Replacing Exterior Door

I installed this door where a window was. I did it myself 8 years ago. It was my first and I didn't have the proper tools, so it was pretty shabby. I have a little more experiance and tools now, and would like to replace this with a double french door. One of the problems I encountered last time was theat the standard perhung door is too thin for my thick walls. I had adjust and fill in, and that was part of the reason it looked so crappy. PLease look at the pictures and give me any tips.

Door1

Door2

Door3

Door4

 

Hi
Well i see you will have your work cut out.
First you need to expand the door opening.
than mean new header to be install.
Next get a door drame that is 6 inches wide.
Some come with brick stop on them
and you will need new casing

good luck

pgtek

 

Dear friend,

Nice pictures. To tell you the truth, it looks like you did a pretty doggone decent job for not having the tools or skills at the time!

As you mentioned, the wall thickness is critical to a good installation. When you order your french door, be sure you order it to the correct wall thickness. This would be the distance from the interior drywall to the outside of the sheeting. (or the back of the vinyl siding, as pictured).

If you get a wood door, and you need to adjust the wall thickness, just take off the brickmould, add a filler, and reinstall the brickmould.

If you are getting a door with an integrated nailing fin, such as a Pella french door, the wall thickness is absolutely critical. You don't want to have to add an extension jamb onto the inside of a door if you don't have to.

Regarding the header, make it as tall as possible. You may want to build a temporary wall inside, as a precaution against settling, but I've found this is seldom needed in real life. If you like doing drywall, remove all the drywall, floor to ceiling in the area the door will be installed in. If you'd like to avoid drywalling, at all costs, install the header from the outside of the home. Your vinyl siding is a blessing in this regard. It can cover up even the worst looking hack job. Your header will be a minimum of 78 1/2" long, (if you center the door between your existing studs, which are on 16" centers) so you will need to add 2 jack studs under each end of the header to make the R.O. 72 1/2" wide. I think french doors are usually 71 1/2" x 81 3/4".

French doors are a little trickier to install. But I'm sure you can figure it out. Just make sure everything is plumb, level and square. It also helps to hold your mouth right.

 

Thanks for the advice, and the compliment. I have taken plenty of shots about it over the years from the wife, so I want to make this install good. I dont have any drywall inside, it is painted paneling so I think it will be easier to manipulate than the siding outside. I will post pictures when I am finished. Thanks again for the help.

 

Xsleeper is spot on with his recommedations. One thing I want to add though, recently door manufacturers have been getting away from the old standard heigth of 81 1/2" requiring a 82" high R.O. Now for some reason some of these manufacturers are starting to make the doors 81 3/4" and even 82" tall. So after you measure for jamb thickness, find out when oyu order the door if you custom order it, or measure a stock door if you pick one up off the shelf and get the exact door height BEFORE you start to build your new opening, that way you dont build it 82" tall and find out when getting ready to set the door you need 82 1/2" Dont ask how I know this problem. Makes it really fun when you get to a job site, the homie picked up all the stuff and you find out after the fact all the work now required to make it fit the opening!!