Patio doors can really give new life to a dull room.
If you have a space in your home that is just too dark, full glass doors can let in a lot of light and change the entire ambiance, making it a far more pleasant place to be.
In addition, the doors will give you visibility so you can see what's happening outside, something that is particularly useful if you have small children who play outdoors.
Installing your own patio doors is a good way to save money and really isn't that difficult.
Just make sure you measure carefully before you start and you shouldn't have any problems.
Mark a Location First, decide where the door will go.
This might be taking over a space previously occupied by a regular door, or just a section of wall.
Mark the measurements on the wall so you can see what you're doing and then double check that there are no pipes, tubes or electrical wires running through that section of wall.
When you measure, leave an extra four inches on each side for studs and seven inches at the top for a header.
Electrical wires can be moved, but heating or water pipes will be far more difficult.
Rather than mess with them, you'd be better off looking for a section of wall that doesn't have anything inside, if possible.
Tear It Down Next, you'll need to do some demo work.
Chip away the wall carefully inside the area that you've marked.
It's a good idea to measure twice, just to be sure, before you start to tear things down.
Make sure to remove all insulation and anything else you find in the wall.
The electricity needs to be off at this point so you won't accidentally shock yourself.
Break right through the wall to the outside and take it all out, leaving the studs standing.
The studs have to be removed with care to keep the wall supported.
Taking Out the Studs Brace the wall before removing the existing studs.
You'll need to cut them at the top and then pry them loose at the bottom.
These can usually be reused in another project, so keep them around.
Now you'll need to build a new framework.
The new framework will include sturdy studs on either side of the opening and a new header.
Make the new header from 2x6s nailed together with a spacer piece of wood in the middle.
The spacer needs to be large enough to make the header the same width as the wall.
Secure everything very well using screws (nails tend to wiggle loose over time) and ensure that it is quite sturdy.
Install the Door The patio door should come ready to slip into place.
Insert screws in the provided holes and secure the door in place.
You can now caulk around the edge and plaster the wall to create a nice looking finish.
Once it is in place, paint any exposed areas.
You should now have a new patio door, neatly installed and ready to use!