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Installing a storm door might seem like a daunting, time-consuming task, but advances in manufacturing and design have made the process easy enough for the average homeowner to complete start-to-finish in a single afternoon. Our step-by-step guide on how to install a storm door makes it an easy DIY project that allows you to benefit from the many advantages of installing a storm door.
Advantages of Storm Doors
Installing a quality storm door offers several benefits for your home that can enhance both comfort and functionality. Here are some key advantages:
- Increased energy efficiency: Storm doors provide an extra layer of insulation, helping to keep warm air inside during winter and cool air inside during summer. However, the energy savings are minimal, especially when a storm door is installed over a newer, well-insulated exterior door.
- Improved security: If you’re concerned about home security, many storm doors come with durable locksets and reinforced glass or metal screens, which adds an extra layer of protection against a break-in.
- Ventilation control: With adjustable glass and screen panels, storm doors let you bring fresh air inside your home without inviting in insects or debris.
- Weather protection: Storm doors act as barriers against rain, snow, and wind, which helps keep your exterior door in better condition.
- Better curb appeal: Today’s storm doors are available in a range of materials, designs, and colors, allowing you to find the best storm door to suit your needs and style. Storm doors can boost the appearance of your home’s exterior, enhancing both function and aesthetics.
How to Choose a Storm Door
- Best materials: Aluminum, steel, vinyl, and composite are popular storm door options. Each one has its advantages: Aluminum is lightweight and rust-resistant; steel offers durability and security; vinyl, an economical choice, provides excellent insulation; and composite stands up well to weather.
- Compatibility barriers: Some older or specialty front doors, such as outswing doors, may not be compatible with all storm door models.
- Glass options: You can choose glass with UV protection, low-E glass for energy efficiency, or impact-resistant glass for areas prone to extreme weather.
- Prehung storm doors: Most storm doors come prehung on their own frame, which simplifies installation considerably (confirm whether this is true of the door you’re looking at before purchasing it).
- Reliable brands: Andersen, Larson, and Pella are well known for producing durable, high-quality storm doors.
Right vs. Left Swing
The first step in measuring for your new storm door is determining the door swing direction and where you will place the handle and lockset. Storm doors almost always swing outward because they are installed outside the entry door (and therefore cannot swing inward). However, storm doors may swing from the left or the right. Some suppliers may refer to this as the “handedness” of the door. To determine the handedness, view the unit from outside your home. A right-handed storm door will have its handle on the right side; a left-handed storm door will have its handle on the left side. The handle is on the side opposite the hinges. A good rule of thumb is to position the handle of the storm door on the same side as the handle of the entry door.
Selecting the Right Size Storm Door
Getting proper measurements is critically important when it comes to installing a storm door. First, use a level to confirm that your doorframe is square. If adjustments are necessary, you can use wood shims to improve the fit. Next, measure the height and width of the doorframe from the inside of the exterior trim pieces. It is a good idea to measure the width at the top, middle, and bottom of the door; if there is any variation, use the narrowest width when selecting your storm door.
You should also measure the height of your door frame from the top to the threshold in three places: in the middle and on the left and right sides. Use the shortest measurement. One important factor to consider is that most storm doors will require that you leave a space between the doorframe and the door panel to allow for seasonal expansion and contraction. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on the spacing.
When you’ve purchased your storm door and are ready to begin, set the door in the closed position, stand it up in the opening, and check the fit; use wood shims if needed to make the door level.
Tools & Materials
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- Power drill
- Handsaw or hacksaw
- Prehung storm door kit
- Extender kit (for wider doors)
- Handles and locksets (if not part of the storm door kit)
Project Overview
Working time: Approximately 2 hours for a skilled DIYer
Total time: Up to 4 hours
Skill level: Intermediate
Estimated cost: $185 to $625
Before You Begin
Major home improvement chains and hardware stores offer prehung storm door kits in the most commonly used door sizes: 30, 32, 34, and 36 inches. If your door frame is larger, you can order a custom door or purchase an extender kit to fill the extra space between the door and frame.
