How To Install an Exterior Door Like a Pro | Step-By-Step Guide

Category - Doors

Skill Level - 2

In new construction homes, an exterior door that connects the house to the garage is a critical component, designed to provide security, convenience, and energy efficiency. These doors are often built to higher specifications than interior doors due to their dual role in providing both interior access and exterior-grade insulation and security. Typically, these doors are made from durable materials such as fiberglass, steel, or solid wood to withstand the environmental demands and frequent usage that characterize an entryway to a garage.

Moreover, to comply with building codes and safety standards, these doors must be well-insulated and equipped with appropriate sealing mechanisms to prevent the passage of exhaust fumes and maintain energy efficiency between the garage and the living spaces. This is crucial since garages often experience more extreme temperature fluctuations and can house vehicles, lawnmowers, and other machinery that might emit hazardous fumes. The installation of these doors therefore requires precise techniques to ensure a perfect fit within the door frame, providing a secure seal and smooth operation.

The following step-by-step guide details the installation process for a pre-hung exterior door between the house and the garage, ensuring it performs its functions effectively while enhancing the home's security and energy efficiency.

Tools Needed

• Drill with ⅛” bit

• Impact driver

• 6ft level

• 3ft level

Supplies Needed

• Shims

• Construction adhesive

• 3” screws

Materials

• Prehung door unit with brickmould

Quality Check Criteria

• Door functions correctly and latches properly

• Even and consistent margins around the door

• Jamb is plumb and level

Installation Process for Exterior Door

Step 1: Prepare the Opening

• Begin by preparing the door opening as you would for an interior door. Trim back any excess drywall and ensure the threshold substrate is clean and free from debris. Scrape and sweep the area as necessary.

Step 2: Prep the Door

• With the brickmould facing you, pre-drill five holes on each side of the door through the brickmould. Space these holes evenly—approximately at the top, bottom, halfway, and midway between those points. Angle the drill slightly outward. These holes will be used to secure the door frame to the building’s framing.

• Remove any shipping blocks or strips of wood from the bottom of the door threshold and any plastic pieces that prevent the door from opening.

Step 3: Set the Threshold

• Install a piece of material (like a base or ¾” board) across the width of the rough opening to elevate the door unit to the appropriate height. This material should match the thickness of your finished flooring. Secure it with construction adhesive and a few staples.

• Apply a bead of construction adhesive on top of this base to help seal and adhere the door threshold when set in place.

Step 4: Install the Door Unit

• Carefully lift the door unit and place it into the rough opening. It’s advisable to have a coworker assist if the unit is heavy.

• Allow the door to swing open to 90 degrees, maintaining inward pressure at the bottom to prevent it from sliding outward.

• Center the door in the opening, using the interior shim spaces at the bottom sides of the door as a guide.
  

Step 5: Secure the Door

• Insert one screw in the bottom hinge side pre-drilled hole to temporarily hold the door in place but do not fully tighten.

• Use the 3ft level to ensure the threshold is level, adjusting as necessary. Once level, fully tighten the screw in the hinge side.

• With the door still open at 90 degrees, check the hinge side jamb with the 6ft level to ensure it is plumb. Secure it by setting a 3” screw in the top pre-drilled hole.

• Proceed to insert 3” screws into each of the remaining pre-drilled holes in the brickmould, ensuring each is sunk deeply enough to later cover with putty.

Step 6: Adjust and Finalize

• Go inside and close the door to check the margins. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the door is evenly aligned.

• Shim behind the top and bottom hinge from the interior side and secure with screws hidden behind the weather stripping.

• Repeat similar adjustments on the strike side using shims and screws to achieve the correct margins.

• Trim excess shim material flush with the jamb.

Step 7: Insulate and Finish

• Fill any gaps between the jamb and the framing with spray foam insulation to enhance energy efficiency.

• The door is now ready for casing. Follow specific instructions for casing an exterior door to complete the installation.

By following these detailed steps, you ensure a secure, functional, and aesthetically pleasing exterior door installation. This meticulous approach not only enhances the door's performance but also its integration into your home's security and insulation systems.