Installing French Doors In Garage Door Opening

Remove the old frame around the opening with a hammer and pry bars where you want to install french doors.

Installing french doors in garage door opening.

Glenn kanak by tim carter. Frame the rough opening to 3 inches wider than the garage door size you have selected. Next not all doors are exactly the same size. The header is supported on both ends by two shorter studs called trimmers or jack studs see illustration which are placed inside the king studs see image.

Pre hung doors eliminate many of the steps necessary to installing a door. Use brick stone or veneer to hide the fact a garage door previously sat in the opening. Normally this isn t much but if your rough opening was tight or exactly the size of the door and the jamb you may not get the door to function properly without having room to adjust. Frame the rough opening to a height that is 1 5 taller than the door that you have selected.

Add a window or french doors as possible alternatives. Remove trim carefully so you don t damage it and label the pieces as you go to make putting them back up easier. Create a workable design such as covering the entire space with siding only. If you re looking for a screen door for a french door consider a retractable screen which can be installed inside or.

Older homes have non standard sized openings so you may need to install a new jamb inside the opening to fit the french doors of your choice. Inswing and outswing doors are the two main types of french door styles. To install exterior french doors you can follow similar instructions to those on the previous page for installing interior french doors though you have to remember to seal your opening carefully to protect the. Hinged patio doors are similar but only one door opens while the other side is fixed.

It s not that hard to do. The sizes of the door will vary by manufacturer. Installing exterior french doors isn t much more difficult than installing interior french doors if you already have the opening. Design a fireplace in the space occupied by the garage door as another option.

If the door is 7 tall frame the opening 7 1 5. The homeowner wants to install french doors in this garage door opening. Then the framing has to be reworked so that french doors can be hung properly may need to cut into the slab to install framing may mean many other options. This slope needs to be removed.

Use the long level and carpenter s square to make sure the inside of the opening is square and true. If you are installing a 9 wide door the opening will be 9 3 wide. The opening for the new french doors requires a header that spans the opening and carries the weight of the rafters above it. Inswing doors open inward while outswing open away from you.