How To Frame And Install French Doors
Use a carpenter s square and pencil to place two marks that are exactly 88 inches apart.
How to frame and install french doors. Measure from the floor up and add 1 inch for the bottom and 2 inches for the top jamb. Drill holes into each corner of the frame and slide the mullion into place. Use the long level and carpenter s square to make sure the inside of the opening is square and true. Shimmy it in a few places and secure it with more 16 gauge nails.
Lay the door flat on your work table. Next it s time for the actual install. Mark the exact location of the opening on the bottom plate. Just slide the window into the opening above the doors.
Choose exterior glass if the door is opening to the outside. For standard door frames french doors are also available in pre hung kits making installation simple and straightforward. If everything works nicely use the screws to put the frame in its place permanently. Then test the new doors to make sure they fit in the frame and open smoothly.
Provided the wall in which the door is to be installed is not a support wall for the roof cut the door opening in the 2x4 frame after the wall is built. After you find the width of the frame then calculate the height of the door frame. Remove the old frame around the opening with a hammer and pry bars where you want to install french doors. Measure the cutout centers of the doors and buy glass to fit.
Install the new frame using the shims to hold it firmly in place. A door jamb is 1 inch thick has an additional 1 4 inch gap. Remove trim carefully so you don t damage it and label the pieces as you go to make putting them back up easier. Older homes have non standard sized openings so you may need to install a new jamb inside the opening to fit the french doors of your choice.
Finally hang the doors and mount any hardware accompanying the kit doorknobs latches etc source.