This straightforward DIY will help you protect your home
Installing a storm door at your home’s entryway can let the breeze in on sunny days and protect your beautiful front door from severe weather. Hanging a new storm door on your own may seem daunting, but today’s prehung designs make installing a storm door an easy afternoon DIY project. This guide lays out the simple steps for how to install a storm door so you can enjoy additional front door protection in no time.
Different types of doors, such as exterior, interior, fire-rated, and egress doors, have distinct code requirements. A professional door installer has the extensive knowledge to ensure your project is up to code.
Before learning how to install a storm door, you must decide the style you want, which way it will swing, and where you’ll place the handle. Look for a door with a solid inner core, low-maintenance finish, and seamless outer shell. You’ll find doors in various colors and styles, so choose one that complements your home’s exterior and adds curb appeal.
Locks and handles are often sold separately, so you’ll need to determine the “handedness” of your door. Face your home from outside. If your entry door handle is on the left, it’s left-handed. A handle on the right indicates a right-handed door. As a rule of thumb, position the storm door handle on the same side as the entry door handle. Storm doors almost always swing out.
Once you decide on the style for your storm door and the side you want your lock and handle on, it’s time to start measuring and installing.
You must accurately measure your door frame to ensure you buy the right size storm door. Using a tape measure, take two sets of three measurements:
Measure from the top of the frame to the threshold on the left and right and in the middle
Measure from left to right from the top, center, and bottom of the frame
Write down the smallest measurement from each set and purchase a storm door in that size. Home improvement centers sell prehung storm door kits in various standard sizes, typically between 30 and 36 inches wide. If your door frame is wider, consider ordering a custom door or an extender kit to fill the space between the storm door and frame.
Hold the hinge rail (a storm door part also known as the hinge-side z-bar) tight to the trim on whichever side you’ve chosen to place the door hinge. Drive a screw into the top hole of the rail, leaving a ⅛-inch gap between the head of the screw and the trim. Remove the hinge rail, leaving the screw in place.
Lay your door on a stable surface for assembly. If you have two sawhorses, those are a good option.
Put the hinge rail against the opening on the hinge side of the door.
Use a hacksaw to cut the hinge rail to the height of your door opening, giving it a slight slope on the bottom to accommodate the slope of your door sill.
Screw the hinge rail to the door.
If provided, slide the door sweep onto the bottom of the storm door. Cut off any excess sweep to ensure that the weatherstripping evenly covers the width of the door sill.
If provided, slip on the extender rail cap.
This step may be easier with a partner to help you lift the door. Hang the hinge rail onto the placeholder screw and tighten it to hold the door in place. Use a level to ensure the door is plumb and level, and adjust the screw if needed.
With the door level, drive screws along the inside of the hinge rail to fasten it to the frame. If you have a rail cap, slide it down to the door sill. Fasten the outside of the hinge rail to the door trim. Make sure the door can open and close freely, then measure and cut the handle-side z-bar the same way you cut the hinge rail. Fasten it to the other side of the door frame with screws.
Also called the drip cap, the rain cap is a narrow rail that sits across the top of the door frame to stop rain from leaking between the storm door and entry door. Line it up to the edge of the door’s hinge rail, holding it tight to the trim. Attach it by drilling one or more screws through it. Install the latch rail tight along the edge of the drip cap and fasten it with screws as well.
Some prehung storm doors come with handles and locksets, while others require separate hardware. Follow the instructions provided with your storm door to drill holes in the door for the latch. You may have a drilling guide, which you can snap to the outside of the door to show where holes should go.
Slide the lock body into the holes and fasten it with a screw. Place the face plates on either side of the door, push the handle rod through, and then secure both handles with additional screws. The latch and deadbolt should be able to extend into the latch opening. If not, use a chisel to open up enough space in the door trim.
The door closer adjusts the speed at which your door will swing shut. Install your storm door closer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You’ll add one closer bracket to the hinge side door jamb and the other bracket to the door. Loosen or tighten the closer to adjust the door speed. If your model comes with a safety chain, mount it so the door can open a full 90 degrees.
Regular care and maintenance are key to keeping your storm door and its hardware looking good and functioning properly. Wash and rinse your door every six months using gentle soap, warm water, and a soft cloth. Wash it every three months if you live in an area with extreme weather changes. Wash during mild weather when your door is cool to the touch.
Don’t use harsh detergents such as glass cleaner, ammonia, bleach, grease removers, detergents with organic solvents, and chemical sprays. After washing your door, apply a non-powdering wax or protectant to the outside door face and edges.
If you’re using a prehung, standard-sized door, you can easily complete a DIY storm door installation within a day. The cost of materials for this project can range from $250 to $1,000, and you’ll save anywhere from $75 to $400 per door on the cost of professional labor by doing it yourself.
In some cases, however, storm door installation can be more complex. If your door frame isn’t square or has other complications that require repair, consider hiring a local storm door installer to handle the job. Incorrect storm door installation can leave your home unprotected from weather damage, so it’s essential that it’s done correctly.
There's a long list of benefits of adding a storm door to your home, making the minimal cost, difficulty, and time commitment of installation well worth it. It protects your home from rain, wind, and show, improves your energy efficiency, allows you to save money on electric bills, offers great ventilation, and deters break-ins.
The cost to install a storm door as a DIY project is $250 to $1,000, including materials. This price range does not include the cost of labor for professional installation. If you decide to save yourself the time and energy and hire a pro instead, you’ll pay between $75 and $400 per door in labor and installation fees.
Installing a storm door can be a manageable DIY project if you use a new storm door assembly kit. Manufacturers design new storm doors in a range of standard sizes with detailed instructions to help people assemble and hang them in about four hours or less. This DIY will be even easier if you’ve installed a door before.
A professional door installer can install one storm door in about 30 minutes. The time it takes will depend on the complexity of the installation and whether the door frame needs any repairs. If you decide to install multiple storm doors, such as one on the front and back of the house, it’ll take longer.
Storm doors are different from screen doors in a few ways. While screen doors are simple structures designed to keep out bugs and allow air circulation, storm doors are heavier and designed to protect your home’s entry door from weather and intruders. They are made of aluminum with tempered glass panels to allow natural light in the home.
