Installing an Exterior Door Perfectly - The Right Way

[@jeffostroff]

Affiliate links to tools and parts in this video: 🛒 Dewalt Atomic DCF850 Compact Impact Driver homedepot.sjv.io/rnboQd 🛒 DeckMate 3 in. Exterior Self-Starting Wood Deck Screws #9 (1 lb./73 pcs): homedepot.sjv.io/9WBnre 🛒 Tapcon 1/4 in. x 3-3/4 in. Star Flat-Head Concrete Anchors (25-Pack): homedepot.sjv.io/VyjA0R 🛒 Loctite Tite Foam Pro Can Window and Door 19.6 oz. Spray Foam Sealant: homedepot.sjv.io/9WBnqe Note: Some links we provide for you are affiliate links which if you click on them and buy something, we may receive a small affiliate commission. We appreciate you supporting our efforts to continue to bring you world-class tool reviews, remodeling, and repair videos, tool giveaways, and shop with me videos looking for the best discount tool deals.

[@jamesetal7088]

TY you so much. You remind me of the nice dudes that taught me to surf cast as a kid. Friendly, knowledgeable and took the time to explain why you did or didnt do something.

[@jeffostroff]

Glad I could help, that's exactly the kind of instructor I try to be!

[@djzfishiousvishing3055]

Put your molding on then spray foam from the inside and pull the weather strip out to screw behind them so when you put the strip back they hide the screws.

[@ChristopherJones16]

Yep that's how my fam does it too... always hide them behind the weatherstripping

[@curbside_profit3121]

Thumbs up for the accurate, rough framing diagram provided.

[@rosalieflores]

The most thorough door install video.

[@Spartan-Of-Truth]

Agreed! Super helpful.

[@shawnlombard7350]

I've been watching videos here on KZbin. Yours is the best by far. Your videos are for the common man. Thanks again

[@jeffostroff]

I appreciate that! Shawn!

[@nikolaiv1138]

Great useful video! I have a practical suggestion from personal experience for anyone interested: If a reciprocating saw is not available to you for the removal of the frame, one can first use a magnet to find hidden nails and screws. Nails used in built-in frames found in older homes can then be removed with a small nail puller that costs around $15 or less - and it's quite a satisfying process!

[@annakrona170]

Thank you. Installing an exterior door today for my Mom's 1940s home that was put together by a house mover who liked to combine houses. There is always a new guess how to repair things around here. This video feels like it will be very helpful. We shall see how it goes!

[@belatorius3442]

Best illustration of leveling i've seen

[@jeremyphelps3806]

Good video I do remodeling and have been restoring old homes since I was 10 yrs old .My father taught me most of what I know and I completely understand how the real world and video fantasy land are .I like to find good content just for review and it turns out I was taught the rite way when it comes to door installation. GOOD VIDEO BY REAL PRO !

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it Jeremy

[@morokeiboethia6749]

Sometimes (usually in an old house or house that has settled a lot) your jack studs will be twisted off plane with each other. In a perfect world, the door slab is flush with the drywall and there is a perfect 90 degrees in between the drywall/door slab and the jack studs (a horizontal plane 90 degrees). Then when you put your jamb and slab in, there should be a perfect 90 degree angle (horizontal plane 90 degrees) in between the door slab and the s-jamb and h-jamb. If the jack studs are twisted off plane and then you put your jamb in and shim, there's a high chance you're about to twist the jamb off plane as well. The str-jamb and hing-jamb may be perfectly plumb, but they can be twisted off plane which means your strike jamb and hinge jamb aren't perfectly parallel with each other. It may be a very mild twist and not enough to affect the door shutting but sometimes it does but that's usually a problem you'll run into in an old house. This is a rare problem but probably the most invisible problem to a lot of people hanging doors because you need a square to see it. You can get around this problem by using unbalanced shimming, meaning you might have to have an extra shim on one side than the other or you have equal # of shims on both sides but you had to drive one in farther in order to twist the jamb into proper alignment. But if you are hanging a door and you're showing plumb but the door is still scrubbing, then check your parallel of jamb legs (on both sides of the jamb legs, not just one side)

[@Spartan-Of-Truth]

I’m actually so much more confident having watched this. Thank you! Lol.

[@oglennhamrick4491]

About to replace and exterior back door on an older rental home I own. This video has been so helpful. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain how its done in the real world!😉

[@williecolbert5249]

"Fantasy land" lol! I gave you a thumbs up for the honesty. Great tutorial.

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks Willie

[@stephenvarney334]

One of the best videos on hanging exterior door. Better than This Old House. THANKS

[@samueladams584]

I'm not planning on replacing a door yet but Jeff does a good job explaining it. I have a metal front door that can use fresh paint whenever I get spare time to try and do that

[@jeffostroff]

Don't forget the sill pan if your area requires it

[@DonCastro.]

