How to Install a French Entry Door

Set the frame of the French entry door against the doorway. Remove any excess drywall or parts of the doorway wood that prevent the frame from fitting into place. Sand down the doorway in sections if necessary to decrease the size just enough for the frame to fit well. Continue with this process until the French door frame fits snugly into the wooden doorway.

Remove the door frame from the doorway and cover the edges of the frame with waterproof caulking, including the underside of the frame. Replace the frame within the doorway slowly, to keep as much of the caulking between the frame and the doorway as possible. Wipe off any excess caulking.

Set the carpenter's level against each section of the door frame. Adjust the frame as necessary by placing shims between the frame and the doorway and hammering them into place. Continue to check the sides for plumb and adjust by hammering in additional shims, next to each other or stacking them on top of one another as need be. Break off any shim sections that stick out. Open and close the doors to test the plumb of the installation further, making any necessary adjustments.

Drill through the premade installation holes and into the wooden doorway. Make holes every 12 inches around the frame if holes have not been premade for installation. Set a bead of caulking in each hole and put a 3-inch, galvanized wood screw with a rubber washer into each hole. Tighten all the screws halfway until they have all been installed. Check the level operation of the door again by opening and closing the doors. Make final adjustments. Tighten the screws all the way to complete the door installation.