Construction • Do It Yourself • Doors • General Information • Tips and Tricks

Guide to Replace a Patio Door

Replacing your patio door becomes very necessary, especially if you have been putting up with a rusty, sticky, foggy or broken patio door or if you are buying a home or if you just want to improve the face of your home. Doing a patio door replacement by yourself may appear scary at first. However, it is a simple do it yourself process, which saves you up to 300 dollars on expert costs. This guide will take you through a step by step process on how to install a new patio door. If you are in Vancouver and you need our help, then you can always turn to Top Door Repair Vancouver.

Patio Door Replacement

Before you venture into the replacement process, you need a checklist of the required tools and equipment plus the right side of the door. This will save you time as you will have everything handy. The following tools will be required; utility knife, table saw, tape measure, reciprocating saw, pry bar, miter saw, level, hammer, finish nail gun, drill, clamps, and a 4-in-1 screwdriver. You will also need a new sliding patio door, flexible flashing, silicon caulk, wood shims, PVC cement, and PVC still pan.

  1. Begin by getting the door opening measurements of width and height. Using the tape measure, get the length between the door frames from stud to stud right next to the old door jamb. The height should also be measured from the subfloor to the top right at the top end of the door. Take these measurements the local door dealer and go through the door catalog, compare the rough door opening requirements with your figures, and choose the right standard door.
  2. Unscrew and remove the old sliding patio from the frame. Do this by latching the door and removing the top screws to loosen and remove the inside head stop before you tilt the top of the sliding panel to the inside and lifting it off the track. You may need help from a second person if the door is heavy. Proceed to remove the stationary panel by removing angle brackets and the door frame.
  3. Clean the door frame area, check for level, and fill any voids with caulk. Apply flexible flashing on the opening sides over and below. Install a special vinyl sill pan over the flashing. Use PVC cleaner to clean the joint overlaps and seal the seams with PVC cement.
  4. Join together the new door frame as per the manufacturer’s instructions, apply silicone caulk along the length of the frame, and tip it into the opening. Centre the door frame in the opening. You can use a level and shims to ensure the frame fits squarely into the opening. Screw it in place.
  5. Tip the stationary panels and the operable panels into the door frame. Tip the stationary panels first sliding it to about ¼ inch of the side jamb, top, and bottom. Install angle clips, trims, and weather-stripping appropriately. Once this is done, rest the sliding panel wheels on the tracks and tip it into the opening. Screw the head top and slide the door about ¼ inch from the frame while checking the gap from top to bottom. Adjust to ensure the gap remains even and the door can roll freely.
  6. Install the handle and the locking hardware.

We provide service in many cities: Door Repair in Abbotsford, Door Repair in Oakridge, and Door Repair in Kitsilano. Call us if you have any questions.

Construction • Doors • General Information • Tips and Tricks

How to Fix a Hole in a Core Door

Tools and materials required are a utility knife, drop cloth, newspaper, low expansion aerosol foam insulation, plastic putty knife, lightweight auto-body filler, spackle, 120grit sandpaper, touch-up paint, and paintbrush. If you don’t have any tools available, you can always turn to the door to repair Vancouver.

Fix a Core Door

STEP 1: Ensure the floor is safe from glue insulation, and paint.

This is done by sliding a drop cloth under the door to protect the floor while working. Leave the door on its hinges; you needn’t remove it to complete this fix.

STEP 2: Make the edges of the hole neat.

Using a sharp utility knife, cut away ragged edges around the hole. Then hold the knife at a slight angle to make a beveled cut and use a gentle sawing motion to remove rough and fractured edges.

STEP 3: Stuff paper inside the door surrounding the perimeter of the hole.

Rumple up a small bit of newspaper and push the pile lightly into the hollow area of the door surrounding the hole. The wrinkled paper will serve as a trivial block to contain the foam to be used in the next step, so ensure you insert it all-round the perimeter of the hole.

STEP 4: Fill the hole with insulation.

With the straw that accompanies the can, spray low-expansion aerosol foam insulation into the hole. Begin spraying from the back of the hole. The foam will come out in the form of a liquid but quickly inflate to fluffy foam to fill the hole. Leave it for about 10 to 15 minutes, until it’s no longer tacky to the touch yet still feels soft and rubbery.

STEP 5: Trim the insulation.

Some foam will probably have expanded outside the hole. With a utility knife, cut the excess away once it has fully dried. Extend the blade to the point where four to six snap-off sections are observable, and then hold it blush against the surface of the door to trim the foam.

STEP 6: Add auto-body filler.

Cover up the foam-filled hole with lightweight auto-body filler companionable with fiberglass, the insulation you’ve sprayed into the hole already. You should check packaging info for exact use instructions. Various types come in two separate containers and require amalgamation, while others are ready to use. Scoop up a little of auto-body filler with a plastic putty knife and smooth it over the hole. Wipe off surplus with the putty knife. Allow the filler dry wholly.

STEP 7: Smooth, spackle, smooth.

Make it smooth using 120-grit sandpaper to get rid of dried auto body filler and create a faultless surface. Then apply a very thin layer of lightweight, paintable spackle over the filler using a putty knife. Sand it once more when it dries. Dash your fingers over the surface to make certain that it feels very smooth.

STEP 8: Touch up with matching paint.

To avoid obvious signs of a repair, brush touch-up paint over the repaired hole. For unsurpassed results, pertain two to four very light coats, letting each dry completely before applying the next.

We provide service in many cities: Door Repair in Abbotsford, Door Repair in Kitsilano, and Door Repair in Clearbrook. Call us if you have any questions.