This is a step by step guide to installing a patio door to an existing house wall.

A patio door can open a house onto a decking area or just a normal outside area, provide a great outdoor view, let more light into your home and easy access to the back garden. 

To install a patio door follow these tips:-

1) Choose a structurally sound location

2) Do not choose an area which is more than 4 feet from any corner

3) Turn of the electrics and also your water supply (to the wall you are installing the patio door)

4) Remove any obstructions on the interior door

5) Refer to the doors included “guideline installations specification” for the dimensions -(the opening of the door will be slightly wider than the door frame.  The extra space allows for squaring the frame)

6) Mark cut lines running all the way to the ceiling (the interior wall above will be removed to build the header).

7) Remove the wall board, insulation, and relocate any wiring or piping – framing studs will also have to be removed to allow room for the new door so install temporary studs from floor to ceiling to floor.

Install the header at the top of the opening, the thickness should equal the thickness of the framing studs.

9) Use nails to fasten each end to full studs.

10) Once you have revealed the bare brick, use a masonry saw, demolition hammer, or circular saw with a diamond blade to open the wall – gradually expand the hole but keep the bricks intact to reuse around the frame of the installed door.

11) Install a steel lintel above the frame flush with the top course, even with the header – mortar into place.

12) At this point, you may need somebody to help you install the frame of the door.

13) Drive nails through the flange into the trimmer stud and fasten to the header – make sure sides are level.

14) Install the panels according to the manufacturer’s instructions – hardware and parting stops will be included.

15) Make sure the rollers are centered on the sill guide and that they ride smoothly.

16) Fill any exposed cavities with insulation.

17) Add new wallboard and trim boards to the interior.

18) Finish the project by using the retained bricks along the side of the doorframe using mortar.

Installing a sliding glass patio door in your home may seem like a daunting DIY project for a homeowner to tackle, but it doesn’t have to be.  Almost any homeowner can complete this simple task successfully, provided that they can follow instructions and use some basic tools.  In this article, we’ll cover the basic preparatory steps leading up to a DIY patio door installation project that you can do yourself.

With any new patio door installation, choosing the appropriate location for the door is one of the most important decisions.  When thinking about this, there are a few questions you’ll probably want to ask yourself:

1.  What is the traffic flow in the room?  Does your proposed location fit the natural flow for entrance and exit from the room?  Often times, sliding glass doors are installed as a replacement for a single entry hinged door, and in this case ,  you will want to assure that there is no disruption of the structural integrity of your home when the door is installed.  Additionally, you will need to consider whether you need a right side slider or left side slider.

2.  What direction does the door face and what are the room’s lighting needs?  In some cases, the lighting in a particular room can affect the room’s use.  For example, if you are installing the door in a room where you like to read your paper in the morning, a glass sliding door facing east directly across from your favorite chair may not produce the desired effect.  If lighting could be an issue, you might want to rethink the door placement, or else purchase some very heavy, lined drapes that can be opened and closed easily.

At this point you will likely be ready to shop for your new door.  At your local building supply store, be sure to explain all your needs to a staff member and get their recommendations.  It will also be important to read the point of purchase literature from beginning to end, so you’ll understand the pros and cons of each product.  You may also want to inquire about upgrades such as high security hardware.  Patio doors are one of the most vulnerable points of entry for burglars and other intruders, so investing in a good security sliding glass door lock is well worth the money.

Once you’ve purchased the patio door that fits your needs, be sure to take some time to read the installation instructions thoroughly.  Having a good understanding of the manufacturer’s recommendations is critical to a successful installation.  There are also a number of how-to books on the market that detail the procedure step by step for inexperienced installers.  These books are excellent resources and may be well worth the small investment before you get started.  Many of today’s how-to books contain a wealth of information on many other home improvement topics, so this is often an investment that can help you with multiple DIY projects.

It’s important to realize that installing a sliding glass door is not a one person job.  One sliding door panel in double or triple glazed glass can easily weigh 70 or 80 pounds.  Consider that weight doubled for two panels, and you’ll understand that just the task of picking up the door from your local home building supply store will require some assistance.  Call up a couple friends or family members and see who can give you a hand.

With all these steps completed, you’ll be well on your way to a quick and easy patio door installation.  Remember, you don’t have to be a professional to do a professional quality job.  All it takes is a little time, patience, and good preparation to ensure a successful result.

Have you undertaken a kitchen remodel project and are not sure if it is complete? Do you feel like despite the new pots, pans, fancy gadgets and new appliances, something is still missing? You are probably correct! One of the most overlooked aspects to most in-home renovation projects includes removing and replacing door handles. Check out the following tips to finally give your kitchen that finishing touch.


