How to Install a Front Door

Installing a new front door is a project that will improve the look of your home if the door is installed with care and with sensitivity for the design of your home. The entry to your home is the most important element of the home. Picking the replacement door is the beginning of the process, does the door fit the style and design of the home, is the door the same size as the old door and if the door is a different material than the old door do you have the materials to change the old wood or metal frame to match the new door.

Make sure whatever door you select it is the same size or larger than the existing door. Unless you want a lot of work matching the exterior siding of your home you do not want to install a smaller door. After selecting the new front door you need to remove the old door carefully to avoid damage to the existing siding and floor. After you have removed the door you can began preparing the old jamb for the new door, remove old nails or screws, and clean any obstructions on the floor so the new door slides as easily as possible into the opening.  Slide the door in and shim it, nailing or screwing through the shims securely to the door frame. Insulate any gaps to stop air infiltration and then put on the interior and exterior trim. Now you are ready to paint or stain the new door as the situation calls for.

If the new front door is larger than existing opening a lot of things need to happen, first is measure and measure twice before you began any cutting. Enlarging the opening is a two sided affair, on the interior you will be removing trim and dry wall and messing up the paint on the wall and on the outside you will be cutting into siding or removing siding and this has to be done expertly or you could do some major damage that will be costly. Unless you are experienced in finish carpentry and dry wall this is a job for a professional contractor.

After the interior and exterior coverings have been removed it is time to build a new jamb to support the new door, the new jamb will need a new header and new jacks and  must be centered off the old opening to keep the new look in balance with the house. Next, on the outside you will need to cut the siding or replace removed siding and cut it to size and then cut and install new trim. On the inside you will need to install new drywall, finish it and repaint and cut and install new trim.

New front doors come in many configurations, double doors, single door with a side light, a single door with two side lights, or all wood or all metal. The door that you select will have unique construction requirements. A professional will be prepared to deal with the unique requirements so the final installation looks good and the door functions properly. Picking the door unit is important, but picking the door unit with a professional is more important to avoid a bad result. Installing any door requires some skills, but installing the most important door in your home should be done perfectly. An investment in a professional contractor will be returned many times over when the new door is perfectly installed adding value and beauty to your home.