How to Install a Storm Door

A storm door is installed in front of a home's exterior door to protect it from bad weather. In mild weather, a screen can be inserted in the door to allow breezes into your home while keeping pesky bugs out. Most storm doors are made of aluminum because they are corrosion resistant and low maintenance. Allow yourself about three hours for the installation.

Things You'll Need

• Safety glasses
• Center punch
• Drill
• Hacksaw
• Hammer
• Pencil
• Phillips screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Masking tape
• Tape measure
• Drill bits

Instructions

1. Measure the existing door opening. Measure the height at the center of the door from the top, under the brickmold to the sill. Then measure the width from the inside of the brickmold in three locations -- across the top, middle and bottom of the opening -- and use the smallest width in selecting your door size.

2. Display and sort all of the parts and screws provided with the new door. This not only ensures you have all of the required parts, but it saves time when you're looking for a 1-inch screw instead of a 1½-inch screw.

3. Most doors can be hinged on the right or left side. Put the door into the opening, top up, and determine which side you would like the door to pivot on. Put a piece of tape on that side.

4. Install the rain cap at the top of the door on the brickmold. While standing on the outside of the door, position the rain cap so that the fuzzy edge of weatherstripping is facing toward you. It may have to be cut to size using a hacksaw. Once in place, drill a pilot hole through the hole in the rain cap and install one screw on the hinged side. Do not install the remaining screws yet.

5. Now the tricky part: Attaching the hinge to the door. This is only tricky because there are multiple bends on the hinge bar. The manufacturer's instruction will help greatly. Position the hinge bar on the side of the door that you put the piece of tape on. The fuzzy weatherstripping should be in contact with the inside of the door. The hinge bar should extend ¼ inch beyond the top of the door. Once the hinge bar is in position, insert a punch in the center of the top hinge hole and dimple the door using the punch and a hammer. Now predrill the door in the spot that you dimpled and insert the correct screw. Fasten the remaining hinges in the same way.

6. Measure the door opening on the hinge side from the rain cap to the bottom of the doorsill. Transfer this measurement to the hinge bar and cut any excess off the bottom of the hinge bar.

7. Place the door in the opening so the hinge bar side is tight against the rain cap. Predrill through the hinge bar's uppermost hole into the brickmold and insert a screw. Step back and make sure that there is an even gap on the latch side of the door between the door and the brickmold. Install the remaining screws in the hinge bar.

8. Open the door and predrill through the mounting holes on the inside of the hinge bar into the doorjamb. Install the correct screws.

9. Position the rain cap so that there is an equal space between the rain cap and the door and install the remaining screws into the rain cap.

10. Install the handle side bar. Hold the handle side bar in the opening opposite the hinge side bar so that the weather-stripping will face the door opening. Mark the top of the handle-side bar. Now measure the door opening height on the handle side. Cut the bottom of the handle-side bar to this measurement. Install the handle-side bar by predrilling through the holes in the bar, making sure that the gap between the side bar and the door is equal from the top to the bottom. This gap should be about 1/4 inch.

11. Install the door sweep on the bottom of the door. Slide the sweep on the bottom of the door and close the door. Slide the sweep down until the weatherstripping touches the doorsill. Predrill through the holes on the inside of the door sweep and insert using the screws provide. Be careful not to drill all the way through the door.

12. Install the closer to the door. Some manufacturers require the closer be positioned at the top of the door, some in the center, and some at the bottom, so follow the instructions. Position the jamb bracket to the hinge side of the doorjamb and install it using the screws provided.

13. Open the closer rod about 1.2 inch and use the door's hold-open washer to keep it extended. Place the rod into the jamb bracket and use the short pin to keep it in place.

14. Close the door and position the door bracket so that the closer lines up with the hole in the door bracket. Mark the center holes of the door bracket.

15. Predrill the door at the marks you made and install the door bracket to the door. Insert the closer into the door bracket and insert the long pin to connect the two.

16. Install the door handle in the door, ensuring that it does not obstruct the existing door handle. The door handle will come with a template. Tape the template to the door and drill the required holes. Do not drill straight through the door. Once you've drilled through one side, stop and drill from the other side. Install the handle per instructions.

17. With the door closed, determine the position of the door catch. The door catch will be slotted so it can be adjusted. Mark the center of the slotted holes in the catch and predrill at the marks. Install the catch using the screws provided.

18. The closer should pull the door closed so that the door latches by itself without any help from you. If it does not, the closer can be adjusted to increase or decrease the speed in which the door closes. There is a screw in the end of the closer that can be turned clockwise to slow the speed and counter-clockwise to increase the speed.

Tips & Warnings

• These doors can be heavy; it's always a good idea to have a helper.

• Do not overtighten the screws.

• Always wear safety glasses when drilling and cutting.

• Always use the screws provided; using other screws can result in rusting and failure.

References

• YouTube: How To Install a Storm Door - The Home Depot