Tip 1: Choose Your Color and Finish


Once you have begun your kitchen remodel, the thought of entirely repainting the walls or tearing down the hand-hung wall paper may seem too daunting to even begin. However, with the proper door hardware accessories, you can change your style-without the added stress, hard work or additional finances. Typical door hardware materials include: nickel, chrome, brass, stainless steel, iron and copper. Depending on your kitchen’s style, you need to determine what material will work best. For homes with smaller children, generally installing stainless steel hardware parts works best; these pieces are easily cleaned to reduce germs. However, if you like the look of stainless steel but are looking for a more affordable price, choose satin nickel door knobs; they compliment any style and are also easily cleaned.


Tip 2: Create a Unique Style


If you are concerned that your style seems mundane or run of the mill, try to incorporate unusual yet trendy aspects to your kitchen accessories. Door handles are available not only in just round knobs but also in drawer pulls and pull tabs. But, believe it or not, door hardware is also available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Why not try to weave your family’s hobbies and extracurricular into your decoration? By choosing door knobs that match your hobbies, you’ll create a truly unique kitchen design. This is a great solution to getting children involved. However, if you do have children, avoid shapes that have sharp angles or edges that can cause accidents.


In addition to fun shapes, why not consider alternating the size of your cabinet door knobs? Depending on your height, certain cabinets – either extremely high or low – can be difficult to reach; by replacing certain levels of knobs with larger handles will enable you to quickly navigate throughout the kitchen and cook meals faster!


Tip 3: Choose the Placement of the Door Knob


Similarly to the size and shape of your door hardware, installing the door handle in a different location may make life easier as well. Especially for those hard to reach areas, reaching for the corner of a cabinet close to the ceiling can be next to impossible. By reinstalling your new knob in the center of your cabinet, you and your family members will access your pots, pans and dishware much more conveniently.


Tip 4: Don’t Forget the Extras


While you are installing new kitchen hardware, be sure to keep your themes consistent. Floor registers, hinges and screws should all be purchased in the same or similar material and finish, unless you are aiming to produce an eclectic theme. To accentuate your style, choose the appropriate lighting fixtures that best suite both your style and your needs. If you are a busy home, a single hanging fixture over the center of your room might not be the most practical choice. Similarly, having multiple racks of track lighting may be excessive for single or small family-sized homeowners.


Tip 5: Show it Off


There’s no better way to show off your newly renovated kitchen design than by throwing a party! Gather friends, family, neighbors or just your immediate family to come to your home. Whether intentionally or not, congregate in the kitchen. You’ll be instantly rewarded with the compliments you receive for your unique, complete kitchen style. You’ll probably even be asked to divulge some of the home renovation tips you’ve employed in your design-it’s a sure sign of success!

As with most innovations, patio doors were once hailed the very latest development in their field: replacing French doors with the promise of an uninterrupted view of the garden, more natural daylight pouring into the home and unfettered access to the outdoors.


Patio doors are still hugely popular and have become increasingly sophisticated. However, they have not completely replaced French doors and the two very happily co-exist on the market, benefitting the home-owner who has a choice of door options to consider.


A fairly recent contender has made an entrance in this space – pardon the puns. Bifold doors offer yet more of what the patio started in terms of exploiting the width of the aperture and they do negate some of the drawbacks that came with sliding patio doors and that existed with French doors. It could be argued that bifold doors offer more elegance and certainly do come with increased flexibility. However, they are not a universal panacea and there are still choices to be made. This document aims to assist purchasers to make an informed decision on what kind of door is most beneficial to their lifestyle and property.

ELEGANCE


Bifolding doors are certainly considered by many to be a more attractive product than a patio door, and although patios are available in most colours and finishes, they do not have the flexibility of style that French doors offer. Neither do they have the high tech advantage of the bifolds that allow stacking to one side so that they almost disappear when not required, although to achieve this satisfactorily, choose carefully who manufactures them as the handles can be positioned so that they knock against the glass and prevent full opening.


In a period property, it may be necessary to match the style of existing windows and doors and this can be achieved to wonderful effect by sympathetic manufacturers of bespoke doors and windows. French doors can be built to complement any style, any period and any architectural design, something which cannot be achieved using patio doors, and although bifold doors may complement a property, they will always be modern in appearance. To some this juxtaposition of styles is unpalatable.

PRACTICALITY


Choice of door type is a matter of lifestyle and convenience. In a small flat with little outside space, the inconvenience of having to accommodate French doors can be impractical. With its ability to span an entire aperture and to open it up entirely, the bifold door can allow a balcony or garden to become part of a room on a pleasant day, in some cases doubling its size. However, these are more expensive and it may be necessary to go for the patio door to keep within budget. The patio has the advantage that one pane slides behind the other and still gives reasonable access and good line of sight to the outdoors. It is also a good solution where a door is required to be partially opened for ventilation without allowing animals or children to escape from the room. Although a bifold door can be configured to include a single opening door, it is either open or shut.


If there is space to open French windows, the door itself can be designed to be part of a pretty entrance to a small balcony or garden filled with flowers in a traditional property or even in a modern building. PVC is the least expensive material and designs are now so well advanced that a trained eye is required to see easily that a door is not timber.


