French doors have been used in homes for more than two centuries. The popularity of this household feature keeps growing because they are functional and appealing. Interior French doors include pocket French doors, bi-fold French doors, sliding French doors, as well as single and double French doors. Real French doors have individual glass panes, each inserted in its frame. Installing French doors involves the following:
Before purchasing the doors, measure the opening where they are to be installed. If the existing exterior door openings is let’s say 6 by 7 feet, purchase French doors that are closer to these dimensions to avoid wall patching and excessive demolition of walls.
Begin the purchasing process for the French doors by making an order. This may take three to four days to be delivered. Most of these doors are sold as pre-hung units. This means that there is one packaging for the door and frame which makes it easy to install. There is great variety of French doors available for sale. They come in different glass panel combinations, finish, wood veneer and colour among other features. These units can be purchased from the local store dealing with home improvement items.
Create a frame opening for the new French doors. Remove the replaced door and put it in another location awaiting disposal. Use instructions that come with the new doors to make a rough estimate of their opening size. The rough opening should be half an inch larger than the new door units. This calls for the removal of the two by four inch boards or existing structural framing components.
Any packing material that is wrapped with the French doors should be removed. However, do not remove the clips. The floor should be protected by running a seal of caulk on the floor where the doorsill sets.
Slide the new door units into the opening. The door should be moved bottom first and centred to the opening. Hold the French door in place by using three nails for each jamb. This will temporarily hold the door in place. Do not drive the nails all the way through at this stage.
Ensure that the door is level. The spacing along the jambs should be even from the top to the bottom and along the door frame head. Correct uneven spacing by utilizing wooden shims. Check the plumbness of the jamb and head using a level. Use more shims in case the spacing is still not level.
Nail the unit along both jambs once the doors are level. Countersink the nails used earlier and use additional nails to secure all the shims.
Gaps between door jambs and wall framing should be made weatherproof through insulation after which one should install wood casing or trim for the door. Create a caulk joint on the inner and outer side of the door opening at the point where the door frame meets the wall. This prevents the formation of air leaks between the door frame and the house. If necessary paint the inner moulding or the doors.
French doors can be installed as interior doors as well as sliding doors for the patio. They work well in any type of décor. They also come in various styles including casual and elegant. They are made from a number of materials including vinyl, metal, wood and some models even have screens.
French doors can make rooms look larger because they let in extra light from outside as well as other rooms. They can significantly change the look of a house that may eliminate the need for further renovations which can make deep inroads on savings.
Amazing French Doors Design Ideas
