Beginners Guide to Using Prehung Fiberglass Entry Doors

It will happen every so often that you will need a replacement door unexpectedly because your current door looks so much older than the rest of your house. This is actually more common than you think. Exterior doors, especially the front door, are highly exposed to wind and rain, heat and frost, repeated use that age wood prematurely. You will get acquainted with prehung fiberglass entry doors in such occasions as finding more overhead cost involved in the repair of an old wood door than simply getting a new door. Prehung doors are attractive because they are easy to install, and fiberglass doors are attractive because they are more durable than other surface materials for doors. Putting the two together makes a fairly irresistible combination.

french doors with blinds

Homeowners should first understand the value of fiberglass. It does not crack, bow or rot like wood, nor dent or corrode like steel. It is thought to have eight times the strength of vinyl and two times that of steel. It does not conduct heat, insulates up to five times better than wood and lets natural light inside homes, so it is energy-efficient. When it comes to looks, prehung fiberglass entry doors are often given a wood grain surface and wood stain finish fashioned after real wood. They maintain structural integrity for longer, preventing door frames from sagging or tracks from jamming. The prices are higher but they are so durable they will practically outlive your house.

FRENCH DOORS

If you are getting a prehung door on your own for the first time, you must go over potential snags before the installation even begins. Ultimately, you are responsible for making sure your door is the right size and the correct hand - a right-handed door will have the knob on the right, a left-handed door will have the knob on the left - that should swing towards the side where you will be standing. Make sure you have your shims, the thin strips used to align parts of the door and minimize wear, and that you have read the user manual in the first place! Many of your questions will have already been answered there. You can usually tell a door has been installed mistakenly when it rubs, closes improperly or opens by itself.

Most importantly, you should know better than install a door yourself if you lack the skills to get it done right. Prehung fiberglass entry doors have been designed for trouble-free, easy installation, to be sure, but not by just anyone and rather an experienced carpenter or a professional installation service. The process requires tricks of the trade that only an experienced professional would know, like seeing to it that the rough opening is plumb and the floor under the sill is level. A spacer board needs to be used so that when you roll out a carpet or rug, there is unusually ample airspace for it. The door jambs need to connect with the floor when it has a smooth finish like hardwood, cork or ceramic tile.

Beginners Guide to Using Prehung Fiberglass Entry Doors

Ward Eichelberger reviews how to get the best from Prehung Fiberglass Entry Doors. Please visit his Fiberglass Entry Doors site for latest news.

FRENCH DOORS