French Doors

French doors are the latest fad amongst people. They look suave, give a classic touch to the house and also help keep the house illuminated with sunlight. In French doors, there are a number of divided windows, which run throughout its length. They have double pane glass and are usually adorned with decorative grille between the panes. Instead of a single door for a frame, French doors usually come in pairs. Installing a French door is no difficult task. With this article, know how to install French doors.

French Door Sizes

Usually, the French doors come in the following sizes (length X width X thickness):

78” X 36” X 1.5”
78” X 42” X 1.5”
78” X 46” X 1.5”
78” X 48” X 1.5”
78” X 54” X 1.5”
78” X 60” X 1.5”

However, you can easily get the French doors custom made, as per your requirements.

Installing French Doors

Items Needed

French Door
Insulation
Paint
Paintbrush
Screwdriver
Screws
Shims
Silicone Caulking
Tape Measure

Method

Take the tape and measure the opening for the doors. After you are sure of the size, order the door.
After the doors get delivered, slowly remove the packing. Make sure not to remove the clips from the doors.
Now is the time to make the door opening ready for the installation of the door. The first step will be to remove the old door.
After this, you will be required to protect and seal the floor where the doorsill sets. This can be done by running a line of caulking on the floor.
Place the French doors in the opening meant for it. Set it in such a way that it is plumb with the inner wall.
Level the French door at the top as well as at the bottom.
Set one hinge jamb temporarily with a screw, placed about 6 inches below the top of the door.
The next step will require you to use shims. Place them on the top as well as the sides of the door.
Screw 2 screws on either side of the door. They should be placed just above the top hinges.
Once again, make sure that the door is level and the gap between the doors and the house is even on all the sides. Remove bowed wood from the door, if any.
Use screws to secure the rest of the door too. Now, unclip the packing clips from the doors.
The next step will involve installing the door hardware.
Now, the fiberglass insulation will be placed in the gap between the house framing and the doors.
Install the interior and exterior molding.
Caulk the exterior in such a way that there are no air leaks between the door frame and the house.
Paint the interior moldings and the door, if you want.

How to Cite

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