseboard or wall.
This means you will have to drill a hole in your wall/baseboard and thread the stopper to set it up. For your better understanding, this procedure will be divided into three steps.
Step 1: Mark Location for the Doorstop
Open your door. The wall and the door should be parallel.
After deciding on a point where the doorstop will be fixed, mark out that place on the wall or baseboard with a pencil.
Make sure it is even with the door edge. Measure 35-40 mm (about 1.5 inches) from that spot and mark another one toward the hinges.
Step 2: Drill a Hole to Install the Stopper
Once you have drawn the marks, make a hole in the wall or baseboard with a 1/8″ (3.18 mm) drill bit. The hole should be drilled at the 2nd pencil mark.
Step 3: Mount the Fixed Post Doorstop
Put the stopper into the hole. Then tighten it by rotating a threaded screw (it peeps out from the doorstop) clockwise with a screwdriver. Make sure it lines up with the wall.
FAQ About How to Install a Door Stop
Where Should a Door Stopper be Placed?
While the door stoppers are usually hung on the top hinges, they can also be screwed into a baseboard. Make sure the stopper doesn’t hit your door farther than 1.5 inches from the bottom or edge, depending on where you place it. That will prevent the stopper from making a dent in your hollow-core door.
How to Screw a Door Stop?
Turn the stopper in a clockwise direction and you will see a screw inside that’s going to fall out. This piece should be placed against the baseboard or the wall and secured in place with a tool like a screwdriver.
Takeaway
A doorstop can be easily overlooked when building or renovating a home. Every homeowner should get one because this useful item can protect walls and doors alike. It is also important to know how to install a door stop, so follow this step-by-step guide to do it yourself.
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