What tools/supplies to have on hand for installation?

Our exterior door has arrived and if all goes well we will be installing it on Saturday. What tools or supplies should I plan to have on hand for the process? We will be removing the old door and storm door first before installing the prehung.
Thanks.

 

Well, let me walk thru the process and I'll think about what I got off the truck....

First I'd take the interior casing off. I use a small, Stanley "wonderbar" if I'm trying to save the casing for re-use.

I also pop the hinge pins and remove the door to make this all easier. Long straight punch or a 16p nail.

Then I need to know IF I'm trying to save the old door/jambs.

IF I am, I try to find any finish nails they ran thru the jambs and cut them from the backside of the jamb which I can see now with the interior casing. Use either a sawsall with a metal cutting blade or one of those hand hacksaws where the blade sticks out from the handle. Then I'd carefully start working under the brickmould outside because that is now what's holding in place.
IF you can't get under the brickmould, use a cat's paw nail remover to dig the head of the finish nails out in the brickmould and pull the nail. Does more damage to the moulding, but sometimes that's the only way.

BUT usually they don't want the old door, so I take a crowbar and just wreck the thing out...bust the jamb....whatever, just get it out of my way.

When installing the new door, I like to use 3" deck screws....I run them thru the brickmould on the outside. Need a decent cordless drill driver for this. I like to use screws so IF I don't get it right ( you can tell when you close the door), I can back 'em out easily and shift the frame. But then I also cover the outside moulding with trim coil, so I don't have to worry about the screws making an ugly place in the moulding.

A good 4' level comes in handy for plumbing the jambs. Need some shims for the space between the back of the jamb and studs. Also some strips of fiberglass insulation to stuff in there ( straight end of the wonderbar for that). Case the inside. Need a miterbox IF you installing new. Install the lockset....phillips and straight screwdrivers.....sometimes a small wood chisel and about a 7/8" spade bit IF they didn't mortise the jambs for a dead bolt.

Caulk around the moulding outside......good grade of latex caulk.

I've probably forgotten something, BUT it's on my truck, I assure ya.....

 

Great post Andy =). You covered all of it. Make sure you use screws through the BrickMould like he suggests it makes life easier =).

John K

Classic Touch Windows Doors and HardWood Floors

 

Thanks Andy- too bad you couldn't just pull that truck up to my front door....
We did enlist a little help though via one of my husband's co-workers and I'm glad because we unloaded the door last night and holy cow was that thing heavy. I can't imagine being able to do too much dry fitting with that thing. Plus throw in the fact that it is only going to get up to 32 degrees tomorrow. I am going to be putting up plastic around the porch roof today to build a windbreak for them. Wish us luck!

 

Well, I would wish you luck, but there is a limited amount of luck out there in the universe, and if I go wishing it all away, that won't leave enough for me

( That's Catbert from the Dilbert strip.....I'm not that original )


Ah, what the heck......GOOD LUCK ! ( you'll do fine )

 

Hey there- everything went great. Even the "too wide extension jamb". We built it out from the exterior wall and it looks fine. I just followed the forum instructions on the door- dh kept asking "now what"; "what's next?" Now we can sit back and enjoy the six inches of snow we are getting.
Thanks!

Trallfaz