How to Install Metal Doors

How to Install Metal Doors

• 1). Check your door opening walls and floor for plumb, square, and level. Make sure your door opening is built to receive your metal door and frame. Remember steel doors are a lot heavier than wood doors; you will need a stronger opening if yours was designed for a wood door. If the frame already has drywall applied, ask if the wall was framed with metal or wood studs. Plan to reinforce it if it is too flimsy.
  
  
• 2
  Metal doors need strong framesmetal studs image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  Remove enough drywall to shore up the wall and existing door opening (header) by installing metal studs if needed, or by nailing 2 by 4's together to give the opening enough strength to mount the steel door. Replace the header and frame with steel. Screw it directly into the existing sill. Add blocking for support, usually at the hinges and strike plate, per your metal door maker's instructions.
  
  
• 3). Use helpers to help you stand the metal door and frame into your prepared opening. Watch hands and fingers; these doors are heavy. Tilt the door and frame assembly forward slightly, toward yourself, out of the opening. Stand the bottom of the door in the floor of the opening. Ease it into place slowly and carefully as you tilt it back to its upright position.
  
  
• 4
  Shim your door to fit your frameconstruction detail,steel studs image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  Use shims to adjust and level the door in its relationship to the floor. Check your door kit to see if the manufacturer included supports for the interior to keep the door square. Work with your shims to gradually plumb the door. Adjust shims on each side of the frame and within it to bring it squarely into its opening.
  
  
• 5). Screw the metal frame into place leaving the screws about half way in as you work with and make final adjustments. Adjust the shims you placed earlier at the lock set and sill. Continually open and shut the door while making your adjustments. Adjust the door until you have it smoothly opening and closing. Look for any corners which are scrubbing or otherwise catching the door preventing smooth functioning.