creating a door where a window is currently

Hello!

Next month I will close on a home. The current kitchen is very small, my plans are to enclose a door and move this exit into another room. My brother who is very handy told me he would be able to do this transition. What do you think - is this very involved - replacing a window with a door? Should I consult with a contractor? I am nervous about this transition.

 

We do it all the time. I prefer to work from the outside first removing the exterior siding, sheathing, insulation-if any. That way you have complete exposure to the bottom and top plate as well access to the header which may have to be replaced depending on current width of opening and width of new opening. Once it's all framed in for the new doors RO, you cancut the drywall/plaster to the exact new opening you just created. Reinstall the insulation, sheathing, new door and finish the outside trim/flashing and then reinstall the siding. Once you move back indoors you can insulate around the new door, install the trim work and walla, all finished. It may seem like alot of work pulling all the nails out of the existing siding/sheathing, but it speed up the process when you reinstall everything. Just make sure you pull the nails on the studs where you will use a circular saw and sawzall to cut the sheathing to epose the opening your going to be working on-keeps the blades in better shape and less chance of metal getting in your eyes.