Exterior door installation how to


















The second factor is equally simple — direction. You need to make sure you get one that swings in the same direction as your current door. So, if your door opens inward and has the knob on the right-hand side, make sure the new door fits that description as well. Thirdly, decide what material you want for the door. There are a few different options available, including the following:. Factors like maintenance level, price, and appearance will vary across these different types, so make your choice based on your priorities.

Aim to find and order something that fits each of the criteria you came up with. To get a feel for the types of options you may have, take a look at a selection of the doors Homespire Windows and Doors offers.

Check for the proper fit at the start by taking some initial measurements. After taking these measurements on your current door, remove the new door from its packaging and repeat them there to verify the two match up reasonably well. The next thing to do is check the fit of the new door in the hole you vacated.

If your new door is pre-hung, you can simply slide it into the opening and see how well it fits. Check for gaps between the frame and the wall. In particular, you may have a sizable gap above the door frame. If you do, it could indicate the door is sitting too low relative to the house, which could prevent it from opening.

The best way to fix this issue is to build up the sill underneath the door. You can do so using a piece of wood, placing wooden shims beneath it as needed to produce just the right level of snugness. To do so, first center the door as much as you can against the opening. Then, trace the outline of the frame onto the molding and move the door out of the way, so you can see how much will need to be cut off.

If it fits well enough vertically, go ahead and remove it. Any remaining gaps can be fixed in the next step. As a final addition, apply building paper around the inside of the opening as a moisture barrier. With the opening fully prepared, you can begin the process of installing the new door. To do so, follow the steps below:.

The final step involves cleaning up the spots where the door frame meets the house, which starts with applying insulation. To seal them off, apply caulk or expanding foam around the border of the frame. It may be helpful to insert a rod of foam backer into the gaps before covering it with the caulk.

If your old trim is still in good condition after being removed, you can reapply it. Either way, place it over the border of the frame as a final layer of insulation. If the sill is rather high off the floor, you can install a beveled piece of wood as a transition between the two. After reading through these steps, you may be having second thoughts about installing a new door.

Not everyone who sells replacement exterior doors expects the homeowner to install it themselves. When you purchase a door from Homespire Windows and Doors, our highly-trained technicians will install it for you, replacing the old one quickly and efficiently.

We partner with ProVia to manufacture our doors, which are built to top-quality Homespire specifications. Unlike many businesses, we send our own, highly-trained employees to get the job done rather than contracting someone else.

Ready to have your old door replaced, but unsure about doing it yourself? Homespire Windows and Doors has you covered. Please leave this field empty. Please contact me to verify my information, schedule an appointment, or inform me of future product updates. I consent to receive calls or texts that use automated technology at the phone number s provided. Skip to content. There are a few different options available, including the following: Wood: Wood doors are the most common type and have the broadest range in appearance.

However, they must have a good finish to prevent water damage. Aluminum: Though they tend to be sold solely through dealers, aluminum doors carry the advantage of a baked-on finish that prevents them from rusting. Steel: Steel is the strongest of the available options and requires minimal effort to maintain. They are also filled with Poly-Core insulation that keeps your home comfortable and secure. They are not as strong nor require less maintenance than steel doors, though.

Jamb width: The jamb is the panel on each side of the door frame that sits between it and the wall. When you measure it, be sure to measure only the width of the jamb without extending past it to the trim on either side. Rough opening: From the interior, measure the distance from one side of the door opening to the other from left to right.

On both of these, be sure to measure the full distance across. You may have to remove the trim. Then carefully lift the door out of the frame and lay it down on the ground. Trim: You may have already removed some of the trim to measure the opening.

Either way, take the time to remove the rest. Consider using a putty knife to protect the wall as you do so. Jambs: At this point, the only part of the door frame still attached to the house are the jambs. Test-Fit and Center the Door and Frame The next thing to do is check the fit of the new door in the hole you vacated.

