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Installing a metal door with your own hands - step-by-step instructions. Correct installation of a metal entrance door with your own hands How to install an iron door yourself

Reading time ≈ 3 minutes

It is no secret that installing entrance doors with your own hands is not only a complex, but also a labor-intensive process that requires not only personal participation, but also the presence of a physically strong assistant, since it will not be easy to install a multi-kilogram steel door alone.

Removing an old iron door

Having found an assistant and having studied how to install the front door with your own hands, at least theoretically, you can proceed to the first stage, which consists of either dismantling the old iron door if you are going to replace it, or maximizing the size of the opening to the dimensions of the purchased door, if equipped entrance to a new apartment or house. In the first case, first the door is separated from the frame, as in the video below (for detachable hinges, this is done using a crowbar, first opening it 90 degrees; for permanent hinges, use a screwdriver), and then the frame itself is dismantled. If it is metal, then you may have to use a grinder to cut it. In the second case, using bricks, cinder blocks or aerated concrete, the opening is reduced to the size of the frame along with the doors, leaving technological gaps for their alignment.

Step-by-step instructions for installing an entrance door

Then they move on to the actual installation of the metal entrance door. It is inserted into the opening, and while one of the workers holds it, using a level, in the desired position, the second marks the places for the anchor screws - they perform the function of guaranteeing the reliability and strength of the door.

The photo of the installation of entrance doors shows how anchors are inserted into the drilled holes (sometimes prepared by the manufacturer), and they are secured first on the hinge side, and then on the opposite side. It is no coincidence that this part of the process is considered the most difficult and time-consuming. Using a level, you once again check the correct orientation of the product in geometric planes.

With the help of the video attached to the article, installation of entrance doors is undoubtedly easier. So, it is worth paying attention to how in the photo the space between the opening and the door frame is qualitatively sealed using polyurethane sealant (spray foam). To avoid deformation of the door frame when the foam hardens, sealing is carried out with the door closed. It is better to cover the space below not with foam, but with cement mortar, since, due to the constant loads from the incoming feet, it will completely collapse in a couple of months. After sealing, it is worth leaving the door closed for 5-6 hours without touching it.

After this, you can proceed to a very important stage - adjustment. When installing steel entrance doors with your own hands, it is necessary to provide for this important procedure, since the presence of distortions in the leaf, even minor ones, in relation to the door frame will negatively affect the operation of all locking mechanisms, and therefore leads to premature failure of the product. Adjustment is made using screws located in a triangle on each of the door hinges. By loosening the screws and tightening them, the gaps are achieved within normal limits. First, adjust the gap on the hinge side.

A correctly installed and adjusted door will save its owner from the premature hassle of repairing or even replacing it and the associated costs.

The installation of wooden entrance doors is carried out everywhere due to aesthetics and affordability, but there are installation features. First of all, you need to purchase the necessary tools and consumables (sealant, nails, screws, additional elements). Then you should carefully dismantle the old block; here you cannot do without fittings for a wooden entrance door.

To figure out how to properly install a wooden door, you first need to understand that products come in different designs (paneled from solid wood, frame panels, glued, on a metal base), shape and size (rectangular, arched, individual), as well as type (street for a private household or for the landing of an apartment building).








The wooden panel can be single, one-and-a-half, or double. Processing technology affects the complexity of assembly, installation and their specifics.

The elements of wooden doors are:

  • canvas (size matching the size of the opening);
  • hinged device for mobility (opening and closing);
  • latches when closing;
  • fittings (hinges, handles and locks, peephole, closer, stop, armor plate, counter);
  • decorative components (platband, core).


All this can be purchased individually or as a set in disassembled or almost assembled condition.

List of required tools

Set of tools for installing wooden entrance doors:

  1. roulette;
  2. construction level (preferably laser);
  3. perforator;
  4. Bulgarian;
  5. sledgehammer with hammer;
  6. drill;
  7. anchor;
  8. material for sealing the opening (foam or cement mortar).


