After sheetrock frame and method for installing the same

Abstract

A doorframe kit includes a head jamb for installation over a top portion of a doorway and a vertical jamb adapted to be joined to the head jamb and extend along a surface of a wall adjacent the doorway. The doorframe kit may include an adjustable spacer having a shaft adjustably engaged with a retaining member. The retaining member may be fixedly mounted to the vertical jamb at an adjustment location spaced below the head jamb. The shaft may be selectively movable relative to the retaining member to project outwardly from the vertical jamb and bear against the surface of the wall, when in use, to thereby define a standoff distance between the vertical jamb and the wall at the adjustment location. Inserting a tool into an access opening formed in the vertical jamb allows the tool to drive the adjustable spacer outwardly thereby increasing the standoff distance.

1 . A doorframe kit, comprising:
 a head jamb for installation over a top portion of a doorway, the head jamb having an internal surface for facing a first surface of a wall bordering the doorway and an external surface that is accessible after the head jamb is placed adjacent the first surface;   a vertical jamb adapted to abut the head jamb and extend downwardly from the head jamb along a second surface of the wall bordering the doorway;   an adjustable spacer including:
 a retaining member fixedly mounted to the vertical jamb at an adjustment location on the vertical jamb, the adjustment location spaced below the head jamb; and 
 a shaft adjustably engaged with the retaining member so that the shaft is selectively movable relative to the retaining member to project outwardly from the vertical jamb and bear against the surface of the wall, when in use, to thereby define a standoff distance between the vertical jamb and the wall at the adjustment location; and 
   a joining structure formed in the external surface of the head jamb proximal of where the vertical jamb abuts the head jamb and adapted to receive a fastener for joining the head jamb and the vertical jamb together after the head jamb and the vertical jamb are positioned in the doorway.   
   
   
       2 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  wherein the shaft includes a drive feature at an end of the shaft and further comprising:
 an access opening formed in the vertical jamb in alignment with the shaft and sized to admit a tool from a side of the vertical jamb opposite the wall for engaging the drive feature and adjusting a position of the vertical jamb at the adjustment location relative to the surface of the wall.   
   
   
       3 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  wherein the shaft includes external threads and the retaining member includes a nut having internal threads that mesh with the external threads of the shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  wherein the shaft includes a flange at a distal end of the shaft outside of the vertical jamb, the flange interposed between the wall and the vertical jamb when in use. 
   
   
       5 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a recess running along the internal surface of the head jamb, the recess sized to receive a portion of the wall.   
   
   
       6 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  wherein the fastener includes a double dovetail key and the joining structure includes a first dovetail slot formed in a top edge of a casing of the head jamb that abuts the vertical jamb when installed and further comprising:
 a second dovetail slot formed in a portion of the vertical jamb that abuts the head jamb when installed, the first and second dovetail slots adapted to receive the double dovetail key such that the vertical jamb and the head jamb are aligned and pulled together as the double dovetail key is inserted into the dovetail slots.   
   
   
       7 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  wherein the fastener includes a pocket hole screw and the joining structure includes a pocket hole formed in the head jamb proximate abutting portions of the head jamb and the vertical jamb, the pocket hole adapted to receive the pocket hole screw. 
   
   
       8 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  wherein the retaining member includes a T-nut having a barb, the barb embedded in the vertical jamb. 
   
   
       9 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second vertical jamb with an adjustable spacer.   
   
   
       10 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second adjustable spacer adjustably engaged with the vertical jamb below the adjustment location.   
   
   
       11 . The doorframe kit of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a securement hole formed in the vertical jamb proximate to and offset from the adjustment location and sized to receive a securement screw.   
   
   
       12 . A method of constructing a doorframe having a head jamb adapted to be installed over a top portion of a doorway and a vertical jamb adapted to abut the head jamb and extend downwardly from the head jamb along a first surface of a wall bordering the doorway, the head jamb having an internal surface for facing a second surface of the wall bordering the doorway and an external surface that is accessible after the head jamb is placed adjacent the second surface, the method comprising:
 forming a joining structure in the external surface of the head jamb proximal of where the vertical jamb abuts the head jamb, the joining structure adapted to receive a fastener for joining the head jamb and the vertical jamb together after the head jamb and the vertical jamb are positioned in the doorway; and   attaching to the vertical jamb an adjustable spacer having a retaining member and a shaft adjustably engaged with the retaining member so that the shaft is selectively movable relative to the retaining member to project outwardly from the vertical jamb and bear against the surface of the wall, when in use, to thereby define a standoff distance between the vertical jamb and the wall at an adjustment location, including:
 mounting the retaining member to the vertical jamb at an adjustment location, the adjustment location spaced below the head jamb. 
   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 forming an access opening in the vertical jamb in alignment with the shaft, the access opening sized to admit a tool for driving the shaft relative to the retaining member so that a position of the vertical jamb relative to the surface of the wall is adjustable.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the fastener includes a double dovetail key and forming the joining structure in the head jamb includes forming a first dovetail slot in a portion of the head jamb adapted to abut the vertical jamb and further comprising:
 forming a second dovetail slot in a portion of the vertical jamb adapted to abut the head jamb, the first and second slots being aligned and sized to receive the double dovetail key so that the vertical jamb and head jamb are aligned and pulled together by the key.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the fastener includes a pocket hole screw and forming the joining structure includes forming a pocket hole in the head jamb proximate a portion of the head jamb adapted to abut the vertical jamb such that the pocket hole screw inserted into the pocket hole locks the head jamb to the vertical jamb. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 attaching a second adjustable spacer to the vertical jamb below the adjustment location.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 forming a securement hole proximate to and offset from the adjustment location, the securement hole sized to receive a securement screw.   
   
