How To Install Interior French Doors In Existing Opening

We purchased pre hung french doors to make installing them even easier.

How to install interior french doors in existing opening. We bought these particular doors because they match our 10 pane glass door into my office. Remove the old frame around the opening with a hammer and pry bars where you want to install french doors. Set the double french door into the rough opening. Hold the door in the opening with shims and transfer the marks.

The secret is to make sure the rough opening is not twisted. First remove the old frame. Use the long level and carpenter s square to make sure the inside of the opening is square and true. Great illustration here with string test.

I have a finished opening from hall to parlor of 41 5 x 81. Here are the doors we bought. The opening for the new french doors requires a header that spans the opening and carries the weight of the rafters above it. Take note of what reference notch on the bracket the drawn level line happens to pass through.

How to install exterior and interior french doors in a existing opening step 1. You re more than likely going to be removing the drywall and or trim around the space. Doors skylights and windows how do i install interior french doors in existing finished opening. Interior french doors can connect two rooms with lots of light and create privacy when needed.

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. After the door is hung and the lockset installed rub a little lipstick on the bolt to mark the jamb for the strike plate. Be careful when using the hammer and pry bar so that you don t damage the trim.

Using the level line drawn on the wall screw in the top bracket on the side of the door where the level line was drawn. For standard door frames french doors are also available in pre hung kits making installation simple and straightforward. Before we could install them we needed to trim a little off the bottom of the frame. What do i need to do to.

The header is supported on both ends by two shorter studs called trimmers or jack studs see illustration which are placed inside the king studs see image. Prep the opening figure out your space s opening for where you want install your doors. We purchased our french doors from our local hardware store. Tim carter shares diy installation tips for success in hours.

Pre hung doors eliminate many of the steps necessary to installing a door. Mortise the strike plate into the jamb with a chisel. It s a good idea to label the trim pieces so you can put them back up more quickly.