How to Replace an Exterior Door

Sometimes, painting the outer walls of your house is not enough to freshen up the aesthetic. Other measures have to be taken, like replacing the exterior door to better fit in with the new style or look that you’re going for. Sometimes exterior window repair have to be replaced because they’re worn out and are not as energy efficient and weatherproof as a strong, new door.

If that’s the case, then below are some tips on how to replace your old exterior doors and install new ones. It’ll probably take you the whole weekend, but it’s an activity for two so you can use it as an excuse to spend some time with a loved one as well.

Measure Your Old Door

Take a tape measure to your old door to determine its dimensions (width and height), which you’ll then use when ordering the new door. You’ll likely find three types of doors when shopping for your exterior door, namely; fiberglass doors, steel doors, and wooden window cleaning. Needless to say, the latter material is the most popular and widely used choice, and is available in a wider variety.

Remove the Old Door

Get rid of the old door by tapping the hinge pins with a hammer and nail until they come loose. Just be sure to place a drop cloth on the floor where you’ll be working to avoid dirtying or damaging the floor surface as you work.

Install the Sill

Next, you’ll want to straighten out the sill area so that it’s in the same level with the new door and you can do that using a few shims, which you should place at a distance of a few inches from each other. Dry fit the new door through the opening to check if it stands upright. If it doesn’t then you’ll have to cut back the casing to accommodate its height.

Apply Caulk

Put some caulk all along the side of the window installation, starting from the top to the sill. Check the door sill again to make sure that it’s straight, and then fasten the door in with some galvanized casing nails. Make sure that the door stays in place, by adding a pair of shims behind each of the hinges, making sure to shim on the sides, at the top and on the bottom. Then, slash the parts of the shims that are sticking out using a utility knife.

Insulate Around the Door

Now, you want to weatherproof and strengthen your door by pouring some expanding foam insulation in the space between the frame and door jamb. You should cover any gaps there might be between the existing floor and the new door sill with a beveled transition. This is also a good time to install a new trim on the interior of the door and further reinforce it by putting on a caulk backer right into the space between the trim.