This was fantastic. Real life tutorial.

[@mekalkasias6571]

Thank you I didn't think i'd ever find a video that showed real world situation. Extraction Good video

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you liked it!

[@DanEBoyd]

Excellent video!! I've never done an exterior door, but in the last two years I did six interior doors in my house. On one of them, I walled off the wide pocket doors, (leaving them intact inside) and got to install the new door in my own wall! I went for level and plumb using the closed door to manipulate the gaps, and then did a light check. I didn't do as good a job on three of them as you did on this one, especially with their trim, so I guess I should ask them if those doors are still working fine...

[@jeffostroff]

This install is still doing great. You will get better with each install

[@mel8080]

Thank you for sharing, this was a great DIY video on installing a exterior door.

[@DavidRHolloway]

Thanks!

[@bigwave_dave8468]

Good video. thanks! You may want to mention to use expanding foam for windows and doors. Regular expanding foam can warp the jamb.

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, good idea

[@ladybugtrail2815]

Great video Jeff! You do such a great job and put so much effort into explaining everything. Looking forward to more how-to and DIY videos like this :)

[@jeffostroff]

More to come!

[@rickyc711]

excellent video, descriptive and clear. thank you

[@americanfreedom6417]

I am 0/3 on prehung entry doors. I thought maybe I would watch someone that knows how to do it. Excellent video.

[@shlomojesus971]

Very helpful - best yet in doors - thank you

[@bobcoats2708]

Thanks for the no BS real-world video, Jeff. This helps a lot. Any tips for choosing a secure door? Unfortunately, we’ve had more than one attempt to break in through our exterior garage door

[@jeffostroff]

Metal door, or you have to look for something more secure like thick steel door

[@bobcoats2708]

@@jeffostroff Thank you Jeff. Seems like they have some offerings like that at Home Depot

[@ronrizzi8278]

Make sure to use minimally expandable foam for doors and windows. Regular spray foam can push out your jambs and cause a tight fit

[@richkucharski8824]

What manufacture of outside door do you prefer? Perfect timing of the video, I need to replace a front door in Florida. Thanks

[@jeffostroff]

I have used Jeld-Wen a number of times, this was a metal insulated door from Lowes, we were happy with it

[@richkucharski8824]

@@jeffostroff Thanks.

[@naynoripr1525]

Great video, very welĺ explained and detailed. 💯 %👏

[@jeffostroff]

I’m glad you found it helpful!

[@haroldmunoz2010]

Thank you so much for your detailed explanation!!! Greatly appreciated 👏🏻

[@jeffostroff]

I'm glad the explanation was helpful for you!

[@timraber6575]

I see you have got a green tool in that video!!!!! Love Ryobi!!! Good job Jeff……

[@jeffostroff]

Yes my friend the homeowner owns that drill driver

[@pattyhernandez5432]

I'm really enjoying your explanations through out the video!!

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you like them Patty!

[@Amxracer]

Exactly how I do my doors. Not as fast as TV shows you . 😂 Real world 🌎 install, Thank you !

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you liked it thnaks!

[@shanenorthcutt9935]

And that’s how it’s done 👍🏼

[@fiily1]

The guy filming and burping @ 10:03 made the video perfect.

[@paedahe4975]

👍Great job Jeff.

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks!

[@7thsignthenorthcoast146]

So do you want normal expanding foam or low expanding ? Thinking the regular might force the door frame out of plum and square

[@jeffostroff]

You want low expanding foam according to instructions. But no it cannot force the door and screws out of plumb. What happens is the foam will expand out the front and back side and you cut the excess off.

[@stevesawyer7964]

Great video, but this outswing left hand door seems to have hinges on the outside which allows hinge-corrosion or burglar entry by knocking out 3 the pins.

[@jeffostroff]

These are security hinges, where pins cannot be knocked out

[@christopherdekonstrukt444]

The back door in my dining room was replaced at one time by the previous owners. I already have removed it and put it back in as a barricade only as I had termite framing damage in the kitchen to fix first. The brick mold is separated from the jam in the left corner so on the inside that upper left corner sticks out. So the previous owner simply shimmed the sheetrock to match the out of plumb corner. The wall around the door looked pregnant.😮

[@ChrisWard64658]

Thanks for the tips.

[@jeffostroff]

You're welcome!

[@bryanwilson5779]

Great video. Learned even more. Best so far. Would be helpful if you mention how much you save by doing it yourself or what new tools you might gain and what are the costs of some of these items. Might date the video some but we can see maybe if the entire project is worth doing it yourself. I am already looking at replacing the frame or parts of it because of water/insect damage. Need to know what to do to protect bottom wood frame or top because the builder didn't drop the outside of the door concrete pad so splash is happening. My outside garage door area really didn't last ten years. Coming on 18 years and I am just getting replacing it after a temporary fixes finally failed.