Storm door kits are typically sold with installation and operating hardware to make hanging a storm door easier. Handles and locksets are often sold separately, however. The storm door connects to the frame with hinges and has either a hydraulic or pneumatic closer that pulls the door closed at a controlled rate.
Today’s storm doors have much more style than the clunky plain white, black, or brown designs of years past. With a variety of fashionable colors, screen and glass options, and decorative effects to choose from, homeowners can easily pick a storm door that complements the style of their home’s exterior and enhances curb appeal.
Steps to Installing a Storm Door
There are three basic steps to installing a storm door. These are relatively universal across brands and models, but you should always follow the installation instructions for your specific storm door.
Step 1: Attach the rain cap and hinge-side Z-bar.
Start by attaching the rain cap (also known as a drip cap) at the top of the doorframe. This narrow rail sits along the top of the frame and above the door panel to prevent rain from leaking in between the storm door and the entry door. The rain cap typically attaches with screws.
Then cut and install the hinge-side Z-bar: Place the Z-bar against the opening on the hinge side of the door and mark the top. Measure the height of the door opening, from the underside of the rain cap to the top of the sill. Mark a cutoff line on the hinge-side Z-bar and cut with a handsaw or hacksaw, with a slight slope to the outside to accommodate the slope of the door sill. Attach the hinge-side Z-bar to the door with screws.
Step 2: Hang the storm door.
With the door in a closed position, place it in the opening and push the hinge side of the door tightly against the door jamb, making sure that the top of the hinge-side Z-bar is about a quarter-inch from the bottom edge of the drip cap. Check to make sure that the door is plumb and level, and adjust if necessary. Secure the hinge side with screws.
Make sure that the door opens and closes properly, then measure and cut the handle-side Z-bar the same way you measured and cut the hinge-side Z-bar. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for how much of an expansion gap to leave between the Z-bar and the door (most recommend between ⅛ and ¼ inch to allow for expansion and contraction of the door).
Check door operation again and secure the handle-side Z-bar with screws.
Step 3: Attach the storm door hardware.
Some storm doors come with handles and locksets, although many require purchasing hardware separately. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to properly install the handle and lockset, checking to make sure that they do not impede the door operation.
Next, install the door sweep weatherstripping along the bottom of the door. This will typically slide onto the bottom of the door, although some may come with screws. Cut off any excess.
Install the door closer and adjust the speed of the closer by loosening or tightening it. Some closers come with a safety chain; you should mount the safety chain so that it allows for a 90-degree opening of the door.
When to Call a Pro for Storm Door Installation
While installing a storm door is a DIY project for some, there are certain situations in which hiring a professional is the better choice. Expect professional storm door installation to cost between $250 and $450 per door (labor only), depending on the complexity of the job. Here are a few reasons why you might not want to take storm door installation on as a DIY:
- Framing issues: If the door frame is damaged, uneven, or requires resizing, a professional can ensure proper alignment and secure installation.
- Complex materials: Homes with nonstandard siding materials, such as brick or stone, might require special tools or expertise for installation.
- Lack of experience: If you’re not particularly handy or comfortable using tools, a pro can handle the job quickly and safely.
- Custom or oversize doors: Uncommon door sizes or custom designs may need professional fitting to avoid installation issues.
- Weatherproofing: A professional can ensure optimal sealing and weatherproofing, which is especially important in areas that experience extreme weather conditions.
FAQs
A handy homeowner can install a prehung storm door in about 4 hours or less. If your door opening requires using an extender kit, you might want to plan on an additional 30 minutes to an hour. Many home centers also offer professional storm door installation.
Today’s prehung storm door kits come with a frame and are offered in popular and standard door widths, including 30-, 32-, 34-, and 36-inch sizes. Double-door kits and custom-order sizes are also available.
Many storm doors are constructed with a wood core clad with vinyl, PVC, composite, or aluminum. These wood-core doors enhance durability and insulation, but when it’s subjected to extremely harsh conditions, the wood core can rot over time. Aluminum, on the other hand, won’t rot or corrode, although it may dent and show scratches, and is generally more expensive. Every material has benefits and drawbacks, so buyers need to balance cost, aesthetics, durability, and desired features.
