Sliding Glass Door Replacement
This article is going to be about replacing an old sliding glass door with a modern Vinyl frame sliding glass door. If you currently have french doors and you want to replace them with sliding doors, or vise versa, future articles will cover that topic.
The first thing we have to do is measure for the replacement door. You want to measure across the bottom, center, and top of the existing door frame to find the narrowest dimension. Start outside and measure at the point where the old door frame stops and the exterior material starts. That material can be stucco, siding, or brick. Measure across in the 3 places: bottom, center, and top. Record the smallest dimension. Then go inside and do the same thing. You want to measure where the frame ends and the drywall, plaster, or sheetrock begins. Take all six measurements, find the narrowest one, and deduct 3/4". That is the width of the new door. Now, when you measure the height, you can do it just on the outside. Measure the left, center, and right side from the ground where the bottom track sits, up to the top where the old frame ends and the exterior material begins. Take the narrowest dimension and deduct 1/2". That is your height of the new door. Then, determine which side the sliding panel should be on. The fixed panel is designated by the letter "O", and the slider is an "X". In most areas of the country, you call it out by looking at the door from outside and reading left to right. So, if you were outside looking at your door, and you want the sliding panel to close to the right wall, you would ask for an "OX". However, because i have recently discovered that not all parts of the country do it this way, my suggestion is to ask the dealer how they read the opening before placing your order.
Next, you have to decide whether you want a retrofit frame or a replacement frame. If the old frame is flush with the exterior material, such as in the case of stucco, then you want to get the retrofit frame, which comes with the outside fin. That will eliminate the need to trim the outside. If you have brick or siding surrounding the opening, then you need to get a replacement frame and trim the outside yourself. You can use wood, vinyl, or other composite materials available in most major hardware store chains. You also need to measure the depth of the old frame. The majority of vinyl replacement doors have a frame depth of 4 3/4". Most door openings, when framed, have a depth of 5 1/2" to the innermost surface of the wall, whether it's drywall, plaster, or whatever else. Therefore, when you install the new door, you will need to add some sort of trim product to build the inside of the door frame so it is flush with the wall surface. We sell vinyl extrusions specifically for this purpose. It's a two piece system that allows you to bring the frame flush with the wall, then apply the molding to the wall and door frame to finish it. Pictures and descriptions of the products are available by going to http://www.how-to-install-windows.com and clicking on "Product Catalog".
You want to be sure and order all of the materials you will need to do the job at the same time that you order the replacement door. That way, when the new door comes in 2 to 4 weeks later, you will have everything ready to do the job. In addition to any trim needed, you are also going to need caulk, a roll of R-13 Insulation, liquid nails for the track, 4" deck screws, shims, dust masks, and safety glasses. Once the new door arrives, it will be time to take out the old door. That will be our topic in next week's article.
John Rocco has been installing replacement windows since 1978. To learn more, visit How To Install Windows
Latest News
 Medill Reports | Home improvement retail sinks on data Forbes, NY - AP , 11.19.08, 03:13 PM EST Shares of home improvement chains dipped Wednesday after the federal government said construction of new homes and apartments ... How home improvement chains fared in 3rd quarter Home Depot Posts 31% Fall in Net Income, Cuts View Tough economy takes toll on Home Depot |
Sector roundup: Solar, home improvement Forbes, NY - CHICAGO (AP) - Shares of home improvement chains dipped Wednesday after the federal government said construction of new homes and apartments slowed at a ... |
Ahead of the Bell: Home improvement retailers Forbes, NY - The home improvement retailers are part of a sector that has "competitive dynamics, stable gross margins through the downturn, and clear cyclicality ... Home Depot Is Not in a Fix |
AG Van Hollen: Home improvement company and owner charged with ... Wisbusiness.com, WI - The complaint alleges that in November, 2005 defendants entered into a $55250 home improvement contract with a Menasha couple promising, among other things, ... |
Home improvement Q&A Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, GA - (Want Alan J. Heavens' advice on a home-improvement project or purchase? E-mail him at aheavens@phillynews.com or write to him at The Inquirer, Box 8263, ... |
 BBC News | Endeavour Docks at Space Station on Home-Improvement Mission Bloomberg - 16 (Bloomberg) -- NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station today just after 5 pm New York time on a home-improvement ... Video: Space Shuttle Endeavour Blasts Into Night Sky Shuttle Endeavour docks with ISS on 'home-improvement' mission Endeavour to launch on 'home improvement' flight |
Economic Downturn Sparks New Home Improvement Trend MarketWatch - With the harsh reality of uncertain economic times, and the average consumer shouldering $10000 or more in credit card debt, a new trend in home improvement ... |
Raven Industries Announces Higher Sales and Earnings for Third Quarter MarketWatch - "These include lower levels of new home construction and home improvements negatively affecting our bed-control deliveries, and the loss of a significant ... The Home Depot Announces Third Quarter Results Raven Industries Announces Higher Sales and Earnings for Third Quarter Patrick Industries, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2008 Financial ... |
Kudzu.com Survey Reveals DIY Projects Are an Unreliable Way to ... MarketWatch - In fact, one in four (25%) Americans have hired a professional to fix or finish a home improvement project they first attempted themselves. ... |
Land owners say gas well was reason for decision Carlsbad Current Argus, NM - Talk of a site selector for Lowe's Home Improvement visiting a potential location in south Carlsbad began at a recent meeting of the Carlsbad Department of ... CDOD Board president clarifies comments |
Resources
-
bad credit Home loan, refinance mortgage loan, cash loan, cash advance loan, california Home loan, p
Online bad credit Home loan, refinance mortgage loan, cash loan, cash advance loan, personal loan, debt consolidation loan, payday loan, bad credit loan, Home Improvement loan, second mortgage loan, online loan, unsecured personal loan Search.
-
Always The Best Buy - The Ultimate Home Decorating Organizer, Home Improvement Organizer, and Interi
Our Organizer will simplify and organize all your decorating and Home Improvement projects. It