A pre-hung door is a slab door that is already attached by hinges to a three-sided doorframe. It is sold by the manufacturer as a complete package and "ready to go," though some may need additional features.
More expensive than a slab door, a pre-hung door is a mostly self-contained unit with a frame that fits into a prepared doorway.
Upon sale, pre-hung doors are tightly bundled into their included frames with polyester tension packing straps and plastic spacers to prevent them from shifting or twisting during shipment.
| Pre-Hung Doors: Typical Features | |
|---|---|
| Features Included | Features Not Included |
| Door slab | Doorknob |
| Hinges | Metal strike plate |
| Frame | Surface coating (paint or stain) |
Frame pre-cut for the strike plate |
Fasteners |
| Mortises cut in the door | Shims |
| Pre-cut hole for the doorknob | |
Installing a pre-hung door is an exacting process, especially with exterior pre-hung doors because of the need for extreme weather tightness. Pre-hung exterior doors are very heavy to transport and to lift into the doorframe. Most retrofit exterior doors come in pre-hung format.
The rule of thumb: If you already have a prepared doorframe with casing and trim, you should not purchase a pre-hung door. The only exception is if you intend to remove all of the trim and casing to the bare studs.
