How to Install Exterior Doors
Stainless steel exterior door installation instructions for pre-hung units.
The installation instructions intend to assist door installers who have working knowledge of carpentry, and know how to correctly and safely use power tools. The purpose of these instructions is to illustrate how to properly install exterior door system using methods and materials that help eliminate air and rain leaks. If the directions are followed closely, the door will have a long useful life with good resistance to water intrusion.
Before ordering a door, check your wall opening. The opening should be door frame height plus 1/2 inch, and frame width plus 3/4 inch to 1 inch.
For example:
Standard door frame height is 82”. Wall opening height should be 82 1/2”. Opening height should be measured from the level of the finished floor.
Standard door frame width is 40 ¼”. Wall opening width should be 41”.
Double doors, doors with sidelites or transoms come in different sizes. Consult with your sales person for the required opening size.
Standard practices for door installation always apply. Make sure framing and walls are PLUMB and in level. Use a 6 foot level and check both sides of the opening. All corners must be square.
Caulk the sub-floor. Apply a double bead of Silicone caulking to the sub-floor of the rough opening.
Prepare a door unit. Do not remove any protective film yet. Metal anchors are used for doors with aluminum frame. One side of an anchor is attached to a door frame, the other side of an anchor connects to a house wall. Use proper fasteners depending on a substrate of a wall. Position the anchors in the groove on the back of the frame according to the drawings.
Anchor positioning diagram.
Double Doors Installation
We recommend removing door slabs off the frame. Lift the frame up. With top edge tilted away from opening, center the unit and place sill down into the sill pan or caulk beads and tilt into opening. Door frame width is 2 1/2″. Install the door frame flush with interior wall. It makes it easer to install moldings on the interior side.
Door sill should go on top of the finished floor, as pictured, or with the level of the finished floor.
- Shim the door before securing the anchors. Start working from hinge side of the passive door. Use a 6 foot level and plumb the hinge side jamb both ways (right to left and inside to outside). Fasten anchors to studs by installing screws. Do it one by one, checking the level before tightening the next screw.
- Once the passive door side frame is secured, switch to the active door side. Attach the bottom anchor first. This is the one that will stay permanent, even in case, if you need to do adjustments later.
- Attach a top anchor on the active door frame side. This one may need to be adjusted later.
- Secure a door sill to the floor.
- Hang a passive door on hinges.
- Hang an active door on hinges.
8. Shut the passive door. Lock flush bolts. Make sure it sits tight against the frame. Flush bolt strike plates are adjustable.
8. Shut the active door. Observe weather-stripping around the door. It should adhere uniformly to the frame and to the passive door. Engage locks. It will help to straighten active door against the passive one. Finish securing the rest of the anchors.
9. Adjust hinges if necessary. Hinges are adjustable in 3 directions. Observe the gap between the doors on the interior side.
8. Install hardware. It comes with its own instructions.
8. Seal the gap around the frame with a Great Stuff insulating foam. Available at Home Depot.
9. Adjust electric strike if necessary.
10. Now your beautiful door is ready for decorative parts such as moldings, stucco, stone or whatever you decide is suitable by design.
Installation instructions for doors with sidelites and a transom
Installation instructions for units with sidelites and a transom in pdf
Double door units, where both slabs open, come in one frame. Single doors, sidelites and transoms come as separate units in their own frames. They have to be assembled before installation.
Visual tutorial. Step by step installation of the door with two sidelites