   
       18 . A method of installing a doorframe in a rough opening of a wall, comprising:
 placing a strike jamb and a hinge jamb in the opening along opposite sides thereof, the hinge jamb having an adjustable spacer mounted to a side of the hinge jamb facing the wall at an adjustment location and an access opening extending therethrough in alignment with the adjustable spacer;   placing a head jamb in the opening so that the head jamb abuts the strike jamb and the hinge jamb, the head jamb having an internal surface facing a first surface of the wall, an external surface that is accessible after the head jamb is placed adjacent the first surface, a first joining structure formed in the external surface of the head jamb proximal of where the head jamb abuts the strike jamb, and a second joining structure formed in the external surface of the head jamb proximal of where the head jamb abuts the hinge jamb;   joining the head jamb to the strike jamb, including inserting a first fastener in the first joining structure after the head jamb and the strike jamb are placed in the opening;   joining the head jamb to the hinge jamb, including inserting a second fastener in the second joining structure after the head jamb and the hinge jamb are placed in the opening; and   adjusting a standoff distance of the hinge jamb relative to the wall at the adjustment location, including:
 inserting a tool into the access opening; and 
 driving the adjustable spacer outwardly to increase the standoff distance of the hinge jamb relative to the wall at the adjustment location. 
   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the strike jamb, the hinge jamb, and head jamb are placed in the opening so that a recess formed in each of the strike jamb, the hinge jamb, and the head jamb receives a portion of the wall. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein
 the first fastener includes a first double dovetail key, the first joining structure includes a first dovetail slot formed in a portion of the head jamb abutting the strike jamb, the strike jamb includes a second dovetail slot formed in a portion of the strike jamb abutting the head jamb, and the head jamb is joined to the strike jamb by inserting the first double dovetail key into the first and second dovetail slots such that the head jamb and the strike jamb are aligned and pulled together by the first key, and   the second fastener includes a second double dovetail key, the second joining structure includes a third dovetail slot formed in a portion of the head jamb abutting the hinge jamb, the hinge jamb includes a fourth dovetail slot formed in a portion of the hinge jamb abutting the head jamb, and the head jamb is joined to the hinge jamb by inserting the second double dovetail key into the third and fourth dovetail slots such that the head jamb and the hinge jamb are aligned and pulled together by the second key.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein
 the first fastener includes a first pocket hole screw, the first joining structure includes a first pocket hole formed in the head jamb proximate abutting portions of the head jamb and the strike jamb, and the head jamb is joined to the strike jamb by inserting the first pocket hole screw in the first pocket hole such that the head jamb is locked to the strike jamb, and   the second fastener includes a second pocket hole screw, the second joining structure includes a second pocket hole formed in the head jamb proximate abutting portions of the head jamb and the hinge jamb, and the head jamb is joined to the hinge jamb by inserting the second pocket hole screw in the second pocket hole such that the head jamb is locked to the hinge jamb.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the head jamb has a second adjustable spacer mounted to a side of the head jamb facing the wall at a second adjustment location and a second access opening extending therethrough in alignment with the second adjustable spacer and further comprising:
 leveling the head jamb by inserting a tool into the second access opening and driving the second adjustable spacer outwardly to increase a standoff distance of the head jamb relative to the wall at the second adjustment location.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the strike jamb has a second adjustable spacer mounted to a side of the strike jamb facing the wall at a second adjustment location and a second access opening extending therethrough in alignment with the second adjustable spacer and further comprising:
 plumbing the strike jamb by inserting a tool into the second access opening and driving the second adjustable spacer outwardly to increase a standoff distance of the strike jamb relative to the wall at the second adjustment location.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 inserting a securement screw into a securement hole formed proximate to and offset from the adjustment location such that the standoff distance between the corresponding jamb and the wall is fixed.