Front Door Installation Tips from the Pros

Homeowners usually consider replacing the front door only when it’s old and weather-beaten. But have you ever realized that this small change can completely transform your home’s look? If you've imagined having an entry door with an artistic touch, why not go for it now and enhance your home's appeal? The installation process can be easy with a little help from this detailed front door installation guide and a few tips from the pros.

Choosing the Right Door

If you’re looking at replacing just the door while reusing existing frames, knobs, and hinges, or buying new ones separately, you may go for a slab door. Do consider matching the colors and finish of the accessories with the door.

If you’re looking at replacing the complete door or renovating the doorway, a pre-hung door is a better option. These doors come with door jambs, hinges, weather stripping material, handle set preparation, and other essential hardware. In fact, pre-hung doors come attached to their frame, ready with knobs and hinges in the right place, so all you’ll need to do is install them.

Climate is another factor you'll want to consider while choosing your new door. Entry doors made of wood are appropriate for northern climates. But, for southern climates, fiberglass doors are a better choice.

Need more help choosing an entry door that’s right for your home? This door buying guide can help.

Getting the Measurements Right

Accurately measuring your existing door and doorway dimensions will ensure your new door fits in just right. Make a note of the height and width of the door you’ll need and round it off to the nearest inch.

For a pre-hung door, you’ll also have to measure the width of the jambs or doorposts. It’s the distance between the interior sides of the trim around the door. Measuring it incorrectly would lead to extra work of installing jamb extensions to maintain the right trim level.

You’ll need to take two other important measurements accurately:

The rough opening or the empty door frame’s height and width without the interior trim

The exterior opening or door frame’s height and width with the exterior trim included

Make sure these measurements match the new door you've chosen before finalizing the order. If you’re unsure of the exact dimensions, it’s best to add about four inches to the opening dimensions of the new door. It will, however, add a little extra effort during installation.

7 More Tips for Front Door Installation

Now that you’ve got the necessary measurements right and have chosen your new door, here are a few more tips from the professionals to make your door installation job easier.

1.Before beginning the job, keep all your front door installation material, tools, and hardware handy, including level, flashing tape, caulk and caulk gun, nails of different lengths, carpenter’s square, saw, screwdriver, hammer, spray foam insulation, and PVC cement.

2.If you’ve chosen a slab door, first complete the door painting and staining, as needed. Next, fix the hardware — hinges, locks, and handles — before taking off the old door or preparing the new doorway. Once that’s done, install your new door.

3.While removing the old door, a reciprocating saw can help you cut off stubborn nails between the wall and the door frame.

4.If the floor is uneven, to ensure the door hangs evenly, cut the bottom off a door jamb. Use shims until you achieve an even level and the door hangs right.

5.Before installing the door, running a trial by roughly holding the door in the opening can help confirm the new door will fit in well.

6.Maintaining a little, even gap between the rough opening and your new door’s frame will make room for season-based wood expansion and contraction.

7.Sealing the door sill with the help of a sill pan, PVC cement, caulking, and flashing tape can safeguard it from water damage.

Purchase a Door from Knockety and Get Started

Knockety offers fairly-priced, high-quality front doors that ship free to your doorstep. Choose from a range of impressive designs and get your front door customized to suit your unique taste and requirements.