Installation instructions

A wooden door block is a frame and a leaf connected by a system of canopies. Installing a wooden entrance door with your own hands involves preparing these parts and installing them.

But at the very beginning it is important to pay attention to the floor level. A construction wooden level helps measure the height of the stand boxes. It is necessary to make markings for the mounting holes.

Allowable level correlation is 3 mm.

Preparing the wood means installing the lock and handle and determining the location for the hinge pieces. The latter is best done with the finished box and fitting it into the opening. The wooden box is assembled indicating the joining points. Then - direct installation:

  • the box is fixed to the opening with wooden wedges;
  • if the walls and ceilings are concrete, the diameter of the drill must match the thickness of the dowels;
  • Self-tapping screws are installed into the dowels without tightening;
  • attach loops and circle them (parts of the loops are located at a distance of 20 cm from the edges of the end of the wooden panel);
  • the end, as well as the places for the hinges, are varnished;
  • attaching hinges to the canvas;
  • the block is inserted into the opening and the hinges are finally fixed, and the screws are tightened.

The technology for installing a wooden door is simple for a knowledgeable person. The only difficulty is the physical effort at the last stage (lifting the product and attaching it to the grooves in the doorway). But after installation, the following work must be done:

  1. seal the gaps between parts of the system with sealant;
  2. install platbands, check the operation of locks;
  3. plaster the distance between the door and the main part of the house structure so that they have a more aesthetic appearance.


The finishing of the opening is carried out not only for beauty, but also for better fixation of the wooden door to the base of the house.

Preparing the opening

Useful tips for assembly and installation begin with removing old trim and cleaning the gaps between the door and the opening, and removing the door leaf. To do this, you need to cut out two transverse holes from top to bottom. Then the vertical parts of the old door frame are removed. You can use a crowbar if you lack your own strength. To ensure that the top beam does not interfere with the installation of the product, it is removed in the same way.

Assembling the box

A wooden box consists of three or four profile bars arranged in a frame. 2 vertical beams are called racks. Their height is similar to the door leaf. The short beams are called the upper lintel and threshold.


Stages of working on a wooden box:

  • the profile beam is cut to the required parameters;
  • the protrusions on the upper and lower rack are removed;
  • all parts are fastened with self-tapping screws or bolts;
  • the outer and inner sides are determined;
  • Grooves for hinges are cut on the inside.

Incorrect assembly of the lower part of the box, as well as all its other corners, can result in the wood splitting when screwing in the screws, if you do not first drill several holes in the end of the rack. The diameter of the drill bit of a screwdriver or drill does not exceed 3 mm. And the screws themselves must be screwed in with a screwdriver in all corners.

To complete the process of assembling the frame, you should try on the existing door leaf. The gaps between it and the racks should not exceed 2 mm.

Hanging the fabric on hinges

To install, you need to know how to place the hinges and secure them. The process of connecting the door leaf to the frame is important. Installation can be of the following types:

  1. invoice;
  2. mortise;
  3. screw-in

The simplest first option is to attach the leaf on top of the door block. The mortise type is characterized by the presence of recesses, due to which they merge with the surface. The screw-in type uses special pins for screwing into wood.

Any type has two parts, which are attached either to the frame or to the door leaf. To connect the loops, they are placed one on top of the other. The weight of the wood piece can be a challenge, but the principle is simple.

Filling cracks with foam

Gaps can appear both between the leaf and the door frame, and between the door block itself and the structure of the house (walls, ceiling, floor). The first ones are blown with foam. But, in order to prevent the hardening foam from creating holes and gaps due to pressure and falling to the bottom, it is advisable to initially place cardboard in the cracks. The sealant adheres better to a wet surface, so the opening should be slightly moistened with water. Blow out the gaps in the closed position. It is advisable not to touch the wooden structure for 10-12 hours. The remaining foam is carefully cut off with a construction knife under a ruler or spatula.


