When installing a door, most of us expect the jambs to fit perfectly. However, that’s not always the case. In instances where the wall is thicker, the door jambs might have trouble fitting in.
You may notice some space between the jambs and the wall, and apart from the practicality aspect, such a setup is far from being considered aesthetically pleasing.
If you’ve found yourself in a scenario where the wall is thicker than the door jamb, here are professional solutions and tips on how to deal with this problem.
What Should You Do When a Wall is Thicker than the Door Jamb?
There are three main solutions for walls that are thicker than door jambs which I find to be very effective. I’ll list each solution and explain deeper into how you can go about it.
1. Use Jamb Extensions
This is the easiest and quickest method of fitting a door jamb to a slightly thicker wall. If you discover that your walls are thicker than the door jambs, you can visit your local hardware store and buy some jamb extensions. These are kits that contain additional pieces of door jambs.
These pieces can be connected to the existing door jamb to make up for the extra space occupied by the wall.
Jamb extensions fit effortlessly and the best part is that they can be finished to match the existing door jamb. Therefore, no one will be able to tell that you used a jamb extension.
2. Replace the Door Jamb with a Thicker One
In my list of solutions for walls that are thicker than door jambs, I’ll be moving from the easiest fixes to the more complex ones.
In this method, you’ll have to remove the existing door jamb and replace it with another one that matches the thickness of the wall. This procedure is a bit invasive but it works like magic.
The other problem is that you may be left behind with a lot of waste. Before making your replacement, calculate the wall thickness so that this time you get a wider door jamb.
3. Trim Out the Wall
I’d advise you to weigh your options before resulting to this method because it’s very invasive and you may need the assistance of a professional contractor. If a wall is thicker than the door jambs, you can trim it out so that it matches the width of the door jamb.
To pull off this project, you’ll have to evaluate the structural composition of your walls. You’ll also have to factor in aspects like insulation and aesthetics.
Assuming that your walls are made out of drywall, you will need a cutting tool to trim out the wall until it reaches the same width as the door jambs.
To emphasize what I mentioned earlier if you finally consider trimming out the walls, it’s a good idea to seek professional assistance as it will guarantee a better modification job.
How Does Wall Thickness Affect the Door Jamb?
If you don’t have much knowledge about doors, you may be wondering – what’s the big deal if a wall is thicker than the jambs? Can’t you just fit the jambs and ignore the wall thickness?
Well, that’s easier said than done. If a wall is thicker, the door jamb won’t align perfectly with it. There will be some visible gaps between the door and the frame. And that will make your doors look ugly.
It’s also not safe because the door can easily fall off. Don’t forget that if a wall is thicker, the door might not have sufficient swing clearance. Most of the time, the door will hit the nearby wall when you open it.
The other thing you have to keep in mind when a wall is thicker than the door jambs is that your door will not sit flush with the nearby wall.
It may protrude at a certain angle which will also affect aesthetics. When it comes to interiors, aesthetics plays a crucial role. Would you consider living in a house where the doors do not sit flush with the adjacent walls?
These are some serious problems that can’t be overlooked. That’s why you need to find a suitable remedy if your wall is thicker than the door jamb.
What Causes a Wall to Be Thicker than Door Jambs?
Well, there are a few culprits but the most common is home renovations. If you’re running a home renovation project, you may unknowingly increase the thickness of your walls.
Later on, as you are trying to install the door jambs, it’s when you’ll realize that your walls have become thicker.
Before modifying your home, it’s a good idea to plan for the changes that may occur. This will help prevent such issues.
Sometimes, your walls may be thicker if you asked your contractors for better insulation or soundproofing. If given such a demand, builders have no option but to go with walls that are thicker than recommended.
If this is the case, it also pays off to plan ahead. Homeowners may require thicker walls to improve the structural strength of their buildings. This comes in handy if you reside in areas prone to flooding and harsh climate.
Let’s not forget that human beings are bound to make mistakes. During the construction of your home, some builders might have made a mistake and built walls that are thicker than door jambs.
What is the Recommended Wall Thickness for Door Jambs?
Door jambs usually have a standard thickness size of 4 ⅝ inches. Therefore, the ideal wall thickness for door jambs ranges from 4 to 6 inches.
This is the recommended size for regular door sizes and walls. The additional space is used to facilitate the installation of insulation and other materials like wiring.
These sizes are subject to local building codes and client preferences. Therefore, they can be much wider. Be as it may, if you’re building a home or commercial property when erecting the walls, you have to factor in the size of the door jambs.
Is It Common for a Wall to Be Thicker than a Door Jamb?
From my personal experience, this isn’t a very common issue. Unless you had recently renovated your home, the chances of running into walls that are thicker than door jambs are rare.
It is a standard construction practice for wall thickness to be compatible with the size of door jambs. That’s what makes this problem a bit rare.
Whether it’s rare or common, the good news is that there are several remedies to this problem. All you have to do is figure out which remedy works best for you.
What if the Door Jamb is Thicker than the Wall?
Now that you know what to do if your walls are thicker than the door jams, let’s look at vice versa. What should you do if the door jamb is thicker than the wall? Here, there are two main solutions.
You can either trim out the door jambs to fit the width of your walls. Or you can replace the door jambs with thinner ones that fit perfectly.
I’d recommend the latter because trimming door jambs comes with a fair share of drawbacks. for one, it will affect the structural integrity of your door frames. It may also look awkward because door jambs are not designed to be trimmed.