Door Installation : An Easy Open and Shut Job
(part two of a series)

by: Liz Roberts

Now that you have chosen your door, it’s now time to install it. It’s a quick and easy job that can be done on a day off. Install it correctly and it will last for a long time. Once in your home’s door frame , it will protect you from intruders and the elements.

The first thing you have to do is remove your old door. Use a utility knife to score behind the interior trim. Now use a pry bar and hammer to pry the trim away from the wall; Remember to protect the wall with a small scrap of wood under the pry bar as needed. If you can, try to remove the trim intact and without any damage (you can reuse it after the new door has been installed). Now remove the finish nails from the trim, reserving them again for reuse with the new door. Cut away old caulking between the exterior and molding on door frame, again using your utility knife.

Now remove the old door jamb with the pry bar, then using a reciprocating saw, cut away any old nails holding the door in place. With an assistant’s help, carefully tip the old door outward to remove. If you want ,you can use it for extra wood for upcoming projects or as part of a table for paint jobs.

Now it’s time to install your new door. Remove it from its’ packaging, leaving the retaining brackets intact (this is done to keep the door shut while installing it). Center the door in the opening to test its’ fit. Scrape away the old caulking off the sub-floor and thoroughly sweep the area clean. Sand or grind away any areas that prevent the door from fitting correctly in the doorway. Now apply three fat beads of silicone caulk to the sub-flooring at the bottom of your door opening. With your assistant, tilt the new door into the opening and position it. On the interior surface of the door jambs, double wood wedge shims to create one flat shim and insert into gaps between these and the frame. Shim at the lockset, hinges and at 12 inch intervals around the door. Use your carpenter level to make sure the door is plumb. Adjust shims as needed. Drive 10 d casing nails through the exterior jambs and into the framing members at the shims. Now remove the retaining brackets. Test the door, seeing if it will open and close smoothly before driving nails the rest of the way in. Adjust the door as necessary , then use nail set to drive nails before wood surface. Remove two of the screws in each hinge, replacing them with long anchor screws. (these will be included with your door). Score the interior shims at door level and remove extra so the shims are now flush with the door.

Fill the spaces around the door with regular strength spray foam and remember to avoid overfilling (go easy with this or you could create an unnecessary mess). Apply paintable silicone caulk around the entire door unit, even filling the nail holes. Replace the trim around the inside of your door, using the old trim if it’s undamaged. If you want you can cut new trim.

Now you can install a new lock by inserting a latch bolt mechanism through the latch bolt hole. Insert lockset tailpieces through the latch bolt. Screw handles together with retaining screws. Now screw the strike plate to the door jamb, adjusting to fit. Lastly, caulk any gaps between the siding and the door molding. If your door is not pre-stained or pre-painted, do so now, before the family starts using it.

If you want you can also install a mail slot into your new door. This is a handy extra that keeps your letters and circulars from getting soaked during bad weather. Mail slot hardware can either be bought at your local do it yourself store or ordered over the internet. The internet actually has more choices and even has companies that sell antique brass slots. After you decide on the hardware you want, you'll need to measure the rail of your door. This is done to find the center point. Then measure what’s known as the trim ring (the mail slot’s frame or hardware) and center it on the door. Use a level to place the trim ring (you can use your own judgment regarding this, but it’s best to have some guidance). Using a pencil, trace around the inside of the trim ring to create a template. It doesn't have to be exact. You can trim or sand away excess wood later on. For this next step you should wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from any flying splinters. Use a drill with either a ½ inch spade or paddle bit to make a hole in each corner of the designated area. Each hole should intersect the template's vertical and horizontal lines. Do not drill all the way through to the other side. Doing such will only split the wood and damage the door. Just repeat the process on the other side until the holes meet. Now place strips of making tape along the lines you've drawn to help keep you from marring the door. Very carefully cut along the lines using a jigsaw. Once the mail slot has been cut you can remove the tape and cut wood. Check to see whether the slot has what’s known as “ears” on its’ corners. If it does, cut notches in the opening’s corners to fit them. Mark for screw holes in the door and drill pilot holes. Attach the mail slot door piece with screws. Now attach the hardware to the inside of the door by the same method. Clean off any sawdust or loose splinters with a tack cloth.

Installing your new door is a somewhat easy task. Just remember to be careful with measuring and positioning it. If done correctly your new door will last you and your house for several decades. It will not only be an attractive addition but also a sturdy one too.