Installation in utility room

If you already have experience in installing an entrance door in a house, then you can use the same principle to install a wooden door block in the utility rooms. The difference lies in the filigree of finishing work on the installation of the technical door. You don't need both sides of the lock - just the outer side is enough.

Installation procedure for sliding structures

Sliding doors are popular due to their functionality, space saving and visual appeal. The process of installing them depends on the type of fastening, which can be:

  • non-threshold - the doors are held on the upper suspension;
  • threshold - sometimes the system is mounted on the floor;
  • universal - with top and bottom fastening.


The scheme of working with sliding models is practically the same at the initial stage: dismantling the old door, preparing the opening, taking measurements in the places where the door leaf will be attached, installing the frame.

Then they move to the top level of the system. To do this, apply a wooden sheet and mark its upper level. The beam is fixed to the wall with self-tapping screws - this is the place for the guide rails. Next, the lower guide rail is loosely attached to the beam. The free movement of the product is checked and, if necessary, the self-tapping screw is screwed in more firmly.

Then the bolts are screwed into the carriages with rollers and placed on the rail. Travel limiters are attached.

If lower fixation is also planned, a groove of at least 18 mm in depth is cut. A wooden panel with carriages is fixed, and the gap between the door and the wall is adjusted. It should not exceed 5 mm.

It is almost impossible to carry out installation on your own. At least 2 people will be needed.

Additional elements when installing a second door

The installation of a second wooden entrance door is carried out for noise and sound insulation and heat conservation. The best way to cope with this is with insulation made from dermantine or felt. The presence of an additional lock and handle, designed in harmony with the style of the hallway, increases reliability and emphasizes the taste of the home owners.

Doors can be different, interior or entrance, wooden or metal, simple and equipped with various additional automatic systems. And in each case, doors of appropriate complexity must be installed.

Door manufacturers usually install doors themselves, providing a guarantee for the work performed, and, of course, they charge a certain fee for this.

Naturally, installing doors requires the involvement of a team of professionals, but at the same time, the work can be done independently. Knowing the rules for installing interior doors and the nuances of installing a metal door, the entire procedure can be completed by two people in 3-4 hours.

For those who choose the latter option, let's look at how to install a metal entrance door with your own hands.

Nuance. As a rule, the manufacturer does not provide a warranty for a door that is installed by third parties, nor does it adjust it.

Installation of metal entrance doors - instructions

1. Preparatory stage

Door Installation Tool

The set of tools required for the job is shown in the photo.

As we can see, there is no need for a particularly highly specialized professional tool.

Preparing doors for installation

Preparing the purchased door will also not take much time. It needs to be unpacked and checked for completeness. Check how the lock works and make sure that the hinges can be adjusted. Today, only home-made hinged welded hinges are unregulated.

Advice. If the door does not have a protective film, it is recommended to protect it with plastic film and apply masking tape to the door frame.

Preparing the site for installing doors

Preparation of the installation site involves removing furniture from the work site, removing or protecting the floor covering, removing baseboards, and protecting design elements from dust. In addition, you should immediately decide in which direction the door should open and take into account the required gap size. So that in the future the floor covering does not interfere with the operation of the door.

2. Dismantling the old entrance door

For a new building, this stage is not relevant, but when replacing iron entrance doors in an apartment or private house, it should be taken seriously.

Dismantling a metal door takes no more than an hour and is divided into two components:

  • dismantling the door leaf. If the door is installed on non-removable hinges, then it can be removed by opening it and lifting it up. The door will easily slide off its hinges. Given the weight of the metal door, a crowbar may be needed. If the hinges are collapsible, then they need to be disassembled using a screwdriver;
  • dismantling the door frame (metal or wood). It happens that the door frame for a metal door is made of wood, then you need to unscrew all the anchors and remove individual parts from the doorway. You may have to cut the wood into pieces and remove them using a crowbar. Most often, the front door is installed in a metal frame. Then you need to cut off the fastening rods and remove the box. And then eliminate all surface irregularities, remove unnecessary plaster and remove dust.

