I am planning on installing a Larson storm door by myself. I am concerned that I will not be able to pull this off alone. Can it be done??? And if so, how can I make it easier without someone to hold the door up as I install the hinges?

Any help will be appreciated.
Mark

 

The easiest thing to do is to have a pair of sawhorses and lay the door flat on them. Then follow the instructions as far as mounting the hinge side z-bar to the door. Once the hinge side z-bar is mounted to the door, then I'll cut it to length with a hack saw. (I also like to drill the holes for and install the handle with the door laying down. Makes it easier to put the latch on right away so that it isn't swinging in the wind.) But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Once you have the hinge side z-bar installed onto the door (the side you mount it to depends on which way you want the door to hinge) and cut to the correct length, then you can stand the door up in the opening. A scratch awl might make it easier for you to hold the door in place while you work on it. Put the door in the opening, push it all the way over to the hinge side as far as it will go, then poke the scratch awl into the top hole, giving it a hard whack with the palm of your hand, and then tap it in a little farther with your hammer (which should be in your tool belt... not laying 7 feet away where you can't reach it. LOL!) The awl will keep the door there while you reach for a screw. Some shims to temporarily stick in the latch side rough opening are sometimes handy to keep the door closed. I'll usually put one screw in toward the top, then open the door (check it for plumb as it lays closed on the latch side to ensure it's not racked) and put in all the z-bar screws that go into the hinge (behind the door). After all those screws are in, then you'll install the screws in the face of the z-bar and continue following the destructions. I mean instructions.

Before you start, be sure the opening for the storm door is within the tolerances listed on the box... usually 1/4" + or - of 32 or 36 wide... and about 3/4" + or - of 81".

 

Hey Xsleeper, thanks for the great information. You sound like you've installed a few of these in the past. I will take your ideas and put them to use. I have installed one of these doors with a helper in the past and it seemed to be a necessary evil. What do you think about building a jig out of some scrap 2x4's or using a piece of a 4x4 cut to the height between the stoop and the bottom of the door? I really like your idea about drilling for the handle when the door is horizontal on the horses....I remember it being a pain once mounted in the opening. I'll let you know how things come out. Thanks buddy.
Mark

 

It's a one man job but if you have another person, it can help. When installing the door, remove the glass so that the weight of the door is less. I think the glass weighs as much as the door frame!!! Follow XSleeper's instructions and you'll have no problems.

 

I hope I can remove the glass since this door is one of the self-storing types rather than the remove/swap with screen types. I agree with you about the weight of the full-glass models...I have one on my own house.

 

The glass panel is removable.

 

Very much thanks.