How to Fit a French Door
French patio doors are a popular choice for many homeowners. They are pretty easy to fit but the process may vary for each type of brand, in which case the manufacturer‘s instructions take precedence. There are mainly three types of French doors: sliding patio doors with two, three or four panels that come in wood, vinyl or aluminum, two pane door with one sliding panel, and swinging patio doors.
Tools:
- Hammer
- Caulking gun
- Screw gun
- Screw driver
- Drill
- Steel measuring tape
- 6d finish nails
- Level
- Fiberglass sealer
- Carpenter’s square
- 3-inch drywall screws
- Remove contents of the door unit from the package. Unpack protective items but leave pre-hanging clips intact if they came with unit.
- Place caulking on the floor along where the sill will be rested. Hold the unit into place, make sure you center the bottom into the opening.
- Measure to see if the face is plumb, then use the 3-inch drywall screws to temporarily secure jamb on the in-active side to the wall frame.
- Stand on the inside of the door and check the gap above the active door if it's even. Use shims to even out gap along the top of the door, from the hinge to the latch jamb. Care not to drive shims too deep as it can cause the jamb to bow.
- Use carpenter’s square at the corners to ensure the unit is perfectly square. If not, use shims appropriately below the sill on the in-active side jamb. Insert shims at four locations at the inactive side jamb, then secure jamb with 3-inch drywall screws while on the outside.
- Go on the inside and drive 3-inch drywall screws into the wall frame through the latch jamb where the shims were placed.
- Check at the base of the door to ensure there’s even contact between the door sweep and the threshold sill along the door’s entire width. Adjust sill if necessary.
- Fill fiberglass insulation between the doorjamb and wall frame. Secure the brick mold 16-inches on center and fix the interior casing.
- Get help from a second person and ensure to adhere to safety precautions.