3. Preparing the doorway for the front door

This stage also differs from the installation of interior doors. And it has several features:

  • The metal entrance door cannot be cut. Typically, door leaves are sold in standard sizes in increments of 100 mm. Naturally, it cannot be trimmed without compromising its integrity and appearance. Therefore, to install a door you need to change the parameters of the opening. The standard width of the doorway of the entrance door (metal) is 86-96 cm (according to fire safety standards). It is convenient to bring furniture, household appliances, etc. into the house through such an opening. As a rule, most manufactured entrance doors have this width, so you can simply select the door.

To reduce the opening, you can install a metal frame made of a channel or square. The diagram for installing a metal entrance door in a wide opening is shown in the figure.

The disadvantage of this method is the appearance of cold bridges. They can be eliminated by arranging and insulating the slopes.

To widen the opening you need to cut down part of the wall. To do this, use a grinder. In a house cast from concrete, it is much more difficult to perform such work. Therefore, it is better to calculate the required width before purchasing the door leaf.

Advice. Do not use impact methods to widen the opening, as this may lead to cracking of the building's supporting structure.

  • The entrance metal door is heavier. The optimal metal thickness for an entrance door is considered to be 2-3 mm. A thinner sheet can be cut using improvised means. This means that it cannot be installed in any opening. For example, the wall of a brick house or a house built from hollow blocks is not strong enough to support the weight of a metal door. In this case, a monolithic concrete portal is cast for the entrance door, which is connected to the wall with reinforcement. And the door frame is already installed in it.
  • The thickness of the door frame exceeds the thickness of the wall. According to GOST 31173-2003 “Steel door blocks”, the frame cannot be installed in a wall whose thickness is less than 150 mm. In this case, you need to think about thickening the wall.
  • The load on the floor increases. To do this, the strength of the floor covering in the doorway is checked. If wooden beams or bricks were previously used during installation, it is better to remove them, and clean the area and fill it with concrete. For a lighter door, you can lay new brick or antiseptic-treated timber made of durable wood.

At the same stage, communications are arranged. For example, lighting, doorbell, etc.

4. Installation of the door block in the opening

There are several ways to install a door block with your own hands.

Door block installation technology - diagrams are shown in the figure.

The choice of a specific option depends on the features and weight of the front door. For understanding, we will briefly describe each method.

Method 1 - installing the door block using mounting plates (eyelets)

Schemes 1-3 in the figure. The most popular installation method, because... many manufacturers and shrubs make door frames with protruding lugs. There are usually three of them on each side post. The box is installed so that the plates are adjacent to the outer part of the wall. And the technological gap between the door frame and the wall was 10-20 mm.

A hole is drilled in the wall. Its depth depends on the thickness of the wall and should be 2/3, but not less than 100 mm. Next, anchor or plumbing bolts are inserted through the hole in the eye and tightened with wrenches. Quite often, fittings are inserted into the eyes. A rod thickness of 12-15 mm is sufficient.

Advice. For hollow walls, anchor bolts are not used, and the length of the pin must be increased to 500 mm.

For reliable fastening, the pin is spread out (to form a cap) or welded to the eye.

Advice. To make it easier to insert the reinforcing pin, you can sharpen one end of it.

The installation diagram through the eyes is shown in the photo.

Advice. When installing the door, it is better to orient the eyes towards the inside of the room. This will protect you from cutting the door.

Method 2 - installing the door block through the door frame (frame)

Scheme 4 in the figure above or drawing in the figure below.

It is used if the door is installed in an opening with internal and external slopes. In this case, the wall thickness must be at least 150 mm to avoid internal damage.

To install the door block using this method, holes 100-150 mm deep are drilled through the mounting holes in the metal of the door frame. An anchor bolt is inserted into them and tightened with a wrench, or the fittings are wound in. If holes are not provided in the door, they are drilled with a drill. The size of the technological gap between the wall and the door frame is 5-10 mm.

Advice. When installing the door in this way, take care to protect the door covering. Powder coating can be painted over, but polymer coating cannot be restored.

