Installing the New Door

If no modifications need to be done to the opening, the new door should slide right in. Don't put it in place just yet though.

Tools and Supplies

To install the new door, you're just going to need a few additional tools and supplies.

• 2' and 4' Levels
• 100% Silicon
• Possibly a drill bit to match your finish nails or screws
• Center Punch (optional)
• Shims

Installing the Door

At this phase it is very helpful to have a friend there to help hold the door while you monitor various steps and secure the jamb. Use your 2' level to make sure the floor is level where the door will rest. Just because a door was there before does not mean that it was right when it was put in. If it is not level, use shims to bring one side up enough to make it level. Rest your level on the shims to check your progress. Whatever shimming you have to do will be used for the door as well. If it is a large amount, 1/4" or more, you'll also need to place shims in the middle of the threshhold. Space them evenly and again, use the level as a straightedge to make sure you have them in the right place and have the right height.

Now put the bottom of the door in place, leaving the top pointing out at an angle. While your helper holds the door in place, squirt silicon directly onto the floor, just inside where the threshold will cover the bead. You want a nice size bead (3/8") all the way from one side of the opening to the other. You also want to go up the rough opening about 3 inches on each side. Now repeat the process near the back of the opening (towards the inside of the house). Make sure you are not applying silicon in a location that will not be covered by the threshold. Now apply the silicon in a zig-zag pattern from the left side to the right side, being sure to stay between the two initial beads.

If you used shims, you should silicon them in place. This also helps keep them from moving around while you lean the door into position. Now carefully lean the door into position.

Checking For Plumb and Square

For the door to operate properly, the jamb must be plumb and square.