Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Measuring the outer door
• Part 2 of 2: Choosing the Right Outside Door
• Tips
• Warnings

Installing an exterior door on the front of your home will not only increase security, but also improve the appearance and add more light to the normally dark area of ​​the home. However, before you run out to buy a door, it's important to make sure the one you like fits. This article will show you how to measure your outer door correctly - just start reading with tip 1.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Measuring the outer door

1. 1 Check for obstructions. Before taking any measurements, you must first inspect the doorway. Check it for possible obstructions that could affect the installation of the outer door.
   • Pay attention to the placement of door handles, outside lights, a letterbox, and even a doorbell. In some cases, these items can prevent you from installing the outer door, or will prevent it from closing properly. If so, then you may need to move them or install smaller doorknobs.
   • Pay attention to the placement of the supports on the porch to see if the outer door will have enough room to open outward after installation. At this point, you can also decide which door opening option you want. Do you want a handle on the right and hinges on the left (left - pivot loops) or a handle on the left and hinges on the right (right - pivot loops)?
2. 2 Measure the height of the door. Measure the door height at 3 locations from the top of the lower sill to the bottom of the top of the trim (also known as the lintel).
   • Place a tape measure on top of the sill (which is usually made of concrete or silver / copper metal) and stretch it to the underside of the top of the exterior trim.
   • Measurements must be made on the left side of the doorway, in the center, as well as on the right side of the opening, and each measurement must be recorded.
   • Typically, door sizes are approximately 203.2 cm - 205.7 cm in new homes and 243.8 cm - 246.4 cm in openings with older, larger doors.
   • Choose the smaller of the three sizes that you will be working with.
3. 3 Measure the width of the door. Measure the width of the door from left to right, from interior to interior trim (or interior brickwork).
   • Do this in three places: along the top of the doorway, in the middle of the doorway (near the handle), and at the bottom of the doorway. Write down all three measurements.
   • Choose a smaller size. You will use it.
4. 4 Estimate the dimensions of the door. Choose the smallest door width and height. Write them down in width x height format.
   • For example, if your smallest width is 91.4 cm and the smallest height is 203.2 cm, then you need to write 91.4 x 203.2.
   • This is the size you will use when purchasing an exterior door. To be completely sure that your numbers are accurate, you can measure again.

Part 2 of 2: Choosing the Right Outside Door

1. 1 Buy a standard size outside door. All prefabricated external doors are available in a wide range of standard sizes that vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. Thus, all you have to do is find a standard size door that matches your door size.
   • Select an exterior door manufacturer (eg Larson, Andersen or EMCO) and refer to their size chart to find the most suitable option for your dimensions.
   • For example, based on the Larson Size Chart, a 89cm x 203.2cm exterior door would require a standard 91.4cm x 205.7cm exterior door.
2. 2 Use z-bar. Sometimes it happens that the width of the door turns out to be larger than the size of a standard outer door.
   • In this situation, a z-bar extension kit can be purchased to fill the extra space between the door trim and the outer door.
   • This is a convenient option that will save you the trouble of ordering a custom size door. However, this is only possible if the width of your doorway is no more than 2.5 cm wider than a standard size door.
3. 3 Order an outer door. If your door is an atypical size that does not fit the standard size, you may need to order a custom outer door. After you have done this, you can install the outer door yourself. Happy installation!
   • It may be more expensive than the cost of a standard size door, but it will be worth it as you will be able to install the door correctly.
   • Most of the major exterior door manufacturers do not provide a tailor-made door service.

Tips

• No need to use a level or corner. Since the door is not inside the house, these tools are useless. Remember, the installation of an external door must be approached creatively, not scientifically.

Warnings

• If your front door jamb is less than 11.4 cm thick, you may experience the outer door handle hitting the front door handle when you close it.This means that the outer door will not be able to close properly with the latch.