The installation diagram of the door block through the frame (door frame) is shown in the photo.

Method 3 - installing a door block by concreting the door frame

The newest of the existing ones, but it has already found its supporters. Provides for concreting the door frame, as shown in the diagram.

The essence of the method is that a hollow door frame is used, into which a concrete solution is placed.

The installed box is leveled using a level, anchored (fixed) in the wall using anchors and left until the solution has completely hardened.

Installation of a metal entrance door - rules

Choosing one method or another does not mean that the metal entrance door will be installed correctly. When performing installation, you must adhere to the following sequence of work with the obligatory use of a building level or plumb line.

  • measure the width of the door in three places (top, bottom, middle);
  • install the door frame strictly level. This will avoid any distortions in the future. Initially fix the door against the wall using wedges. This will help you to easily and timely correct its position. In this case, it is recommended to place the wedges as close to the corners as possible so as not to damage the covering of the box;

Advice. Vertical alignment must be checked from the outside and inside of the box.

  • drill holes in the wall. The dimensions of the holes must correspond to the dimensions of the fasteners;
  • insert pins or bolts into the holes and securely fasten them;
  • ensure that the threshold is tightly connected to the floor. After all, it will bear the greatest load;
  • install door hinges, lubricate them, remove unnecessary (extra) grease.

5. Hanging the entrance metal door

The door must be installed with the required clearances. The size of the door gaps in the door frame is constant along the entire perimeter. This will ensure the normal functioning of all locking mechanisms and hinges.

After the door is installed, the ease of opening is checked and the hinges are adjusted. We'll tell you how to do it right.

How to adjust the hinges on the front door

To adjust the door hinges, you need to loosen all the fasteners on the middle hinge, and leave one on the bottom and top hinge tightened.

If the gap exceeds the norm at the top, then you need to loosen the fasteners on the bottom hinge. Once the door leaf is installed correctly, you need to fasten the loose screw on the top hinge, and then the remaining screws on the bottom hinge. After this, the screws are fastened to the top hinge and lastly to the middle one.

Advice. You can check the quality of installation of the front door as follows. Place a sheet of paper on the threshold or counter and close the door. Pull the sheet. It should pull out with some effort.

6. Filling technological gaps with foam

Before starting to fill the gaps between the door frame and the wall with foam, many professionals advise removing the door leaf to prevent foam from getting on it. However, craftsmen advise covering it with film and blowing out the openings with the door closed. This will allow you not to overdo it with foam, which can inflate even a metal box.

Advice. If there are significant gaps between the wall and the box, it is better to seal them with foam plastic, and only then foam them.

Within 24 hours the foam will harden completely and it will be possible to cut it off. If wooden wedges protrude, it is recommended to cut them off and never hammer them in. This can lead to deformation of the door frame, which can only be eliminated by performing the work again.

Advice. The threshold should not be blown with foam. It will collapse under constant loads. It is better to seal the base and cracks with concrete.

Installation of metal entrance doors - video instructions

7. Decorative design of the entrance metal door and opening

Includes design (finishing) of slopes, fastening of platbands, installation of a door closer, etc.

8. Caring for the metal entrance door

A properly installed metal door does not require maintenance or lubrication. Therefore, all maintenance comes down to careful operation and care of the door leaf from the inside:

  • When powder painting, you can use aggressive detergents;
  • when finishing with vinyl leather and MDF panels, it is better to use a damp cloth without chemicals;
  • when decorating with laminate, you can use any type of care, the main thing is to wipe the door dry;
  • when using veneer in door decoration, it is better to use special wood polishes for cleaning;
  • To clean the handle and locks, use a soft cloth, and the moving part of the lock is periodically lubricated with technical petroleum jelly.

Conclusion

This instruction contains all the details for installing a metal entrance door. By adhering to the recommendations outlined, everyone will be able to perform the correct installation of an iron door with their own hands.

