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How to Install a Sliding Door

Posted on May 25th, 2009 by Elaine
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Patios and back areas of a house look better with sliding doors. Most often used between outdoor and indoor spaces, sliding doors give a lovely appearance to any home. You can ask professionals to install them for you, but if you want, you can do the installation yourself. Here’s how.

What You’ll Need:

  • Sliding door kit
  • Measuring tape
  • Electric drill
  • Level
  • Shims
  • Reciprocating saw
  • Carpentry tools (hammer, chisel)
  • Lumber
  • Caulking gun and caulk
  • Screws
  • Nails

Preparing The Space For The Door

  1. If you have an empty door area already, you can skip this part of the installation and just directly put in the door.

    2. sliding door

  2. Decide which home area entrance you’re going to position the sliding door. It should be somewhere accessible, where a doorway would be beneficial.
  3. Using a tape measure, measure the dimensions of the sliding door you’re going to install. Get both the length, height, and the width. Write down the measurements.
  4. Go to the area where the door will be installed and trace the measurements you got.
  5. Get your long nails then drive them into the corners of the space you measured. They should pass and go completely through the other side. If you want, you can use an electric drill for this task. It’s quicker and less troublesome.
  6. Use the nail ends as a guide, and trace the sliding door’s outline on the exterior wall. Make sure the lines are straight and level with each other.
  7. Get the reciprocating saw and use it to cut through your wall, using the lines and marks as your guide. If you find this too difficult, ask a home improvement expert for help. After you’ve cut through, clear the debris and the drywall.
  8. Using some lumber and carpentry tools, make a door frame where the sliding door assembly can be put in. Using high quality treated wood is great. If you’re unsure which type of wood to use, go to a home improvement store and ask for help.

Installing The Sliding Door Assembly

  1. Get the adhesive caulk and use it to line the door frame’s edges.
  2. Carefully fit the frame of the sliding door in the wall you created for it. To make sure it’s resting properly, check with a level.
  3. To make sure that the sliding door is plumb, adjust the vertical door jambs. If needed, insert shims along the base, so the door will be level.
  4. Secure the sliding door, putting it in place properly. If there are screws that came with the sliding door kit, use them. You can use roofing nails to supplement them.
  5. Get a dollop of caulk and put them in screw holes, so they will become waterproof.
  6. Put in the glass doors into the door frame you mounted. Make sure you follow the instructions. Different brands can have different steps.

You can save a lot of money if you assemble your own sliding door. Just follow these steps, and this task will be a breeze.

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