Anderson Storm Door Installation Instructions

Lay the Andersen storm door interior side up, on two saw horses. Remove the screen and window until following your Andersen storm door's specific directions.

Lift the door into the door opening. Check that the storm door's handle does not interfere with the main door's handle. If it does, switch the door around so it hinges on the opposite side of the main door. Place a piece of masking tape on the storm door's exterior hinge side, so you know which way the door sits in the opening, and set the door aside.

Center the drip cap over the door opening. The drip cap is the short metal bar with a fuzzy strip on the bottom. Point the fuzzy strip out toward you. Drill a 1/8-inch pilot hole through the drip cap's hinge side screw hole. Drive a supplied screw through the screw hole and pilot hole to hold the drip cap in place.

Lay the storm door on the ground with the hinge edge facing up. Lay the hinge Z-bar on the door's edge. Extend the bar 1/8 inch past the door's top edge. Secure the Z-bar to the door with the supplied self-tapping screws.

Measure the door opening's hinge side, from the bottom sill to the drip cap's bottom edge. Transfer this measurement to the hinge Z-bar and cut the Z-bar at this mark with a hacksaw.

Center the storm door in the door opening. Push the hinge Z-bar's top edge tight against the drip cap's bottom edge. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the Z-bar's top screw hole and drive a supplied screw in to hold the Z-bar in place. Hold a level against the Z-bar and adjust the door so it is plumb in the opening. Finish drilling the remaining 1/8-inch pilot holes and drive through the screws.

Install the handle following the handle's specific instructions. Replace the window unit in the reverse way you removed it in Step 1.

Close the Andersen storm door. Adjust the drip cap so the gap between the drip cap and the door is even down the entire length. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the remaining screw holes and drive the supplied screws through the holes to hold the drip cap in place.

Measure the door opening's height on the handle side, from the bottom sill to the drip cap's bottom edge. Transfer this measurement to the handle-side Z-bar, from the top down. Determine the handle-side Z-bar's top edge by placing it on the door opening's handle side with the fuzzy strip facing out. Cut the Z-bar at the mark with a hacksaw.

Place the handle-side Z-bar on the door opening's side, with the top edge butted tightly against the drip cap's bottom edge. Close the storm door. Measure the gap between the door and Z-bar. Adjust the Z-bar to maintain a 3/16-inch gap from top to bottom.

Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the handle-side Z-bar's screw holes. Use the supplied screws to hold the Z-bar in place.

Slide the rubber sweep fins into the sweep tracks on the door sweep's bottom edge. Pinch the sweep tracks' ends closed, with a pliers, to hold the sweep fins in place. Use a scissors to cut away any overhanging fin.

Push the sweep onto the door's bottom edge. Adjust the sweep so the fins lightly touch the bottom door sill when you close the storm door. Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes through the door sweep's screw holes. Do not drill the holes so deep that they come out the door's opposite side. Secure the sweep to the storm door with the provided screws.

Measure the door from the top edge down to the fins' bottom edges. Transfer this measurement to the door's edge seal, from the top down. Cut the door seal with a hacksaw and rub a metal file against the cut edge to smooth it. Place the edge seal against the door's edge and secure it in place with the provided, painted screws.

Put a screw cap cover over the drip cap's screws, with it bending out toward you. Run your fingers along the cover to bend it away from you and hold it in place. Cover the two Z-bars with the supplied screw cap covers as well.

Install the door closer following the specific directions for you closer and storm door model.