If you need to quickly and efficiently install metal entrance doors, then it is better to seek professional help from specialists Installing steel doors will help secure your home from unauthorized persons, and will also perfectly protect the room from drafts. With minimal construction skills and the necessary set of tools, you can install doors yourself without involving professionals. Proper installation of metal entrance doors will contribute to a long service life of the product.

Installing a metal entrance door with your own hands: preparation

Before you begin installing a new reliable iron door, you should dismantle the old one. First, it is removed from the hinges, and then the door frame is carefully removed. To do this, use a nail puller to pull out all the nails and pull out the frame, using a little force if necessary.

If the nails are firmly embedded in the door frame, then it should be sawed in several places so that it can be pryed off with a crowbar or a nail puller.

After removing the door frame, the doorway is thoroughly cleaned of any remaining plaster and protruding nails.

Before you begin installing the door, you should first correctly measure the doorway

It should be remembered that ideally the opening should be slightly wider than the door block (15-25 millimeters). Therefore, you need to measure the height and width correctly.

What to do if the opening does not meet ideal parameters:

  • The narrow opening should be widened using a hammer drill or grinder with a circle marked “stone/concrete”;
  • A very wide opening is laid with bricks in one row;
  • A slightly narrowed opening should be corrected with a solution made on a cement-sand base with the addition of plasticizers.

At the end, the opening is carefully cleaned and trimmed. The easiest way to prepare an opening is in a brick house.

How to install a metal entrance door to an apartment with your own hands

If there are special iron plates with holes on the sides of the door frame, then installing the doors will not pose any difficulties. But this installation method is possible if the door is adjacent to the wall on both sides, for example, in a narrow corridor.

You can install a metal entrance door yourself if you first familiarize yourself with the work process

Installation technology:

  1. The door block should be installed in the opening and leveled using tools: a level and a plumb line. The obtained result must be secured with wedges and re-checked for correct installation.
  2. Holes for fastenings are drilled in the wall, at least ten centimeters deep.
  3. We drive in the metal rods, riveting their upper part.
  4. Then you should check whether the door was warped during installation. To do this, it is opened and closed several times. You need to make sure that the locks and latches work well without jamming.
  5. The opening is sprayed with water and filled with foam.
  6. When the foam has completely hardened, it is necessary to trim it. This is usually done the next day, and until this point it is strictly not recommended to use the door to avoid distortions.

According to fire safety requirements, the door must come off from the outside so that residents of the apartment can freely leave the premises during a fire or smoke.

How to use anchor bolts to secure metal doors

One of the most common fasteners used when installing a door frame are anchor bolts. They are made of durable steel grades and coated with a special anti-corrosion coating. These fasteners can withstand heavy loads for long periods of time, even in seismically unstable areas. Therefore, their use when installing doors is completely justified. A hardware store will tell you what kind of fastenings are needed.

As a rule, a metal entrance door is secured using anchor bolts

Installation using anchor bolts:

  • The door is leveled in the opening and secured with wooden spacers;
  • Opposite the special holes in the door frame, cavities for anchors are drilled;
  • The anchors must be inserted into the holes and driven in, and caps painted to match the doors must be placed on top;
  • The opening is filled with construction foam.

If there are no holes for the anchor, they should be drilled in the side posts (three pieces on each side). The fittings are driven into them and welded to the doors with a welding machine.

Correct installation of the entrance door in a private wooden house

In the first year after the construction of a wooden house, doors are usually not installed, since the material shrinks and all openings become lower, sometimes even by 15 millimeters. Under such conditions, any door can become deformed and stop working properly. After the frame shrinks, you can safely install doors and windows.

Tools required for work:

  • Level and plumb lines;
  • Hand or electric drill;
  • Chisel and hammer;
  • Roulette;
  • Hacksaw with wood blade;
  • Planer (regular or electric).

In order to properly install the front door in a private wooden house, you need to prepare the tools for the job in advance

First, the size of the frame is adjusted to the door frame. It is desirable that it fits end to end, but a gap of no more than one centimeter is allowed. Excess wood is trimmed with a plane, and its deficiency is compensated by stuffing wooden slats. If there was no opening initially, then it can be easily cut with a saw, having previously calculated the dimensions.

