DIY Network

French Doors: Prepping New Door for Installation From "Floors, Doors & Windows" episode DFDW-102

In this segment, hosts Jay Baker and Scott Branscom do the prep work for installing the new French door.

In this segment, hosts Jay Baker and Scott Branscom prep the new door for installation.

Materials:

Standard carpentry tools (hammer, tape measure, level, etc.)
Various screwdrivers
An assortment of trim to finish out the door
Paint or stain to finish out the door

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

1. You need to remove the shipping blocks and handles from the new door. You can usually remove the shipping blocks by hand (figure A). If you need to use hammer, be real careful not to damage the new door. Unscrew the handles.

2. Dry fit the door. It is important to do this before you nail it into place in case you need to make any adjustments to the rough opening or inside the house.

3. It is not uncommon to make some adjustments any time you replace a door with another type. If you have to remove any drywall, score it and then you should be able to pry it out. Make sure and remove all the nails.

4. Removing drywall at the top can be a little trickier. You have to be gentle as you tug it down until the corner bead creases the drywall mud (figure B). Try not to damage the wall any further up the wall than the door casing will cover.

5. If there is a difference of where the door stops and the floor, you can put down sealant (figure C) and then put down a layer of two pieces of 8 inch hardboard to bring the subfloor up flush as possible to your interior floor because that is the way the door is designed . Put sealant between the layers of the hardboard.

6. In addition to the sealant, install a few roofing nails (figure D) to make sure the hardboard stays down.

7. You need to build a moisture barrier around the door and the corners are especially important -- you need to have extra protection there. Start out with an adhesive spray on the corners and then use a self-adhesive flashing. Put the shiny side of the flashing into the spray. You will go back later and remove the blue backing. The self adhesive tape also needs to go down each side of the door (figure E) and along the back of the nailing fins. Crease it over so it covers both surfaces. Use the same process of spraying adhesive and installing the flashing on the back of the top nailing fin.

8. Add a couple of beads of silicone to the rough opening of the threshold. This will give plenty of weather protection. You don't want any water to enter and set and cause rot.

RESOURCES :

French Door (Jeld-Wen)

JELD-WEN
Website: www.jeld-wen.com

The Wood Finisher: How to Finish Everything, From Decks to Floors to Doors
0345372972
Bruce Johnson
Ballantine Books (November 1993)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.