Installing a sliding glass door is much easier and inexpensive than most people think it is. There are some materials needed, along with some know-how, but this article will provide everything needed to install telescopic glass doors.
It requires only a couple of tools: a power drill and some shop knives. Besides the door, the materials needed are siding trim, putty, wood screws, and flashing, and door hinges.
1. First Things First
Do you have a friend with a strong back? It might sound like a funny thing to ask in a construction story, but the truth is that it’s the one thing that might be the hardest to do without. Installing a sliding glass door isn’t particularly hard, but it can be both heavy and cumbersome. For this reason, try to beg, borrow, con, or steal at least one other person to help with the installation. It will be much easier to do with a helping hand.
2. Picking a Door
Before anything is done, make sure to pick the right door for the project. The door must be the correct size to ensure that they fit the space available. Many homeowners install or replace their sliding glass door with a newer model to update their look, and this is okay, but make sure they fit. Regardless of what a homeowner decides to use, this will help with the installation.
Locate the wall studs by first removing the casing of the door. Lay the casing aside for the time being to keep it from becoming damaged.
Using a tape measure, get the width of the opening, both the top and the bottom. Now get the horizontal measurements of the door opening.
Now, taking the smallest measurement, fit the new door. For example, if the width of the top of the door is 80, but the bottom is 81, use the top measurement.
Now it’s time to go shopping for your new sliding glass doors.
3. Preparing the Opening
After the new pre-hung sliding glass door is out of the packaging, hold it up to the door opening to ensure that it is the right size. Make any needed adjustments necessary to the size by using shims that are lodged between the door and the frame.
4. Caulk the Opening
With roll flashing, make a covering to fit into the door opening. Caulk can now be used on the bottom of the door opening by pressing the cover into the caulk.
Add silicone caulk to all the edges of the door opening where it meets the surrounding wall. A few drops of silicone caulk should also be spread along the bottom of the door opening.
5. Installing the Door
It’s now time to install the door. This is done by aligning the door with the opening. After you get the door signed with the opening, it should match the depth of the wall as closely as possible. If it doesn’t, you can usually cover the difference with the frame.
Now, with the door standing about six inches from the opening, tilt the top of the door into the opening. Shims should be used to both balance the door as well as secure the final fit by inserting them about every foot around the edge of the door. Shims should also be used under the door screws to keep the threshold of the door secure.
6. Securing the Door
It’s now time to set the door in the frame. This is done by making sure that the door is flush against the wall on both sides. Some allowance needs to be made if there is a gap between the door and the wall. Some manufactures make their doors so that the flashing at the top and bottom of the door can be adjusted to meet the wall. If this is not the case with your door, you will need to create some kind of spacer that can be covered with the frame or filled with putty.
Using nails driven from one side of the door frame, secure the frame to the wall. A nail should be driven through each shim or every 12 inches, whichever is more. It is important to remember that in this case, more is usually better. Using too few nails at this point can cause problems later on.
Using a shop knife, cut the remainder of the shims off at the wall. Shims can also be broken off. Regardless of the method, they should all be flush with the wall. If they are not, use a sander to take the excess off.
Now it’s time to secure the threshold below the door with the screws. Screws should not be exposed after they are installed.
With expanding foam, seal all gaps that can be seen between the door and the wall. Since this is an interior door, this is not that important, but it will keep airflow contained until a door is opened. Using a putty knife, remove all the excess foam from around the door after it is dried. If there are still openings between the door frame and the wall, fill those with additional caulking.
The foam insulation can now be covered using some kind of covering, molding, or something to keep it from being seen.
A sliding glass door can be a beautiful addition to any home. It will also make any home more enjoyable by bringing rooms together to make more party space. If a sliding glass door is installed correctly, there should be no issues with it. If there are any questions during or after installation, a homeowner should call a help center or a professional.
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