Install the Door With the opening fully prepared, you can begin the process of installing the new door. To do so, follow the steps below: Apply caulk: Run caulk along the top of the sill, as well as a thin bead all the way up each side of the opening. Be prepared for the fact that this process may require a lot of caulk. Reinsert the door: Slide the new door into the opening.

Apply shims: Fill the gaps on either side of the door frame using wooden shims. Apply these evenly on both sides, until the door is no longer able to shift from side to side. Apply two thick beads of caulk, along the front and rear edges of the subsill, where the sill will be placed. Continue applying the caulk approximately 2 inches 5. Insert door into opening. Place the bottom of the door first, tilting the top out toward you, then slide the door into place.

It's best to work from the outside of the house when you're inserting the door into the opening. You may want to enlist a friend to help you lift and place the door depending on its weight. Be sure that the door is centered in the opening, and assure that the frame fits snugly into place at the bottom of the opening.

Shim the rest of the door-frame. Place shims on the hinge side of the door, behind any points where hinges will be attached to the door frame. The door will be secured to the rough opening in these areas later.

Secure door temporarily. After you've made all of the necessary adjustments, secure the door temporarily, using 16d finishing nails.

Lightly drive the nails through the hinge jamb, near where the hinges will be installed. Don't put the nails all the way in.

Part 3. Test the swing of the door. It should open and close smoothly. Sometimes pre-hung doors will have an adjustable sill, which can be useful it the door isn't quite adjusted perfectly. You want to make sure that the door doesn't scrap the floor inside your house.

If necessary, make adjustments by moving the jamb in or out, at the top or the bottom. Secure door-jambs. Drive 3 inch 7. Secure the remaining jambs all the way around the door, always driving the screws or nails whatever is suggested by the manufacturer through the shims. Verify occasionally that the door assembly is remaining properly adjusted.

Install the lock strike, putting the screws through the shim. Install insulation. Finish the job by installing loosely packed, fiberglass insulation around the edges of the door frame.

Install interior trim, following the manufacturer's instructions. Apply paintable caulk along all of the joints and intersections of the trim and the brick-mold. Wear gloves, because you do not want to get caulk on your hands. Ryaan Tuttle Home Improvement Specialist. Ryaan Tuttle. There are a lot of different styles of weatherproofing you can use for a door. Some go on the outside of the door.

Some require a special tool that you use to cut a groove around the door slab so you can push a rubber gasket into it that goes all the way around the door. You can always add threshold weather stripping as well if you have a draft coming under the door. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 1. Install hinge shims to correct it. They install under the hinge, just loosen the screws and insert. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 9.

Is a metal flashing required under an exterior replacement pre-hung door threshold? Yes, some type of flash should be installed. You can buy sill pan kitsch, or use metal flashing. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4. A door should be able to swing around to degrees. To avoid damage to the wall, use door stoppers.

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 6. Yes, if the frame installed allows it to do so and there is adequate space for the door to swing open freely. Not Helpful 2 Helpful Buy a replacement door to fit the opening or frame up the opening to fit the door you have.

Not Helpful 6 Helpful If the floor is notched or not level, get a 2x8 or similar board to level it. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 3. In my experience, backwards is always best as it lets less of a draft through.

Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4. That's going to depend entirely on what's wrong with the door. If you have a specific problem, try looking up that specific issue to find instructions on correcting it.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you're a beginner with this sort of project it's best to get a pre-hung door so you can deal with door and frame at the same time. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. The step of adding the caulk is very important. Some people skip this step, but it is vital for preventing leakage in the future. When securing the jambs, be careful not to overly tighten the screws. This will cause the door to fall out of alignment.

Helpful 6 Not Helpful 5. You Might Also Like How to. How to. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. More References 3. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: July 1, Categories: Door Types Door Installation. Article Summary X To install an exterior door, start by removing the old door as well as the existing interior and exterior trim and old insulation. Italiano: Installare una Porta Esterna. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times.

So easy to mess up and have to restart. Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Joe Hollinger Jul 7,



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