A door is one of the most important parts of any home, be it the main door, the bedroom door, or the bathroom door. The main door is the entryway to your abode, but keep it unlocked and it may also be the way bad people may get into your home. For bedrooms and bathrooms, doors provide privacy. You need to keep your doors secured for them to continue to serve their purpose. Aside from the door itself, another important part of any structure is the door jamb, as without it, there will be no doors.
What is a door jamb?
A door jamb, sometimes doorjamb or just jamb, is a material attached to a building or any structure that is part of a door frame. Jambs are the vertical parts of a door frame, and their main purpose is to bear the weight of a door through hinges and maintain the stability of the door and the frame. Without door jambs, you may not be able to swing doors, as door hinges are connected to one side of the jambs. You may also not be able to lock doors without jambs as deadbolt locks or other types of door security locks often extend into one side of the jambs when engaged.
Door jambs are therefore important to the overall operational durability and security of doors. If you think your locks are important in keeping your home safe from thieves, just imagine if the jamb itself was compromised. Your whole door may fall off, giving anyone access to your home. Fortunately, modern door jambs can withstand any tampering.
Door jambs are not just for single doors but also for folding, sliding, and double doors.
What are door jambs normally made of?
Since most houses have wooden doors, it would only be fitting that the jambs would also be made of wood. This makes it easier to adjust and affix the door onto the jambs. Aside from wood, other materials are also used to manufacture door jambs. One of them is fiberglass, which is a great alternative to wood because it is durable and weather-resistant. An even sturdier material is galvanized steel.
You may think that galvanizing the jamb would be useless, as it is a mere frame, and that the door is the main thing keeping your home and valuables secured. However, consider that a door is only as sturdy as the frame it is attached to. If the jambs deteriorate, your door may also be compromised. Remember, jambs should make your doorway tamper-proof, keeping your home safe from intruders.
Common types of door jambs
Door jambs come in two types—a single rabbet door jamb and a double rabbet door jamb. Rabbets are grooves cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material. A single rabbet door jamb will hold a single door, while a double-rabbet can hold two doors of opposing egress or one door and one screen door of opposing egress. Rabbets give jambs the strength that they need to hold the entirety of doors.
Both single rabbet and double rabbet door jambs are well-recommended for those who are looking to secure their homes.
Essential Parts of Door Jambs
A typical door jamb has 10 essential parts, listed below. Each part contributes to the smooth functioning of the door jamb. Familiarizing yourself with these parts is important if you will build your own door jamb.
- Head Jamb
- Side Jamb
- Sill and Threshold
- Doorstop
- Casing
- Sidelight
- Mullion
- Weather Stripping
- Door Sweep
- Astragal
How to Install or Replace Door Jambs
Whether installing a fresh door jamb, here are the general steps to follow. The process should be the same when replacing an already existing one. Just be sure to remove the old one first. Note that these steps only apply when installing wooden jambs.
- Take measurements. Measure the top and sides of the frame. This will be your basis for the size of the wood jamb that you will install.
- Install the wood jambs onto the door frame. Cut wood based on the measurements you took in the first step. Use glue and nail to hold the wood pieces together and fasten them on with a nail. Check alignment, level, and clearance to ensure that the door will fit perfectly.
At this point, you may already screw the hinge for the door. When mounting hinges, screws are better to use instead of nails as screws give more security. - Add door stops. Use thin strips of wood as door stops. You need one short door stop for the top side of the jamb and two longer ones for the side jambs. You can also add a door sill or weather stripping later on to prevent air or water from entering your home.
With your door jambs installed, you are ready to affix your door panel.
If you want to save yourself from the hassle of installing or replacing door jambs, then we have good news for you! Union Galvasteel Corporation offers zinc-coated galvanized steel door jambs for improved operational durability and better security. Galvanized door jambs are more durable and termite resistant as compared to conventional wooden door jambs. Single rabbet and double rabbet galvanized door jambs are available. They are suitable for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.
UGC is a trusted roofing company in the Philippines that also offers other home improvement solutions, like galvanized door jambs. We have warehouses and sales offices in strategic locations throughout the country. Get in touch with us via our website or call these numbers for assistance: (02) 8520-8822-23; 8520-8831; (049) 545-0084 to 86 or 09175033965 (Globe) and 09190032303 (Smart).