[@jeffostroff]

Great ideas thanks Bryan!

[@bryanwilson5779]

@@jeffostroff Doing mine now. Ran into some carpenter ants. Bottom damage to the frame and probaably took too long for a first timer. Now I have to go buy a door. Either ripping out the frame to cinder block or just reuse the top portion after cutting out the bottom. I had water damage on the bottom and the design has no step or gap to the front so water damage is going to keep happening unless I cover the whole outer concrete pad with the a/c unit. Have crowbar will travel.

[@stevej822]

ROFL! I think Tim Burton made that door opening. Love the vid!

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@mykolashatkovskyi576]

Great teching video - thank you. Additional thanks for "my little friend" joke 😀

[@_E_G_G_S_]

I loled when you showed the rough framed opening.

[@stevef.8041]

...but it's exactly what we find when we attempt these projects. Be prepared!

[@_E_G_G_S_]

@@stevef.8041 Oh I know. I've been a carpenter for 25 years, i have remodeled countless houses and It absolutely feels like that's how the rough openings are sometimes.

[@anaspetsmobilesalon]

May I just say Thank you

[@bloodoner]

You mentioned that the concrete was not level so you shimmed it. Did you do anything else? Wouldn't there be a gap under the door?

[@Garth2011]

Good door brand. For an exterior door, I prefer they swing inside into the room and preferably open against a wall. This one was right on the front corner of the garage...a little odd location. Good install BTW...I never agreed with snapping off the shims...they are best cut/trimmed flush and clean. This original build really screwed up where the lockset latches into the door frame. I have seen some of those studs just too far away and shimmed just enough that the door frame itself acts as the dead bolt latch...not secure at all. Would be best to have a 4x4 at all locks ! But I'm sure thats just asking too much. Good review Jeff

[@jeffostroff]

This room was formerly a carport, with a sloped driveway so this made an interesting installation

[@ChristopherJones16]

One can never be too secure...

[@almamdani6564]

this vid earns you a like and subscribe from me. thank you for sharing knowledge to the rest of us.

[@jeffostroff]

Awesome, thank you AL!

[@georgedavall9449]

Wow! A challenge for sure! And not for the faint of heart for anyone that has not done it before! It seems like it should be so easy, but au contraire! 🤔😳🙄🙄🙄😀👍✌🏻🔨

[@jeffostroff]

It really is easy, just make sure it is level plumb true

[@DesertSpirit-sp5cr]

Should the mounting screws going through the hinges into the wall be installed behind the weather stripping, which is in the center of the frame? It looks like the hinges are not in the middle of t he frame, which means installing mounting screws into the hinge would pitch the frame forward.

[@LoganMarcosSchmidt]

Thank you you are a genius

[@jeffostroff]

You're welcome!

[@juanmelendez8909]

Thanks Jeff for your information and video, I appreciate you

[@jeffostroff]

My pleasure!

[@smittyone66]

Great video Jeff

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@benjaminleslie3155]

It's like an episode of this old house

[@jeffostroff]

This old horse

[@maciejfassa4394]

For buying a door in the future, I suggest looking at Dako doors. They have sturdy products.

[@jeffostroff]

Will look into them thanks

[@simongardner3509]

Super video, thank you Sir!

[@thebeardedone1986]

12:29 Are there fasteners at each Shim? Do you Anchor each of them?

[@jeffostroff]

I prefer to run a fastener trough every shim

[@raterus]

Doors are one of those installs where you know exactly what the final product needs to look like installed, but getting to that point is always a challenge!

[@jeffostroff]

yes, this took a few hours

[@iggymac3473]

great info jeff

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks Iggy!

[@EmiliaGanner-bi4sl]

Hi! Thanks for the video ☺ I just have one question. In many places, the wooden wedges are removed and any holes are filled. You sawed it off. Is it okay if you stay inside? Which is the better solution?

[@erkl8823]

6:08 my man just actually said "fasTeners"....

[@GLACIOUS13]

LoL! I pointed that out to my "Dearest". She said I was the only one that would notice that. Thanks, pal!

[@thisneeds2besaid]

Florida

[@lamar9525]

So the expanding foam doesn't mess with the plumb?

[@jeffostroff]

No it is already screwed into the rough in opening, you do apply the expanding foam last

[@lamar9525]

@@jeffostroff Thank you, I needed to understand that.

[@steverone7623]

They also have low expansion foam made for this purpose

[@cajunag]

Do you consider it a security issue to have your exterior door swing out? Having your hinges accessible from the outside seems risky. I ask this because I have an exterior door that needs replacing and, because of how the interior walls are situated, it would be better to have it swing out rather than in but I'm worried about security.

[@jeffostroff]

They are security hinges that cannot be popped

[@cajunag]

@@jeffostroff Ah nice! Thanks!

