Install a Patio Sliding Door
Installing a patio sliding door doesn't have to be a professional job. It is an excellent upgrade to your home, saving money by improving your home's energy efficiency. Plus, by doing it yourself, you'll save the cost of installation. Here are some steps to guide you as you learn how to install a patio sliding door.
Contents
[hide]Steps
- Measure the opening where your door will go and check the measurements of the selected sliding door.
- Remove the trim that surrounds the existing door. To avoid tearing the wallboard, use a utility knife to slice through the caulk and the paint, and then pull it off with a pry bar.
- Break the existing door into as many pieces as possible and remove any stops or pieces of trim.
- Remove the exterior trim using a magnet to locate the nails under the paint and then remove them using the claw end of a hammer.
- Extract the screws from the existing door unit using a hammer. Be sure to get all of the screws from under the door track and behind the strike plates and push it toward the outside of the house.
- Level the sides of the opening. If your opening is larger than the door, use strips of plywood to reduce it.
- Waterproof the rough opening.
- Install foil-backed tape along the sill, continuing for about 6 inches (15.24 cm) up the side jamb. Use another strip of tape on the threshold and then seal the entire opening, including the header and sides.
- Reinstall the sill molding and apply silicone sealant along the sill. Set the door into place, bottom first.
- When it is properly seated, tip the door into position. If the door came with an aluminum nailing flange, make sure it is folded open.
- Secure the door by driving roofing nails through the aluminum fin and into the studs framing the rough opening. Start by partially hammering a few nails in.
- Verify that the unit is level and place shims between the studs and the door frame to hold the proper spacing. Drive screws through the side jambs, starting on the latch side.
- Secure the roofing nails in the exterior flange.
- Apply a dab of silicone to any hole going through the sill before installing the screws, keeping the door watertight. Screw in the top and set the door panel into the frame.
- Attach the exterior trim, leaving a slight gap to allow for expansion. Stuff foam backer rod into the gap and then apply silicone sealant.
- Install the interior trim. Remove any excess from the shims and then fill the gaps surrounding the frame with insulating foam.
- Add the interior door casings and other hardware following the manufacturer's instructions.
Tips
- When sealing the gaps in the trim, use low expansion foam to prevent the jamb from bowing.
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