Bifold doors have the additional advantage of flexible arrangement. There are numerous combinations of opening and folding, allowing for two leaves to open as French doors in the centre, or one leaf to open in traditional fashion when the rest of the door is closed. A useful feature for some is that the threshold can be designed to be completely flat – invaluable for wheelchair users, those with small children who may have difficulty negotiating a ledge, and for use, for example, round a swimming pool where swimmers move in and out of the building to use outside facilities in good weather.

SECURITY


Once upon a time, patio doors were easily penetrated from outside, even when locked. Security is now improved and the doors have become relatively secure. French doors have long been subject to rigorous conditions by the insurance companies and locks can be fitted at every level of security to prevent intrusion, depending on the material used.


However, the bifold doors offers increased security options and are good enough to use in commercial premises. For example, in garages which display high worth cars, vehicles can be driven in and out, or in restaurants where the doors are useful fully opened, diners can be allowed to spill out onto the pavement in the summer.

THERMAL


Bifold doors and patio doors are clear winners for thermal features in any material. Their modern brushes and seals have been developed to adhere to the stringent buildings regulations resulting from the current focus on climate change and the rise in fuel costs has encouraged home owners to seek efficient doors.


French windows are available with far greater draught proofing qualities than even ten years ago and there are numerous companies which can enhance the thermal efficiency of your French doors. However, particularly with timber French doors, thermal considerations are the last on the list after a property’s period, compatibility with existing windows and doors and – well – taste.


PVC or aluminium French doors benefit from the latest technology available in those materials, but if we compare traditional timber French doors with modern doors made from other materials, the timber French door cannot boast that it is equal in terms of energy efficiency. It may, however, be just what is needed to keep in sympathy with the style of a building.

SAFETY


A major issue with patio doors, which is still not entirely resolved, is that accidents all too frequently happen when the door is mistakenly thought to be open, but is in fact shut, as sometimes it is almost impossible to distinguish. If someone walks into it – or more worryingly a child runs into it – a glass door can cause significant damage. Safety glass is now fitted as standard so that the severe lacerations from broken glass that were seen in the early days can no longer occur, impact at speed with a sheet of glass on a head or face can nevertheless cause serious injury and care should be taken to ensure there is a warning to anyone using the door – especially little people!


To avoid this issue altogether, and specifically if warning notices do not appeal, consider a French door which will have narrower panes of glass and most likely cross bars to frame them, or bifold doors which have a maximum of 700mm wide leaves and are framed top and bottom to give an indication that the door is closed.


There is a massive choice of doors on the market with advantages and disadvantages to each. Further help can be sought from a reputable door specialist that sells a full range of door types so understands and is equally happy to sell any of them.


And once that decision is made, having taken into account what material is most suitable for your situation – aluminium, aluminium-clad timber, timber or PVCu – all that remains is to choose the colour – mahogany, oak, white, green, red ……

Anyone who has a cat or dog knows that the little critters love to go in and out of the house. To make it easier for the pet owner and the pet, installing a patio pet door is often the best solution. When building a patio pet door, it is important to have all of the essential information before you buy the building supplies.


The following is a guide to building a patio pet door.


1. Measure your pet to determine the size of the pet door. The pet should be able to go in and out of the door easily. The patio pet door should be at least as tall as your pet’s shoulder. Your pet should not crouch as it enters and exits. Once you have measured the pet, measure the spot where you will be making the door. Make sure you have an accurate width. As well, measure from the inside track of the top of the patio door to the inside track of the bottom of the patio door.


2. Determine the type of door you meets your needs. If you live in an area that has cold and snowy winters, consider a double pane door.


3. Use tape to mark on the screen door where the patio door will be installed.


4. Remove your screen door. Take a piece of plywood or particle board that is a bit larger than the size of the patio pet door and slip it under the screen door where you marked the patio door spot with the tape.


5. Take the two halves of your pet door and place one half behind the screen door and on top of your piece of wood. Position the pet door frame where you want it located.


6. Use a utility knife to cut the screen to make the door opening. This cutting location is where the door frame is positioned.


7. Take the other half of the pet door and lay it over the half that is between the screen door and the wood. Hammer the two halves together so they are fixed to each other.


8. Hold door the up and test it to see if it works properly. The magnetic lock should be keeping the door closed.


9. Reinstall the screen door with the built pet patio door. Try to get your pet to walk through it. A dog will use its nose to open the patio door to come into the home and push against the door to leave the home.


Pet doors are a great method of allowing your pets to freely enter and exit the home, especially if you work all day long because it will allow the pet to go outside to go to the bathroom. There are many types of patio pet doors available. There are even electronic types of patio doors that work with a magnetic key attached to the pet’s collar.


Electronic patio doors are great because they keep other critters from coming into the home. Most pets learn how to use them quite quickly. There will be a bit of training so use positive reinforcement techniques such as rewarding the pet when it enters and exits the door. There are many different types available through online pet door retailers so one can find the right door that will meet their needs, as well as their pet’s needs.