Dia and Tate Eggers, of Holland, Michigan had an exterior door that had been showing signs of substantial rotting in the doorframe for nearly four years. This caused them concern but they didn't know how to handle the problem on their own so it just continued to get worse. When they heard about Ron, they were eager to ask him for help.
Click here for a list of what
you will need in order to complete this project.
|
 |
| |
|
1. Open up wall:
- The first step is to open up the wall to see just how far the damage has gone. Start by removing the door from the hinges. Then, with a pry bar, remove the trim around the doorframe that helps to hold the siding in place. Also, remove the threshold. Cut into the siding and remove as much as you need to expose the rotten wood underneath.
- Rather than try to patch the damaged siding, it is easier and more professional looking to remove and replace the entire sheet.
- Remove the nails and then use pry bars and hammers to remove the siding.
- In the case of the Eggers door, the only way they could remove the whole sheet of siding was to remove the frieze board at the top edge of the rafters that was trapping the top of the siding.
- Remove old insulation.
|
 |
| |
|
2. Replace and repair rotten studs:
- Measure and cut new ends from pressure treated lumber to replace the rotting pieces that were cut away and then use 3-inch rust proof screws to attach the replacement ends to the existing studs.
- Using a power drill, attach the bottom of the newly replaced stud to the decking with screws. Pre-drilling holes always makes this task much easier.
|
 |
| |
|
3. Replace siding:
- With the help of a pry bar it takes two people to place the new piece of siding in place making sure it fits properly on the top and bottom and sides.
- Use hot-dipped galvanized nails to attach the siding.
- Cut out the doorframe from the new siding. You could cut out the doorframe before replacing the siding, but Ron recommended they cut the door out after the siding was up with the aide of a router bit that uses the doorframe as a template.
|
 |
| |
|
4. Install new door:
- Next, install the new door by setting the bottom in, threshold first, and then tipping it up into place.
- Long hinge screws are used to secure the hinged side of the frame all the way through the jam and into the 2 x 4 framing of the house.
- On the opposite side, use finish nails to drive through the doorframe into the shims.
|
 |
| |
|
5. Replace trim
- Reinstall the frieze board and any other trim that you had to take down earlier.
|
 |
| |
|
THE RESULTS:
Dia Eggers may have missed her calling! She loved helping Ron replace her old rotten door, and it was a much simpler project than she imagined it would be; it only took one full day! |
 |
| |
|
