How to Install Exterior French Doors
Dreaming of an elegant patio entrance to let in light and fresh air? Installing exterior French doors can transform the look and feel of your home. With precise planning and measurement, attention to detail, and proper techniques, installing exterior French doors is a manageable DIY project for many homeowners. Follow this guide to properly install stunning new exterior French doors in your doorway or wall opening.
An ideal home renovation project to enhance your living space with style and class, new French doors open up rooms with natural light and easy access to the outdoors. They instantly upgrade plain wall space with a classic elegance that invites the outside in. Whether planning an exterior doorway for a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, or other living area, beautiful French doors make a striking design statement.
Research and Planning for Installing Exterior French Doors
Careful planning and evaluation ensure smooth installation of your French door unit. Before visiting the home improvement store, measure thoroughly, check for obstructions, and make a few key decisions about materials and features.
Measure the Wall Opening Carefully
Use a steel tape to measure width/height in three places to account for any lack of plumb or level in your wall. Note the smallest measurement in each to size the doors accordingly.
Standard exterior door widths are 30, 32, 34, and 36 inches. Measure in multiple spots for the most precise sizing. Account for trimming, shimming, and squaring the door unit during installation with a slightly smaller sizing.
Assess for Obstructions
Consider existing structures around the installation area when planning your project. Make sure no pipes, electrical, vents/returns, roof overhangs, or other elements block the opening space or planned operation swing area of new French doors. If issues exist, adjustments or moving their location may be required.
Choose Your Door Features
There are numerous aesthetic design options when selecting exterior French doors including:
- Door material: wood, fiberglass, vinyl, aluminum, composite
- Number of door panels: two or three long narrow French door style panels popular
- Glass features: clear, opaque, frosted, stained, leaded, double pane insulation
- Color/finish: painted, stained, faux wood grains
- Hardware finishes: oil rubbed bronze, brass, chrome, black
- Grill patterns: crossbucks, prairie, diamond, custom matching house trim
- Molding: brickmould, wide contemporary casing, fluted door surround
Consider how the design complements your home's exterior. Gather product details to purchase pre-hung door units complete with jambs, weatherstripping, and pre-drilled hinge cutouts for easier DIY installation.
Measuring and Preparing the Door Opening
With materials selected, it's time to start prepping the building opening. Measure precisely for a custom plumb and square fit.
Framing Assessment
Examine the existing wall structure surrounding your planned install location. Ensure king and jack studs secure the header over the opening. Verify sheathing, house wrap, and exterior finish (siding, stucco, etc.) are intact. Make any repairs prior to installation day for best results.
Laying Out for a Precise Fit
Work from your smallest measurements to lay out the opening, allowing room for shims and adjustments during install. Laser levels help make accurate layout lines and confirm openings are perfectly plumb and level.
For rough openings, add 1 inch width and 1/2 inch height total to your door's dimensions. This extra space allows easing the unit into place. On finished walls, cut the opening 1/2 inch wider and 1/4 inch taller than the manufacturers specs.
Securing and Installing the Door Frame
With an accurately framed opening, it's time to secure the pre-hung door's frame into the rough or finished wall structure following manufacturer guidelines.
Checking Plumb and Level
Set the fully assembled exterior French door unit into the opening. Use shims to make the jambs plumb and level. Check diagonally with an accurate 4 foot level, adjusting shims gradually until the jambs are perfectly positioned.
Anchoring the New Door Frame
Predrill clearance holes through the jambs every 12-16 inches, taking care not to drill beyond and puncture housewrap or exterior sheathing. Secure jambs using 3 inch screws suitable for your wall's structure through shims and into king studs or jack studs.
For finished walls, use extra long screws to anchor firmly into framing. Consider compression sleeves for added stability if non load-bearing framing exists behind finish materials.
Hanging and Adjusting Exterior French Doors
Installing Door Panels
With jambs solidly shimmed, plumb, and anchored, install pre-hung door panels secured with hinges. Keep units closed and locked to check margins and make any hinge adjustments for proper alignment and gap allowances.
Adjusting Operation and Clearances
Beginning at door tops, insert shims between jamb and door edge at middle and bottom hinge locations to adjust panel margins evenly. Make gradual tweaks at one hinge until uniform gaps run length of door edge.
Aim for consistent 3/16 inch spacing from door edge to jamb stop. Equalize margins and confirm smooth operation after each adjustment. Precision at this stage ensures performance and weatherproofing for years.
Installing Exterior Trim and Casing for French Doors
Install Brick Mold Door Surround
Miter cut brick mold boards to surround outer door perimeter if your doors didn't come with nailing flanges. Pre-drill and nail into place, sealing seams with quality caulk.
Casing or Other Decorative Trims
Casing trims the interior sides of jambs with various widths and patterns complementing your home's style. Wide modern or traditional ogee styles dress up French doors attractively. Cut miters in corner seam locations for a pro-quality look.
Weatherproofing and Sealing Your French Door Installation
Apply High-Quality Weatherstripping
Quality weatherstripping is critical for exterior doors. Ensure strips dubbed sweeps seal threshold gaps below doors. Foam compression strips fill vertical gaps between doors and jamb stops, while durable top and side jamb seals prevent water infiltration and airflow.
Caulk Perimeter Seams
Applying caulk completes the weatherproofing process. Seal the exterior perimeter between brick molding and siding with quality paintable sealant and tool into place for water beading. Skip threshold exterior caulking to permit any water entry to drain outside.
Safety Checks and Final Touches for New Exterior French Doors
Test Door Units Operation and Security Features
Safely operate newly installed doors through full swing arcs without scraping floors or banging walls to confirm adequate clearances. Inspect security features including multi-point locks, deadbolts, and strikes for smooth function with proper alignment and engagement.
New exterior French doors merit finishing touches like backer rod and sealant behind perimeter stops for energy savings and decorative hold backs or kickplates on interior sides. Once caulk fully cures, paint or stain doors to match your exterior colors.
New exterior French doors enhance homes for years of stylish weather-tight performance with good planning and attention to detail. Enjoy the beautiful upgrades!