A set of French doors can really make a decorative statement in your home and can not only let in tons of light, but can also add beauty and sophistication to your home. And by opting for uPVC French doors, rather than wooden or basic vinyl French doors, you can not only enjoy the good looks that a set of French doors offers, but also the added benefits that having French doors made from uPVC can bring.
uPVC French doors are comprised of a set of double doors that include full panes of glass within the exterior framework of the door. The glass is often separated into panes through the use of grilles or mullions. In some cases the grilles divide separate panes of glass and in other types of doors the grillework only makes it look as if a full sheet of glass is divided into panes. The doors are hinged on the outside and are opened by pushing out on the central portion of the door. Some uPVC French door styles include one stationary door and one movable door, while other models allow for both doors to be opened.
So, what is the difference between a uPVC French door and any ol’ type of French door? The difference is in the material that the framework of the door is made from. uPVC, or unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, is a stronger and more durable form of polyvinyl chloride or PVC, in which the material is “unplasticized”, meaning the material is modified to remove the portion that keeps it soft and flexible. The resulting material is rigid, strong, and durable and is used for exterior doors and windows. uPVC doors and windows do not warp, bend, swell, or contract and they are touted for their excellent fit and sealing properties. uPVC French doors, exterior doors and windows are also energy efficient and low maintenance.
Installing uPVC French doors instead of wood French doors provides the same beauty and sophistication with less maintenance down the road. uPVC French doors do not require painting, staining or sealing. Most models of uPVC French doors are also fitted with locking mechanisms and hardware that make them safe and secure and they are a great option for exterior doors. Just be sure that the uPVC French door you buy has a 3-point locking system that secures the door not only to the adjacent door (which is easily pushed open), but also to the header and sill.
If you’re thinking about installing uPVC French doors in your home, you may be wondering if it’s a DIY job you can do yourself. If you can handle the job, you will save quite a bit of money, since the price of door installation is typically about as much as the price of uPVC French doors alone, almost doubling the cost over installing the doors yourself. This type of door installation is not that easy, however.
If you’re going to consider tackling the job, then you want to look to buy prehung uPVC French doors, which are much easier to install than having to start building the entire door jamb from scratch. This way, you know the jamb around the door is fitted properly and you just have to worry about making sure the prehung door is properly fit into the door frame opening in the wall.
That’s where we come in! Here are some prehung uPVC door installation tips to keep in mind to see if you can get the job done on your own (note: prehung doors are much easier to install since you don’t have to begin by building the frame and they are recommended for DIYers that are not expert carpenters). There really isn’t any difference in how you install a uPVC French door compared to a wood one, so you can basically use these installation guidelines for any type of prehung French door. One very important point – get at least two sets of hands to complete this project because French doors are heavy and cumbersome to maneuver and cannot be installed by just one person alone. The steps below are just a general guideline of how to install a uPVC French door, and you should check any instructions included with the door or from the manufacturer of the door you buy before getting started.
How to install a prehung uPVC French door:
- Unpack your prehung uPVC French door and remove all packing material, including boxes, plastic, cardboard or skid boards. Do not, however, remove any clips that keep the doors closed until after the installation process is complete.
- Make sure the opening for the door is the proper size and that it is properly prepared to protect the house from exterior elements. There should be house wrap that is wrapped around the frame and secured to the inside, and there should be an ice/water shield installed along the bottom of the door frame.
- Attach a couple of 2” x 4” blocks to the interior of the door frame on both the top and bottom of the frame opening so that when you install the uPVC French doors from the outside, they will stop at the edge of the interior frame.
- Apply a thick bead of caulk along the bottom sill of the door frame to seal the space between the sill and the new door jamb.
- Position the prehung French door in place, beginning with lining up the bottom of the door and making sure it is centered and flush against the inside frame (keep the door slightly tilted towards the outside to make it easier to position properly). Once the door is in position, tilt the door inwards to position the top of the door as well. Remember these doors are very heavy, so you may need more than two people to complete this step.
- Make sure the door frame is plumb and flush with both the interior and exterior walls and that the spaces around the door are even. Also make sure the door is level and that there is the proper spacing to secure the two doors to each other and open them. Check that the corners are square. Use shims to level out the frame on both sides and the bottom of the door frame and to make any adjustments needed (do not use shims along the door head jamb on the top).
- Once you have added shims, recheck that the door is flush, plumb, level and square and make any necessary adjustments if it is not.
- Use 3” or 3 ½” screws (or check with the directions on the door you purchased to see if they recommend a different size) and screw the door jamb to the door frame opening through the shims all the way around. Make sure that your door remains flush, plumb, level and square throughout this process. It is best to get a screw in on each side to secure it and then add the remaining screws once you know it is being held in place where you want it.
- Once completed, remove the temporary door stops that you created and remove any clips that were holding the doors in place.
- Check that the doors open and close properly.
- Install any necessary door hardware and locking mechanisms.
- Fill the spaces between the door jamb and the door frame opening with insulation and then add door trim along the edges of the door (you should caulk before putting exterior trim on to seal it better).
- Enjoy your beautiful new uPVC French door and let the light shine in!
These directions are for the installation of an exterior uPVC French door (since this type of material is not usually used on interior doors). But since the installation process can be used for just about any type of prehung French door, you can also use the same steps to install an interior prehung French door, skipping the steps about having to seal the spaces for weather protection.
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