How to Cut a Hole & Frame It in to Install a French Door

Read the rough opening requirements on the new French door packaging. Measure the width of the rough opening plus 3 inches on the wall, centered over the space for the door, and mark the edges. Use the level as a guide to draw vertical lines on the wall to mark the opening on the left and right side.

Measure from the floor up the wall to the height of the rough opening plus 1 1/2 inches along both vertical lines. Mark the top of the rough opening on both lines, then use the level as a guide to draw a line from one mark to the other.

Push the jab saw into the drywall on one of the lines and cut the drywall along all three lines. Pull the drywall off the wall, then transfer the opening to the back of the drywall on other side of the wall and cut the same opening on that side.

Cut the studs at the top of the opening with the reciprocating saw at the same height as the cut drywall. Cut the nails that fasten the studs to the bottom of the wall frame and remove the studs.

Measure the vertical distance between the top and bottom wall plates -- horizontal 2-by-4s at the top and bottom of the wall frame. Transfer the measurement to two 2-by-4s and cut them to length with the circular saw to use as king studs. Drill two, 7/64-inch holes into each end of the 2-by-4s at a 45-degree angle beginning 1 1/2 inches from the ends and angling toward the end.

Start a 3 1/2 inch screw into each hole in the king studs. Hold the king studs vertical inside the drywall at the edge of the opening and aligned with the cut edge of the drywall. Use the level to plumb the studs and while holding it plumb -- vertically level -- screw the studs to the top and bottom wall plates.

Cut the bottom wall plate with the reciprocating saw flush with the two vertical 2-by-4s. Pry the cut wall plate up from the floor with the pry bar and remove it.

Cut two 2-by-4 pieces to the height of the rough opening specified on the new door packaging to use as jack studs. Measure the distance between the two vertical 2-by-4s along the top of the opening and cut a third 2-by-4 to the length measured to use as a header.

Lay the jack studs parallel and on edge on the floor. Lay the header on edge against the ends of the jack studs with the header ends flush with the sides of the jack studs. Screw the header to the jack studs with two, 3-inch long screws through the header into each jack stud.

Stand the jack stud and header assembly up in the opening. Screw the jack studs to the two vertical 2-by-4s already in place with two screws placed at the top, the bottom, and every 16 inches from top to bottom. Screw the header to the studs that hang from the top plate and end at the top of the opening with two screws for each stud.