When installing the frame, you should remove the door from it to make it easier to level. Long wood screws are screwed into special holes, which will securely fix the door frame. Special plugs are installed on top of them.

Then the door is hung back and its adjustment is made. It should not sag or warp.

Wide gaps between the box and frame are filled with foam, and narrow gaps are sealed with insulation (tow).

There are beautiful platbands on the street and inside sides.

Additional strengthening of doors is necessary to protect them from burglary. No matter how impressive the door looks, there will always be professionals who can easily break it or knock it down along with the jamb.

You can additionally strengthen the front door using reinforced hinges, which are sold in specialized stores.

Ways to strengthen entrance doors:

  • It would be advisable to install additional hinges or replace existing ones with reinforced ones, which are sold in specialized stores.
  • Locks must be installed at a considerable distance from each other, for example, one at the top of the door and the other in the middle.
  • The more the door frame fastenings are recessed into the wall, the less chance it will be knocked out.
  • Installing special anti-removals will prevent it from being pressed out using a crowbar.
  • You can fasten iron squares around the perimeter of the doors and drive their edges into the wall.
  • If you install a safe door, it will be almost impossible to break into it.

Sometimes door installers offer services to strengthen them and protect them from burglary. In this case, you should listen to the advice of professionals.

Correct installation of metal entrance doors (video)

It is not difficult to install entrance doors, both in a private house and in an apartment, by first carefully studying all the recommendations of the masters and correctly taking the necessary measurements. Then they will not warp or sag even under heavy load, and you can save a large amount of money on installer services. By following all the rules of installation and operation, you can ensure that the doors will last at least 20-30 years, without requiring adjustment or replacement.

Installing metal doors will make those who decide to do it for the first time sweat. But without this stage, repairs or completion of construction are impossible, so we decided to help and collected the experience of professionals in this article.

A little about entrance doors

Probably the most conservative interior detail of any apartment is the front door, which more and more men are trying to install with their own hands. Both metal and wooden models are equally popular. Having gone through an evolutionary path from a skin blocking the entrance to a cave to a modern armored miracle with sophisticated locks, it essentially remained what it was intended for - a kind of boundary defining the boundaries of ownership. Installing an entrance door today, in addition to creating a barrier at the entrance to the room, also serves the purpose of keeping out the cold.

As a rule, they are hinged. This type is also divided into “right” and “left”, depending on where the loops are located. The main disadvantage of installing a swing-type entrance door is the need for space to open. Because of this, it is necessary to make appropriate changes to the layout of any room where this type is provided. The point is not only in the radius of its opening (it must be indicated on the plans), it is also necessary to take into account the fact that in addition you will have to leave space for a person to pass, but he may have a rather voluminous object in his hands.

Basic materials for entrance doors

More often than others, when installing metal entrance doors, you encounter those that are made according to the standard specified by the model with the SL-2000 index. The basis for it is two sheets of alloy steel 1.5 mm thick and welded together at 200 points with horseshoe-shaped ribs. The lock must be cylindrical in shape and have up to 9 steel bolts (made of a hardened alloy), which, during locking, enter the walls and floor on all four sides of the door. If you assemble the metal door before installing it, the thickness will be at least 50 mm.

Opening and closing such a product is easy and silent. The design is simple, does not distinguish it from other doors, and does not attract attention. If you have to install the front door yourself, then it is interesting to know that its total weight (without frame) is 50 kg. A prerequisite for safety is the purchase of an additional end valve and a telescopic peephole with a large viewing angle. It is also believed that if you install a metal door according to all the rules and using special materials, then it will have impeccable sound insulation.

The dimensions of the product are not strictly established; they can be made different in accordance with the client's requirements. Both natural and artificial materials are used in external and internal finishing. The apartment looks very solid after installing metal entrance doors with wooden trim. As an additional safety measure, it is possible to equip it with a special part (“insert”), which increases the height and weight of the structure.

