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How to Use HandiShims

for Door Framing

Get a faster, more accurate, and longer-lasting door installation with HandiShims. Unlike traditional wood shims that are sloped, can compress over time, and may rot or splinter, HandiShims provide a modern solution for professionals.  

Our shims are made from a high-density plastic that provides a perfectly flat surface for reliable support. They resist compression, ensuring your door frame remains perfectly plumb and level for years to come without sagging or shifting.

Use HandiShims for:

  • Setting Jambs: Perfectly align the hinge and latch-side jambs, ensuring the gap (or "reveal") between the door and the frame is perfectly consistent from top to bottom.
  • Leveling the Header: Easily level the head jamb.
  • Solid, Compress-Proof Support: HandiShims won't compress under the pressure of fasteners, meaning your frame won't bow or twist after installation.
  • Rot-Proof & Weather-Proof: Ideal for all door frames, especially exterior doors, as HandiShims are plastic and provide protection from rot and weather. 

How to Use:

  1. Set the Door Frame: Place the pre-hung door frame into the rough opening.
  2. Position Shims: Working on the hinge side first, insert HandiShims in pairs (one from each side of the jamb) at each hinge location. Add shims at the top, bottom, and midpoint of the latch side.
  3. Plumb and Level: Use a 6-foot level to check that the hinge jamb is perfectly plumb. Tap the shims in or out, or swap for different thicknesses (Green 1/32”, Red 1/16”, White 1/8”, Blue 1/4”) to get a precise, plumb fit.
  4. Secure the Jamb: Once the jamb is plumb, drive a fastener (screw or nail) through the jamb and the HandiShim's convenient screw hole directly into the rough opening's stud. The shim's flat, stable surface prevents the jamb from bowing.  
  5. Set the Latch Side: Repeat the process on the latch side, using the shims to create a perfectly consistent gap between the jamb and the door itself.
  6. Trim & Finish: Once the frame is secured, HandiShims are scored for effortless splitting. Simply snap off the excess part of the shim. Because they are plastic and won't rot, they are left in place permanently.