How to Install An Entry Door
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 What You Need Tools: metal snips, hammer, caulk gun, nail set, pencil, level, circular saw, chisel for wood, handsaw, drill and bits. Materials: drip edge, wood shims, building paper, casing nails, entry door kit, silicone caulk, fiberglass insulation. STEP 1 : Remove the door from any packing material, however, do not remove the brackets that keep the door closed. Remove any exterior surface material inside the opening where the new door frame will go. STEP 2 : Place the door into the center of the rough opening to test the fit. Make sure it is plumb and if needed use shims on the lower part of the door jamb to bring the door to a plumb and level position. STEP 3 : Trace an outline along the outer molding of the door unit with a pencil and then remove the door from the opening. Cut away the siding along the trace line you just created using a circular saw and cutting just down to the sheathing. Make sure you stop just before the corners to keep from damaging the siding that will remain. STEP 4 : Use your wood chisel to cut away the corners which you left uncut with the circular saw. STEP 5 : Cut 8 inch wide strips of building paper and slip then in between the siding and sheathing at the sides and top of the opening. Each piece should overlap the piece below it. Bend the paper around the framing members and use a staple gun to staple it into place. STEP 6 : For added moisture protection, cut a piece of drip edge to fit the width of your opening and then slip it in between the siding and the building paper at the top opening. Do not nail it into place. STEP 7 : Place a few thick beads of silicone caulk on the subfloor at the base of the door opening. Place silicone caulk over the building paper at the front edges of the jack studs and header. STEP 8 : Center the door in the rough opening and push the molding of the door unit firm against the sheathing. You may need someone to help you hold the door unit in place until it is nailed in. STEP 9 : On the inside of the door unit place to wooden shims together with fat ends opposing each other to create a flat shim. Insert the flat shims into the gap between the door unit and the framing. Place the shims at the hinges, lock set, and about every foot around the door jamb. Adjust the shims as needed until the door is level and plumb. STEP 10 : From outside, hammer in casing nails through the door jambs and into the framing material at each shim location. Drive the nail heads below the surface of the wood using a nail set. You can now remove the retaining brackets the are placed around the door by the manufacturer and test the door by opening and closing it to make sure it works properly. STEP 11 : To strengthen the installation of your door, remove two of the screws on the top hinge and replace then with longer anchor screws (usually included with the door unit). STEP 12 : Anchor the outer molding to the door frame with casing nails hammered in at about one foot from each other. As before, use a nail set to drive the nail heads below the surface of the wood molding. STEP 13 : Adjust the threshold of the door to create a nice tight seal. STEP 14 : Using a handsaw, cut off the excess part of the shims on the inside of the door jamb to make them flush with the wooden framing. Use fiberglass insulation to fill in the gap between the door jamb and framing. STEP 15 : Apply silicone caulk (paintable) around the door exterior and fill the nail holes with latex caulk. The information on this site is provided for reference only and is provided "AS IS", "AS AVAILABLE" with no guarantee of accuracy. Information comes with no warranties, express or implied. Use the information from this site at your own risk. See our disclaimer for more details. |