This Old House French Door Install

Today s exterior french doors often arrive prehung in a wood frame complete with sill and weatherstripping.

This old house french door install.

Diy or hire a pro. Other models are available for doors ranging in width from 3 to 8 ft. In this diy video we show you how to install french doors to let in the light with glass panels. A prehung door is a unit that comes with hardware and a frame ready to be installed into a doorway.

Bob vila takes a close look at the process of installing french doors. Mark the door where it meets the existing hinge mortises on the jamb. Also mark the door at the latch hole for the existing strike plate. For standard door frames french doors are also available in pre hung kits making installation simple and straightforward.

Purchasing one does simplify and speed up installation but the term prehung is really a misnomer. For instructions on interior doors read how to install a prehung interior door. Plane or cut it as needed. Return the door to its opening and shim it evenly all around.

Older homes have non standard sized openings so you may need to install a new jamb inside the opening to fit the french doors of your choice. For more how to video visit. Place the door in the opening and shim it until it s centered in the opening. We installed the screenex model pd7283 in front of a 6 ft wide pair of french doors.

Doors are available in white almond and brown. Remove the old door. Optional grilles and hardware can be added to round out your door style. Questions you should ask photo by jodi jacobsen istock photo.

Pre hung doors eliminate many of the steps necessary to installing a door. Check for tight spots. These doors and jambs must still be carefully adjusted to account for shortcomings in the wall frame.