French doors are not only beautiful, they're functional. They allow you to open up a room, have easier access for large pieces of furniture, and offer an elegant entry when entertaining a large crowd. Exterior French doors bring some of the outdoors in when closed or open. French doors with glass inserts allow you to visually bring light and nature into your living space and provide generous ventilation when open. They act as an additional window into your home. Interior French doors set with glass inserts allow you to separate rooms without visually shutting them off. This is particularly helpful for rooms such as dining rooms and home offices.
It costs an average of $2,500 to $4,000 to have them installed, so you can save a considerable amount of money by doing the installation yourself. But doesn't it take hard work to install French doors yourself? It takes solid DIY skills, but the difficulty depends on the circumstances.
It's easier to install a pre-hung double door. If you're replacing French doors and the door frame is already large enough, it's pretty straightforward. If you need to expand the opening from a single door, you’ll have to do some extra work.
French double doors must be hung level and the trim finished carefully. It can be frustrating to install French doors when you may encounter warping in the double door itself, the frame, or the opening where the doors will go. Take your time and plan on making several sets of adjustments to get the doors to line up well.
Continue reading to learn how to install French doors.
The easiest style to install are pre-hung. Each door will include the hinges, jamb, the threshold, weather-stripping, and other components. If you do not get a pre-hung double door, you’ll need to frame them before installation. You can purchase a pre-machined door frame set that makes it easier to frame out the rough opening. French doors are manufactured using vinyl, fiberglass, or wood. Options include solid doors or ones featuring glass inserts, with or without decorative dividing elements.
Be sure to get doors labeled as exterior for an opening to the outside of your home and as interior for openings between rooms in your home. Look for ones that are well-rated for energy efficiency and security. Make sure that there is enough floor space in the room for them to swing open completely, whether they swing out or in. If you do not have enough room, you can get a double door in which one side opens completely and one is fixed.
Remove any baseboards next to the double French door opening using a pry. If the opening is larger than the framed doors, complete the framing work before installation including the sides and header if necessary. The height of the framing should be about 2-1/2 inches more than the door’s height. For the width, measure the door width and add 2 inches.
Rough openings are usually not completely square right off the bat. The most important step is making sure the threshold of the opening is level and the sides are plumb. Use shims to fix any unevenness. Place shims behind the location of the door hinges to strengthen those areas.
If they're not pre-hung French doors and are acting as exterior, you will need to install a threshold. Ready-made thresholds are easiest to work with. Cut to fit, use shims to level, and install using screws and a silicone adhesive. Screw the threshold down snuggly to prevent sagging or sliding. Caulk the edges of the threshold especially where it meets concrete or subfloor.
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Insert the jamb and door assembly into the opening. Starting at the top, nail the jamb to the opening, keeping it flush with the drywall. Stop frequently to check if the jamb is square and plumb and adjust using shims.
Expect to continue to adjust the spacing; a jamb is never completely perfect, but you should eventually make only small adjustments. Ensure all the gaps around the doors are as close to equal as possible. Use more shims to make final adjustments. There should be a small gap to allow for any expansion or shrinkage due to atmospheric changes and fluctuating humidity. Nail the jamb in place and nail through any shims you’ve used. Check the gaps again with each door both opened and closed.
Cut the sides and header boards to fit the rough opening. Assemble the jamb sides and header on the ground with nails. Tack it in the opening with finishing nails using shims to level. Use clamps to even out any unevenness with the opening. If the doors don't have hinge grooves already cut, you can do that once you’ve installed the jamb.
Score the shims along the drywall line using a utility knife and snap them off flush with the drywall. The exposed shims will be covered with the door trim. If each door didn't come with an installed handle, you’ll need to attach it. Drill out the hole for the door knobs and strike plate. Add a strip of wood overlapping the gap between the doors if not already included and a push lock to keep one of the doors closed if desired.
Finally, French doors add a special touch to a home. They increase the light in the room, make the space seem larger, and will increase the value of your home. With some care and patience, you can install new French doors yourself which will help lower the cost and improve your living space.
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