16 Oct 2013

At the heart of a good quality door installation are some basic principles – organisation, accuracy and cleanliness. Adrian Sunter of Safedoors gives some handy tips on how to get started and achieve a high standard of finish.

Before starting an installation it is essential to have all of the necessary tools and equipment to hand, including packers in various sizes (and colours if not previously selected) and also ensuring that the correct sealant is available in a complementary colour if preferred.

Another staple requirement is a clean dust sheet for protecting carpets. It’s also handy to have a hoover with a small brush or nozzle and an extending hose close by, as well as clean cloths and/or sponges for wiping down before applying the sealant once the installation is complete.

Once all the tools are in place and the new door has been checked over, the lock has been tested and any ancillary parts have been removed e.g. removing the keys from the frame where they have been secured during transit, it’s time to prepare the space.

Installation checklist:

• Before taking out the old door and frame measure the height and width of the new door to ensure a correct fit.

• Now for removing the existing door and frame. Start with the beading so the glass can be removed easily and safely.

• When removing the frame cut at an angle this makes it much easier. It can then be prised away from the wall after removing any retaining screws.

• Check the wall surround to make sure that all screws and retaining plugs and bolts have been removed.

• Clean the area thoroughly, ensuring that no old sealant and plaster remains. This will ensure a clean, flush fit.

Smooth finish

Depending on the lock option, the retaining screw for the cylinder and the cylinder itself will need to be removed before fixing the new handle and cylinder, and beginning the installation. This is only applicable to a thumb turned cylinder.

• Offer the door and frame up to the space made available to check the size and fit. This is a minimum two person lift.

• Once in place check that the door is square before going any further.

• Once happy with the fit begin drilling the holes through the frame and into the wall. Safedoors recommends four fixings per side (upright) and one in the head of the frame (top).

• Check again to make sure that the door is square. If not, then use packers to achieve the right fit.

• Once the door has been squared off, check that the gap between the door leaf and frame is even before tightening retaining frame screws into the wall.

Before applying the sealant, wipe down the frame to ensure that there is no residue, dust or debris that could interfere with the finish. Cleaning after the sealant has been applied will ruin the smooth surface of the sealant!

Coloured sealant is widely available so be sure to select either a complementary colour to the door and frame or one that would match the building material of your property.

To accompany this guide Safedoors has produced a short ‘how to’ video, which can be viewed on the company’s website.

[email protected]     www.safedoors.co.uk      01684 595200

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