The type of door will determine the installation process, but the majority of the tips in this article can be used. If you have all the necessary tools, installing a door can be done quickly. This procedure works for aluminum, fiberglass, and wood doors. These are great tips to help you install a door.
How to Install a Door. Prep the Rough Opening
Measurements of the opening are necessary to determine how to install a door. The opening should be 2 inches wider than the new door and 2 1/2 inches taller. This extra space will enable you to install your door frame.
- Before you begin installing the doors, make sure that the rough opening has been leveled and that it is plumb. The floor below the door sill is the sub sill.
- To level the sub sill, you can use a wooden shim or a beveled board.
- To remove the required thickness from the floor surface, a spacer board should be used.
- Apply caulk to the sub sill. One inch in front of the sill and one inch back. The caulk should be applied at least 2 inches above the rough framing.
- Take the door assembly out of its packaging. Some doors can be secured using screws through the jambs to prevent shipping damage.
- Shipping braces are sometimes attached to doors that need to be removed after the door is shimmed in place.
How to Install the Door
- At least 6 brackets should be attached to the door jamb.
- To prevent the door from settling on the floor, lift it into the opening.
- Place the bottom of your door first, with the top facing you. Turn the door.
- Start with the upper hinge and place a nail through it. Level the jamb. Once the jamb is level, attach nails to all hinge locations.
- Use 16 finishing nails to fix the door into place.
- Do not force the nails in.
Leveling and plumbing a door
- The frame must be fixed in place using shims before you can install a door.
- A wooden shim should be placed on the hinge side.
- These points will see the door permanently attached to the rough opening.
- Adjust the frame and shims until the jamb on the one side of the door is level in both directions.
- Make sure there is a gap of 18 inches between the jamb of the door and the edge of your door.
- Remove braces from doors that came with them if you are going to install them. To ensure proper swinging, open and close the door.
- Make sure that the door face is in contact with the weather stripping.
- Install a solid shim at the lock strike location.
- Use 3″ screws to permanently secure the jambs. Continue to secure the jambs by driving nails through the shims or screws around the door.
- To prevent distortion of the frame, screws or nails must be installed through shims.
- Install screws through the shim at the lock strike location.
Is it necessary to insulate after a door has been installed?
After you have learned the basics of how to build a door, professionals may ask if they should insulate it. Here’s how I recommend it.
- Use low expansion foam or fiberglass insulation to insulate around the door frame.
- Install the interior trim. Caulk the joints between the trim & brick mold, where brick mold meets the external wall.
As directed by the door manufacturer, install the weatherstrip at the base.