[@jimdomoradzki3309]

And the door is not protected by the weatherstrip when it swings out.

[@soulstice99]

Outswing doors have hinges outside...as far as I know....and security hinges are a plus

[@fionafifi7029]

New subscriber. You kinda sound like Stanley tucci 🤗😳

[@McBurger29]

For every shim, did you have to screw in?

[@TheSisrob]

This is literally wonderful, what a great explanation

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you think so!

[@alexlaffoon387]

How would you deal with an exterior door going into an uneven concrete slab subfloor?

[@G20-i2m]

Great job guys ! 👍🏻👉🏻

[@jeffostroff]

Thank you! 👍

[@dno702]

Great video . Thanks

[@jeffostroff]

Glad you enjoyed it Danny!

[@jetlim1477]

Great job 👍👍👍

[@jeffostroff]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ChrisCarpenter-d5e]

Looks like south Florida somewhere 😊

[@tedmcdonald3377]

Keemazon gonna love them toes Jeff😎🤦🏻‍♂️😎🤦🏻‍♂️😎

[@jeffostroff]

LOL, yes that was my friend Grant

[@HRRaz]

Do i need to screw the top door jam as well? I have a steel lintel up there so what do i do in this situation?

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, drill pilot holes into the lintel and then drill bit sizes up until you can screw into the metal

[@pcguy619]

Lol... if only it were this easy. Sill plate was at an angle and the wall studs around the door were slanted due to some water damage to the joists at one point (but is now fixed!). The door itself was also nowhere near square when not installed. 4 packs of shims later and it mostly closes and seals well. Need another 2 packs to get it perfect.

[@ronniecardy]

Nice job well done

[@jeffostroff]

Thanks Ronnie

[@agisler87]

My sill plate is 1/8 inch wider than the head plate, so it is not true. Any suggestions?

[@rhroney1]

Well done! Thx.

[@edmundorocha4987]

Thanks Jeff

[@jeffostroff]

Glad to help

[@RalphCherry-df3nn]

Thanks for all the great information, now I'm going to hang my new door

[@johnharlow2206]

Outswing exterior door very rare in my parts

[@jeffostroff]

They are common here in FL due to hurricane

[@Ashroyer86]

both doors i have got so far weren't assembled correctly, putting them out of square by a solid 8th.

[@jeffostroff]

Yes, we see this all the time with prehung doors

[@Ian_MacGregor]

Great video! What would you say is an average cost someone can expect to pay for this type of job?

[@jeffostroff]

A contractor might charge you $100 or more per hour, and assume 3 or 4 hour job

[@bbowler250]

My friend in CO just got a quote for this type of install... 30k

[@JoeZ-et1pr]

His shims SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRESSURE-TREATED WOOD. Otherwise, A+.

[@jeffostroff]

sometimes I also use the black plastic shims

[@enterprise59]

How hard would it be to convert an existing garage exterior door that swings IN, to one that swings OUT ??

[@NobleSpeedmotoworks]

You don’t want to unless that door is protected from rain. Hence why this one is rotten. But if you need to, just buy the correct swing door and install just the same.

[@bob2906]

looks great

[@jeffostroff]

thanks Bob

[@Watermelonysha]

What part of Florida are you in?

[@midwestmarauder4821]

So you guys didn't have to put the vapor barrier tape on?

[@dwightcloverdale890]

Why didn’t you install a sill pan?

[@mommachupacabra]

Soon as I saw your name on this one, I knew it would help. Now all I need is another person, as the 115 lb prehung door assembly is too heavy for me to move. Dammit.

[@SailingSarah]

I literally busted out laughing when you showed that rough opening lol

[@jeffostroff]

You mean the parallelogram!

[@SwolShark]

What kind of sealant do you recommend?

[@jeffostroff]

I prefer silicone, unless you want it to be paintable, then Alex 230

[@SwolShark]

@@jeffostroff thank you!

[@johnbalogna803]

No when your a home owner the first thing you should do is make a list of required tools and either purchase them or see if you can borrow them so you get the job done right the first time.

[@bigdaddyjavie]

Why is that exterior door opening outward? That might be, just a little shim over m kill?

[@seanhwy9761]

why does your door swing out? That's normal in Japan but in the us doors open inward.

[@Esiddik]

Perfection!! 👌🏽 thank you!

[@jeffostroff]

You're so welcome!

[@kobrien0079]

level plumb square and true , too bad you did not show how any of these corrections are made , besides level , like what do if it was not square when you checked it

[@jeffostroff]

The shims take care of all that

[@ЧуркинСергей-р5н]

The topic of fastening to concrete remained undisclosed. And the last stage - fastening and finishing of trims - also remained behind the scenes.

[@phillB]

Take a saws all and cut the old frame. It makes removal much easier.

[@flint4fire]

Bit strange to see the rotten bottom and not do any sort of flashing ?