One step below the installation of metal doors are models whose construction uses aluminum and PVC profiles. Such structures should not be treated with disdain. Yes, they are a little weaker than steel ones, but the cost for the blade itself and its installation is much lower. As a rule, Chinese enterprises supply such products. The doors are assembled industrially, and this guarantees that their quality is at the proper level. Don't forget that there are laws. This means that if an official store accepted a Chinese door for sale, the quality requirements adopted in our country are fully met.

Oddly enough, the industry does not forget about the production of wooden entrance doors. They did not become very popular, but with the development of demand for products with an increased level of safety, the requirements for them also changed. Strengthening the structure, supplying the wooden door with hermetic seals and gaskets, and the presence of a threshold have now become mandatory and indispensable conditions.

Removing the old box

Installing entrance doors with your own hands gives many opportunities to make a mistake, which will then cause distortion, or even breakage of the product. But you don’t always want to use the help of specialists, because more and more negative reviews are addressed to installers, even from reputable companies. If you have no personal experience in this area at all, then it is better not to undertake the installation of iron (steel) doors with your own hands for now. If you have ever worked with at least a wooden model, then you can try it.

First you need to dismantle the front door, this can be done with your own hands or by calling professional installers, and whether it is metal or something else almost doesn’t matter. First, separate the canvas from the box. It is better, of course, to do this together with someone, because its weight may be unbearable, and removing it from the hinges can be a very traumatic task.

Next, remove the anchors and nails from the door frame that hold it in the opening. Make cuts in the sides in several places. It will be much easier to remove these elements piece by piece. Then you can remove the upper and lower parts from the opening. Difficulties may arise if you had a metal box. You can’t do without an angle grinder here. Having freed the doorway from the old structure, it is also necessary to clean it of sound and heat insulating materials and tap the edges of the perimeter with a hammer so that the remains of the mortar and plaster do not interfere with subsequent installation. Now let's move on to installing metal entrance doors.

We master installation using the most complex example

Since it is simply necessary to install the front door correctly, otherwise you will have to pick it back out using the method described above, that is, by destroying the structure, we will consider how to do this.

How to install a metal front door with your own hands - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Adjusting the doorway

Installation can be complicated by the fact that the perimeter does not coincide in size with the new door frame. This is not necessarily a consequence of the Chinese origin of the product; often such a problem awaits you in Stalinist houses. If the new door frame is wider or higher than the opening, you will have to cut out additional space from the walls or make a recess in the place where the threshold was located.

Do not forget about the technological gaps between the wall and the door frame in order to be able to make adjustments during installation.

It happens that the door structure is smaller in width or height than the opening. This can happen when purchasing an imported product for the standard buildings already mentioned with an unkind word. Depending on the size difference (gap), adjustment work must be carried out. If it is small, literally a few millimeters, it is enough to just use door extensions. In case of a significant distance, it will be necessary to make masonry from sand-lime brick or wall stone. Don’t be lazy to make a connection with the main wall so as not to lose strength.

Step 2: Unboxing

Now let's move on to how to install an iron model of a door with your own hands. We remove the outer packaging and stop. If the door is covered with plastic film, do not rush to tear it off, because during installation there may be some sloppiness, so the protection will not be superfluous. The mounting kit for any door frame must include anchor bolts. If suddenly there are none, then you can buy them. They should be from 10 to 15 cm in length and 12–15 mm in diameter.

Step 3: Installation of the box

Together with an assistant, install the box, check it for verticality and horizontality using levels or plumb lines. Place wooden wedges and start drilling holes in the wall for anchor bolts. While working, try not to move the door frame. It is recommended to start drilling from the side where the hinges will be. After this, insert the bolts and secure the frame, periodically checking vertically and horizontally.

insulation works. Upon completion of installation, remove the polyethylene, if any, covered the door leaf, and begin installing decorative parts. It is advisable not to use the door for two days or to do so gently and as little as possible.