What Does Jamb Depth Mean In Construction?
What Does Jamb Depth Mean In Construction?
Jamb depth is the measurement of the wall thickness that a door or window unit will be fitting into.
This includes any sheetrock, sheathing, siding, trim pieces, and interior trim or casing on the outside of the door.
Typical jamb depths for doors are 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″. For windows, a minimum jamb depth of 3.5″ is recommended, but a maximum jamb depth of 4.5-5″ should be used to ensure proper installation.
How Is Jamb Depth Measured?
To measure the jamb depth for a construction project,
- First measure the wall thickness where the door will be placed.
- Then, measure from the bottom of the sill to the thickest part of the header and add 1-1/4″ (frame members typically measure 1-1/4″).
- For an inswinging door, measure from the door face to the edge of the jamb at the thickest part of the jamb and add 1-3/4″ (door slab depth).
- For an outswing door, measure from the door slab to the interior trim.
- Finally, standing on the inside of your home, measure from inside of left jamb to inside of right jamb and add 2 1/2″ (frames generally measure 1 1/4″ thick each x2).
What Are The Jamb Depth Measurement Tools?
There are several tools available for measuring jamb depth in construction. A pocket rod is a compact tool that can be used to measure vertical grades such as the depth of trenches, swimming pools, and foundations.
- Measuring wheels are also useful for measuring large areas of land or marking off a foundation.
- Tape measures are commonly used on job sites to measure up to 40 feet. Diameter tape measures can be used when there is no one or nothing to hold the end of the tape.
When measuring an entry door, it is important to measure the depth of the door frame or jamb.
DIY information on how to measure for a door includes measuring jamb widths and determining handing and swing.
For new construction windows, there is not a simple answer on how to measure for them.
However, there is usually a minimum jamb depth that the window needs to have and a maximum jamb depth that should be used depending on the siding choice.
What Is The Jamb Depth In Door Frames?
The standard interior door jamb depth is 4 5/8 inches, which provides an extra 1/8 inch to account for slightly thicker walls due to stud size variation.
To measure the jamb width, you need to measure the wall thickness that the door unit will be fitting into, including any sheetrock or sheathing/siding that is on the outside.
Typical door jamb sizes are 4 9/16″ for 2×4 frame with ½” drywall, 5 1/2″ for 2×4 frame with stucco or thick drywall, and 6 9/16″ for 2×6 frame or block wall.
In some special occurrences, you may need a 7-1/2″ jamb. Welded hollow metal frames typically have a jamb depth ranging from 3″ to 20″.
All frames have a 1/2″ backbend except for the 5 3/4″ frame, which has 7/16″ backbends.
