Last week I took the day off from home inspecting and gave some assistance to my business partner on a new construction project he is working on. One of the great experiences of being involved with new construction is to see the progress being made on the project. It also provides hands-on experience with many different components of the building phase.

The task before us was to get the exterior doors hung. The interesting thing was that the doors for this particular project were all different shapes and sizes. There really is a right way and a not-so-right way when it comes to hanging doors. Here are some techniques to make the job a little bit smoother around the edges.

First of all, it is helpful to verify if the rough door opening is square and plumb, as well as to the level of the floor. This is a crucial first step that helps determine if any modification needs to occur to the rough framing.

Second, fit the door jamb into the rough opening. In my experience, it is more helpful to keep the door secured to the jamb. This allows a more accurate installation and proper functionality of the door while securing the jamb.

Third, begin with the hinge side of the door first. Remember that the door jamb will extend out about 1/2 inch on either side of the rough framing if the walls are not finished. If the area around the rough framing already has drywall installed, the jamb should be flush with the drywall.

Fourth, the best scenario would be to have about 1/2 inch between the door jamb and the rough framing on both of the hinge and knob sides of the opening and about a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch clearance on the top. This will allow proper space to insure that the door is installed plumb.

Fifth, beginning on the hinge side, plumb the inside of the jamb, as well as the sides, insuring that the jamb is properly square and plumb. The use of wood shims will provide the spacing needed to secure the jamb to the rough framing. Pre-drill a small starter hole through the door jamb to prevent splitting of the wood on the jamb. The screw should be installed through the jamb and shim into the rough framing. A good 2 1/2 inch grabber screw will work great. If the door jamb has a built-in threshold, I recommend beginning at the bottom section of the hinge side and working your way upward, securing the jamb about every 15 inches. If there is not a built-in threshold, I recommend beginning at the top section of the hinge side.

Finally, once the hinge side is complete, proceed in the same manner on the knob side of the jamb. At this step, you want to operate the door to verify proper spacing of the reveal of the door and make proper adjustments as needed. About a 1/8 inch gap is desirable on the knob side and top of the door clearance from the jamb. It is important to remember proper plumb, square and shimming is crucial for proper installation and function of a door.

If you would like to submit a home remodeling or home improvement question to be addressed in this column, please e-mail them to Joel Jones at joelthehomeinspector@msn.com.

Joel is the owner of "The Inspector," a home and building inspection company and a home improvement and remodeling consultant.