How to Replace a Sidewalk Basement Door
Exterior doors protect your home from the elements and intruders alike. A wide variety of finishes, textures, and materials are available to choose from when selecting an exterior door. Weathering, impact damage, and normal wear and tear will all take a toll on your exterior door, requiring replacement. To replace an exterior door, you will need a little time, a few tools, and a bit of know how. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Framing hammer
- 8d finishing nails
- 16d finishing nails
- Nail set
- Nail puller
- 4-foot level
- Reciprocating saw with bi-metal blade
- Caulk gun with 30-year acrylic caulk
- Wood putty
- Clean, wet rag
- Razor knife
- Replacement wooden, exterior door and frame
- Safety glasses
- Work gloves
Instructions
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Place the short end of the nail puller against the wall with the tips of the claw touching the frame. Hold the long side of the nail puller as you tap on the back of the angle with your hammer. Drive the short end of the nail puller under the door frame, and pull the long end down to pull the frame free of the wall. Move around the frame on the inside and the outside of the door to remove the trim pieces from the wall. Pull the nails from the trim pieces, discard the old nails and set the trim aside until ready for replacement.
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2
Place your nail set in the center of the bottom of a hinge, and tap with the hammer. Drive the hinge pin out of the hinge and discard. Remove and discard from all 3 hinge pins in the door. Remove and discard the old door. Slide the tip of the blade of your reciprocating saw through the gap between he door frame and the adjoining wood. Squeeze the trigger, and slide the blade along the length of each side of the frame. Cut away the top piece of the frame, pull the old frame free from the opening and discard the frame.
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3
Remove the hinge pins from your new door and set them and the door aside for replacement. Set the frame into place inside of the hole in the wall. Lay your level against the outside of the wall near the top of the doorway, and press the frame against it. Nail one side with a 16d finishing nail to the top piece of the frame, and flush and nail the other side. Place another nail in the middle of the top. Use your level to flush each side, and place a 16d nail every 18 inches down each side. Drive the nail heads of all of the nails below the surface of the wood with your nail set. Cover the hole over the nail heads with wood putty.
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4
Replace the inside and outside trim boards. Drive an 8d nail through each nail hole to fasten it to the wall into place. Attach one side board, using your level to insure proper placement. Attach the other side board, using your level to insure proper placement. Attach the top board into place on top of the side boards. Go to the other side, and repeat the process so that both frames are securely in place. Drive extra 8d nails where necessary to fasten the boards firmly to the wall. Countersink all the nail heads, and fill the holes with wood putty.
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5
Locate the angled mark on the tip of the tube of caulk. Cut along this mark with your razor knife to obtain a 1/4 inch opening. Slide an 8d nail into the opening, and press to puncture the diaphragm inside the tube. Remove the nail, wipe it clean with a wet rag and set it aside for use on the next tube. Slide the rear of the tube into the gun, drop the tip into the notch at the front of the gun and twist the tube so that the longest point of the angled tip is in alignment with the top of the gun. Squeeze the trigger until caulk exits the tip, press the pressure release button on the gun and wipe the tip clean with a wet rag.
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6
Place the tip of the tube against one end of a seam, squeeze the trigger and drag the gun along the length of the seam leaving a bead of caulk covering the entire joint. Press the pressure release button, wipe the tip clean with a wet rag and set the gun aside for use on the next seam. Push your finger into the end of the bead of caulk, and drag it along the entire length to push the caulk into the joint and smooth the surface. Caulk every seam on the inside, outside and the frame itself. Your door is now installed and ready for paint.
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Tips & Warnings
A reciprocating saw is an electrical power tool. Please read and follow all of the manufacturer's recommendations before and during use of this or any other power tool.
Razor knives pose a cut hazard. Please use caution and common sense when using knives.
Always wear appropriate safety equipment, such as leather work gloves and safety glasses, when working with tools.
Caulk is a non-biodegradable chemical compound. Please dispose of scrap caulk, leftover tubes and contaminated rags in a legal and environmentally friendly manner.
