How to Install a Storm Door

Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2021-01-20 Origin: Site

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Typical facade of American house. Blue and beige exterior paint.

Installing a storm door is one of the smartest home fixes you can undertake before those cold fall and winter months set in. Storm door installation is a relatively simple project that requires only basic tools that you might already have on hand. It's also one of those remodel projects that you can feel confident about since the rewards far surpass the modest amount of labor and cost of materials.

Reasons to Install a Storm Door

Before you purchase a storm door, acquaint yourself with its features since some homeowners may have misconceptions about their functions and benefits. In some cases, you might even find that a storm door is unnecessary for your situation.

Storm doors are aptly named because their main purpose is to protect your exterior door against the effects of weather in general and inclement weather in particular. Secondarily, storm doors help preserve your heated interior environment by reducing drafts that may enter through your exterior door's weatherstripping.

There are many reasons to install storm doors. Storm doors can:

Protect your main, exterior door from direct contact with rain and snow
Add more light to your room during fair weather with the solid door open
Provide short-term protection against banked-up snow
Reduce drafts that pass through your exterior door's weatherstripping

Project Limitations

Storm doors are not a cure for all winter-related woes. If you have a covered porch that reliably prevents moisture of all types from reaching your front door, adding a storm door will add little or no value. Replacing your exterior door with a better model might, in fact, be a wiser move. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a storm door will provide minimal benefits if you already have a newer, insulated front door. Your energy savings may not offset the cost of the storm door.

Consider these other limitations to storm doors:

Storm doors cannot prevent floodwater from entering your home.
Similarly, storm doors banked with snow will eventually leak through the seals if left in place too long.
The air pocket between the storm door and the front door is only of minimal R-value.
Storm doors usually cannot be painted to match or otherwise complement your home's exterior.

Equipment / Tools

Hacksaw
Square
Tape measure
Level
Pliers
Drill
Set of drill bits
Scissors
Pencil
Hammer

Materials

Storm door (with hinge plate and drip cap)
Caulk

With no complicated shimming required, storm door installation is a less exacting process than slab door or pre-hung door installation. Even though most storm doors are relatively light, weighing in the range of 60 to 80 pounds, an assistant is always helpful for a second hand. If the storm door has a screen and if the glass is removable, take both out now and set them safely aside. This will lighten your load, making installation easier. Both items can easily be put back into place once the door has been installed.

Measure the Door Frame
With a tape measure, find the height and width of your finished door opening. This is the space defined by the inside of your door casing. Most storm doors are reversible, but generally, you should install your door so that its hinges are on the same side as the front door.
Install the Hinge Plate on the Storm Door
The hinge plate, also called a hinge rail, is the long metal section from which the door will hang. With the hacksaw, cut the hinge plate so that it is as long as the vertical inside measurement of your door opening. Attach the hinge plate to the storm door with the included fasteners.
Install the Storm Door in the Door Opening
Place the storm door in the door opening. Attach the hinge plate side of the storm door to the front of the door casing (not inside the casing). It's beneficial to have a helper because that person can hold the door while you screw it in place. Use your level to ensure that the door is plumb (vertical). Even if your door casing is not perfectly plumb, your storm door should be plumb.
Install the Drip Cap
The drip cap, or rail, is a short metal section that goes above the storm door to prevent rain from leaking behind the storm door frame. Run a bead of caulk on the drip cap. Then, using the cordless drill and the provided screws, screw the drip cap into the front of the door casing.
Install the Jamb on the Other Side
The jamb is the vertical section of metal where the storm door latch will engage. Screw this jamb into place with the cordless drill and the provided screws. Make sure that the door opens and closes correctly. Adjust if necessary for a tight fit and smooth swing.
Attach the Door Closers, Handle, and Strike Plate
If your door came with closers, attach them now. Usually, you will install one at the top and another at the bottom of the door. Install the door handle, latch, and strike plate.
Test the Storm Door
Test the door to make sure that it opens and closes, the latches shut, and it does not conflict with the exterior door itself. If needed, re-install any screen or glass that you removed prior to installation.