Tips for Installing a Replacement Door

December 09, 2010

If you are thinking about installing a replacement door in your home, guess what? You can! Installing a replacement entry door might require the help of a seasoned contractor to make the door as energy-efficient as possible, but handling the interior doors is something most homeowners can do with a bit of careful measuring and patience.

Tips for Installing a Replacement Door

When it's time to replace that door, follow these easy steps:

Carefully measure the door. Take the measurements to the store to buy the new door "blank." A blank door doesn't have hinges or a frame around it.

Remove the pins from the hinges of the original door. Lay the new door across sawhorses, then put the old door on top of it. Measure carefully and mark where the new door should be trimmed to fit.

Trim the new door so it fits appropriately into the frame.

Align the doors again, and mark where the hinge mortises should go. Chisel out the mortises, tapping out small bits at a time, and then attach the hinges in the mortises. Some doors can be purchased with this step already completed.

Many doors come with an existing lockset. Follow the manufacturer's directions for drilling, chiseling, and installing the new lockset.

Line up the hinges with those on the door frame. Drop the pins into the hinges to hold the door in place. Swing the door open and closed a few times to make certain everything lines up. If your door drags or seems crooked, trim it to fit.

Paint or stain the door to match the look you want to achieve in your home.

If your door doesn't fit properly after you have followed all of these steps, consider calling a door contractor to help you.