Patio door intallation
#1
02-25-04, 10:56 AM
Patio door intallation
I am about to take on installing a patio door in my house. I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips or just tell me what I am about to get myself into. Thanks.
#2
02-25-04, 12:13 PM
Member
Have you ever done this, or seen it done? It isn't difficult, but you WILL need a helper. Patio doors are fairly heavy and very awkward to handle.
#3
02-25-04, 12:44 PM
I have seen it done before on TV. A helper isnt a problem. I took the trim off of my existing door and measured the hole. A problem I forsee is that my opening is just a little shy of 60". My new door will be 60". Also I was wondering about installing exterior trim around the door or how that works. I have steel siding on my house now and it has flat sheet metal trim around it now.
#4
02-25-04, 01:47 PM
Member
Can you save the metal trim? I don't have to deal with metal around here. 
The opening is critical. You need to know the exact size of the rough opening and the exact size of the door. As long as the door is smaller (even 1/16" will work) you're OK.
Take the casing off the inside of the door and measure the rough opening at the top, middle, and bottom. Also check the opening for squareness. (If diagonal measurements are equal, it's square).
If the opening is too small, try ordering a door that will fit. "Custom" sizes are available at most places and the cost isn't that much more. If you need to order a door, have the exact measurements with you and let the store order a size that will fit. That way, it's their problem if the new door is the wrong size.
Good Luck
The opening is critical. You need to know the exact size of the rough opening and the exact size of the door. As long as the door is smaller (even 1/16" will work) you're OK.
Take the casing off the inside of the door and measure the rough opening at the top, middle, and bottom. Also check the opening for squareness. (If diagonal measurements are equal, it's square).
If the opening is too small, try ordering a door that will fit. "Custom" sizes are available at most places and the cost isn't that much more. If you need to order a door, have the exact measurements with you and let the store order a size that will fit. That way, it's their problem if the new door is the wrong size.
Good Luck
#5
02-25-04, 08:34 PM
I agree with Dave that the opening is critcal, but you should have no problem getting your new door into the opening, depending on what you mean by "just a little shy of 60" -- if you're talking an 1/8", youre fine. If you're talking 3/4", you've got your work cut out for you. The actual width of your new slider will probably be 59-1/2" to 59-5/8".
Now how about the height? Most sliders that I've replaced have a rough opening between 81-1/2" and 82" high. The vinyl sliders I install are only 79" tall. I'm forever adding a 2X4 under the header before I install teh slider. Not a big thing, just makes trimming them a little more challenging!!
Now how about the height? Most sliders that I've replaced have a rough opening between 81-1/2" and 82" high. The vinyl sliders I install are only 79" tall. I'm forever adding a 2X4 under the header before I install teh slider. Not a big thing, just makes trimming them a little more challenging!!
