Your storm door helps block drafts in the wintertime, keeping energy costs lower. Removing the glass panels with insect screens turns your door into a screen door for summer. These doors also keep rough weather away from your main door, and new decorative storm doors can even increase curb appeal. Choosing the right one, however, requires some basic knowledge. Fortunately, installing your storm door doesn't have to be difficult. Here are some tips to help.
Look for sturdy doors that have a solid core of foam or particle board to prevent twisting and denting. They generally come in standard widths – thirty, thirty-two, thirty-four, and thirty-six inches wide. Most doors can be hinged on either side. Some of the nicer doors can store glass panels on the inside when they're not in use, which is handy in the summer. If you want to show off your front door, or increase the amount of light entering your home, look for storm doors with a full length panel of glass.
Most storm doors come with detailed instructions, as well as templates and diagrams to help you mount hardware. If you have trouble with your storm door installation, you can call the manufacturer to get help, or look online for more information. However, there are two major mistakes you should avoid, since they're pretty hard to fix. First, when you cut the vertical mounting frames, it's vital not to cut them shorter than your opening. When you drill holes for putting the hardware on your storm door, precision is key. If you don't use the template, or do things too carelessly, your hardware won't fit, and your door will have an ugly hole in it.
Door closers are standard with most storm doors. Before you start, however, be sure that your door has been installed correctly, and operates smoothly. Pneumatic closers are the most common kind. Install the bracket on the top rail of your door, and mount the closer in that bracket. Then, you can fasten the mounting bracket for the jamb to that side, and adjust the tension on the closer to ensure smooth action.
Remember not to install panels of glass or screen until after you've installed your storm door and are sure that it's working properly. That way, you'll avoid damaging these parts of your door while you work. If your door uses retainer strips to hold the screen or glass in place, you may need help, since the panel must be held while the strips are installed.
If you follow the directions that come with the door, storm door installation is pretty easy. Just remember to be careful and precise with every measurement, cut, and hole you need to make.
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