How to Fix Wooden Door Frame in Masonry

Wall Opening?
We normally fix wooden door frame before plasterwork. The door opening we keep in masonry
wall during constructing wall as shown in the architectural drawing. After ending the curing
period of masonry walls, we start fixing the door frame.

In this article, I’ll discuss the commonly used process of fixing wooden door frame in masonry
wall opening.

Wooden door frames are made by carpenter as predetermined size and provided to the
construction site to fix. These are normally fixed by a mason. Before fixing frame we provide
two coats of tar paint on unexposed sides of the frame. Generally, these coats of tar paint are
applied by carpenter after making door frame. We just check that is applied or not before fixing.
It’s carpenter’s responsibility to make the frame completely ready to fix.

Things needed to fix wooden door frame:

 Hammer
 MS Clamp
 Screw or Nail
 Plumb Bob
 Water level
 Spirit level
 Marking pen/Chalk etc.

Fixing wooden door frame –

Fixing MS Clamp: We fix 3 numbers of clamps on a side of door frame. For both side of a door
frame will need 6 numbers of clamps.

First, we fix the clamps with wooden door frame by screw or nail. I would suggest fixing by
screws. Because if you fix by nails that will be loosened after some time and your door frame
will be coming out from the wall. So, try to fix clamps with screws.

Making wall opening ready for fixing door frame: We keep wall opening during making
masonry wall. Now we’ll fix wooden door frame in that opening. As we fix 3 MS clamps in one
side of the door frame so we have to break masonry wall in 3 places on one side of wall-opening
to set the clamps. For both sides of the wall opening, we have to break 6 places.

Selection of door frame-width for different locations: We normally use an 11-inch width of a
door frame for the main door of a flat and 6-inch width door frame for the internal door of
rooms.
But where tiles will be fixed in a wall, there we normally use a 6½″-inch width of door frames.

Marking the level: The purpose of level marking is to keep the top level of all doors same. So
we set a reference mark and take the level to all doors with the help of water-level pipe.

Aligning door frame with wall: The purpose of aligning door frame is when you plaster on
wall, plaster surface and door frame will be in the same level.

If you’ll fix tiles in the wall then tiles surface and door frame will be in the same level.

Make the frame truly vertical with the help of plumb-bob.

Checking: Before permanently fixing the door with cement-concrete, finally check the
alignment and top-level of the door frame.

Fill with cement-concrete: If everything is ok, fill the gap all around door frame with cement
concrete to bond with the masonry wall.

Curing: Cure the concreting portion for minimum 7 days.

Fixing door frame with masonry wall is easy. But what should be done when we have to fix the
wooden door frame with RCC column as it isn’t suggested to break the column?