Posts: 3,261
Threads: 685
Joined: Feb 2021
Reputation:
0
I intend to get 2 high quality screen doors, which will allow us to leave the front and back doors open during hot days. (Not nights)
We want it to be sturdy, look good, bring in fresh air, and leave the bugs out.
It looks simple enough, but I don't want to mess up the doors. My handyman skills are "fair" at best.
Posts: 57,788
Threads: 5,857
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
4
I installed them on both my doors. If you are not comfortable shimming and leveling and whatnot, hiring it done might be worthwhile. It will also depend on how solid the door frames are, because they go into it. I had to actually build a door frame 'extender' on my front door so it would fit.
Measure twice, photograph, sketch. Then take your design to the home store and consult with the folks in the aprons or smocks. (Yeah, the older ones usually know what's what.)
Posts: 23,037
Threads: 578
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
3
If the door is square with the standard exterior wood casing then it's pretty straight forward. Just screw the frame on top of the casing and install the closer. Make sure the casing is sound; if it's standard stuff then replacing the rotten parts takes minimal carpentry skills with off-the-shelf material at the HD/Lowes/Whatever.
Posts: 8,114
Threads: 1,089
Joined: May 2025
I watched a pro install a screen door once, and it was more complicated than I thought.. As they say, the devil is in the details. If I had 2 doors to install, I’d price out what it costs a pro to do it.
OTOH, if you like doing that sort of stuff, it would give you a feeling of accomplishment to do it yourself. After installing 2 doors, you’d probably be able to do a 3rd in no time flat.
Posts: 50,838
Threads: 670
Joined: Mar 2024
I've had a "Pro" subcontractor from Lowes install a door backwards so I'll do it myself thanks. You'd think anyone that considers themselves a door hanger would know the rudimentary difference between a left hand and right hand door.
Level, square and plumb /in plane can be rough on an older house. If you have all three of those in the bag a door install is fairly easy. Any one or more of those "out" and tricks of the trade come in handy. Sometimes a solution is obvious, sometimes not.
Posts: 5,223
Threads: 246
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
0
Before you go about buying the screen doors, make sure there is room in the door frame between where you want to put the screen door and the existing door hardware. Some door hardware protrudes more than the allowable space.
Posts: 68,366
Threads: 17,230
Joined: May 2025
Reputation:
5
....if you DIY......you might end up like......the painting......'The Scream'........
_____________________________________
I reject your reality and substitute my own!
Posts: 14,987
Threads: 1,340
Joined: May 2025
It's one of the easier home repair/improvement jobs, IMO. As long as the new screen door will fit the opening properly, it shouldn't cause too much grief when installing.
miley-music039:
