Installing the front door – the step by step guide

General preparations:

Take measurements and check

Before you start the installation, compare the dimensions of the front door with the dimensions of the wall reveal. If the fit is correct, you can begin.

Renovation: removal of the old front door

When renovating, the old front door must first be removed. Please read our guide on how to remove the front door.

Prepare the working surface.

Level out any unevenness in the wall reveal from the previous disassembly. Then clean the entire substrate of fine dust and debris.

Inventory

You are ready to start. Are all the tools present, and do you have all the materials you need? Our checklist will help you keep track of everything.

Safety

Safety first! Therefore, wear protective gloves and goggles during the entire work process. Work in pairs.

Checklist and instructions

Always keep the instructions handy to verify your work steps; the checklist helps not forget any essential tools or materials.

Overview: Sealing levels and types on the window.

Careful sealing of the connection between the front door and the wall reveals essential for later functionality and durability. A distinction is made between three sealing levels that you should take into account:

Outer sealing level

A weatherproof seal is essential for the exterior window joint because it is permanently exposed to the weather. A sealant open to diffusion is recommended to ensure that any moisture that may have penetrated can still escape.

Middle sealing level

Window installation middle sealing level

Good thermal insulation and reliable soundproofing are ensured at the middle level between the window and the masonry. An expanding PU foam is often used here.

Inner sealing level

The insulation of the inner building connection joint must be impervious to both water and air. This prevents warm, moist room air from entering the joint and thus promoting mold growth.

Multifunctional tapes enable 3-level sealing with just one product. This means much faster installation, easy handling, and only one tape for all functional areas.

Preparations at the front door:

1. 
   

   Assemble door fitting

The front door is locked for transport. Place the door fitting on the pre-drilled holes of the door leaf and mount it. Then insert the lock cylinder to be able to open the door leaf.

2. 
   

   Unhooking the front door leaf

Loosen the safety screws of the door hinges. The structure of the door hinges differs depending on the manufacturer. Read in our guide on Adjusting the front door to find out which type your door hinges correspond to and how to loosen them easily.

3. 
   

   Remove the protective film of the frame.

You can carefully remove the protective foil from the frame when everything is prepared. Always place the frame and sash on a soft surface to avoid scratches or other damage.

4. 
   

   Attach sealing tapes

To fill all sealing levels in one step, we recommend sealing tapes. They are glued to the sides and top of the frame and inserted with it into the wall reveal. For more information, see the sealing front door.

Five steps to install a front door

Insert and fix

Check again whether all preparations have been carried out on the front door and the wall reveal. Does everything fit? Then you are ready to start. Lift the frame in pairs and carefully place it in the wall opening.

Fix the position with mounting wedges, pressure-resistant washers, or a mounting pad.

Aligning the frame

The frame is aligned at three points: horizontally, vertically, and in line. Use a level and pressure-resistant shim to precisely control the position. Ensure an equal circumferential distance to the masonry. Also, check the floor level and simulate the path of the door leaf when opening so that it does not drag later.

Tip: Place the spirit level against the frame from the inside to measure the alignment. This will allow you to check whether the frame is straight or leaning outward or inward.

A front door must be aligned precisely during installation. Therefore, carry out the installation work in pairs. This is both faster and safer when dealing with heavy elements.

Drilling and screwing

Drill holes in the frame using an iron drill. Pay attention to the distance to the frame corners and between the holes. Then the wall holes are drilled through the same holes (masonry drill), and the frame is screwed without tension with mounting screws.

Before screwing, the front door leaf should be hung on a trial basis, and its functioning during opening and closing should be checked. Use a spirit level to limit that nothing has shifted during the hanging process before fastening the frame. The mounting wedges can now be removed.

Our tip: Order your front door with pre-drilled mounting holes right away at Parlun.

Start screwing by tightening the top screw on the hinge and closing the side. After you have aligned the frame on the hinge side, the remaining screws on the hinge side follow. If necessary, the other screw connections only start after the sash has been hung and checked for proper functioning to correct the frame alignment later.

Foaming and sealing

Once the fit is perfect, you can seal the gaps. If you use sealing tape, wait until it fully expands. You can then fill the gaps in the wall opening with installation foam or seal with sealant or cover strips, depending on the type of installation. Before doing so, tape the adjacent materials to protect them from contamination.

Remove the excess material and the protective adhesive tape once the foam has fully cured (please follow the manufacturer’s instructions). Minor stains can be easily removed with PU cleaner.

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