That front door is an integral part of any home. In addition to serving as the gateway into your house, it also serves as a form of security and even a decorative element. So, when the time comes to replace your door and install a new one, you'll want to know all of your options.
The first step in installing a new door is to know the options available to you. When choosing a door, you'll want to consider such things as each type's durability, energy efficiency, and design, as well as your own budget.
Here are the three most common types of doors:
- Steel Doors - Steel doors are both sturdy and energy efficient. Additionally, they can stand up to the elements better than the other options. In most cases, steel doors have a 25-year manufacturer's warranty. The biggest con about steel doors is that they aren't the most aesthetically pleasing.
- Wooden Doors - Though usually the most expensive option, wooden doors provide a look and elegance that the other options do not. Although they are sturdy and elegant, wooden doors usually have a warranty of only 10 years. That's because the woods is more susceptible to changes caused by the weather.
- Fiberglass Doors - Fiberglass doors appear to be the happy medium, as they are very sturdy and can imitate the look of a wooden door. They are also the longest lasting type of door, usually coming with a lifetime warranty. In terms of pricing, fiberglass doors are more expensive than steel doors but cheaper than wooden doors.
Once you have decided on, and purchased, the door that best meets your needs and budget, you can get ready to install it. To do so, you'll need the following tools and materials:
- Tape Measure
- Hammer
- 16d Finishing Nails
- Phillips Head Screwdriver
- 3-Inch Screws
- Level
- Caulk Gun
- Butyl Caulk
- Wood Shims
- Foam or Fiberglass Insulation
The Process
Once you have your door and all the tools and materials assembled, you can get started on installing your new exterior door. First, unwrap the new door from its packaging. The door should come with the manufacturer's instructions, so you'll want to follow those directions. However, here's how the process of installing a door should go.
The first step is to remove the existing door, as well as the door frame and door sill. Make sure the rough opening where the door will go, including the subsill (the area right underneath the door) is plumb and level. If the subsill isn't level, you can install a beveled board or shims to make it level.
Next, you'll want to install the doorsill by applying the butyl caulk to the subsill, and placing the door sill on top. You can now put the door into the opening. To do this, carefully place the bottom of the door on the sill and tilt it upwards. Place the door in the center of the opening and shim the doorframe tightly into place.
Once the door is in place, you'll want to secure the doorframe with shims to hold it in place. Additionally, you should also place a few shims between the door and the frame in the places the hinges will go. At this point, you can work on making sure everything is lined up properly. Make sure the jamb on the hinge side of the door is perfectly in line and that a gap of one-eighth of an inch exists between the jamb and the door.
After the door and frame are lined up, you'll want to make sure everything stays in place by hammering in some nails through the hinge jamb. When doing this, remember that these nails are only temporary and should be not be hammered all the way in. At this point, test the door to see if it opens and closes freely. Then, check out the door from outside and inspect it to see if the door has steady contact with the doorframe's weather stripping. If the door is not evenly lined up, adjust the jamb appropriately.
Now that everything is lined up, you can turn your attention to the lock strike by installing a shim behind it. Then, you'll want to permanently secure the jambs by attaching them to the hinges of the door. As you do this, make sure that the screws are driven through the shims, which will ensure that the door is well supported.
By now, the door should be securely in place, but there is still some work to do. The edges of the doorframe should be insulated with fiberglass or specially designed foam insulation. You'll also have to install the interior trim and make sure that all joints and intersections are caulked.
Once you have completed all of the above steps, your new exterior door should be properly installed. Though it may have been a lot of work, the appearance, security, and energy efficiency that your new door provides will be well worth the trouble.