Replacement of Sliding Doors

Cut through the caulk and paint along both sides of the sliding-door trim with a utility knife. Place the tip of a putty knife against the opening between the trim and the wall. Use a hammer to tap the putty knife into the gap.

Place the tip of a crowbar underneath the putty knife. Use the crowbar to pry the trim away from the wall. Use this method to work from the top of the trim down on both sides of the sliding door and across the top.

Remove the screws securing the holding bar to the top of the screen-door opening. Pull the top of the sliding door down toward you, and lift the bottom of it out of the track. Set the door aside. Go outside and close the screen door. Lift the bottom of the screen door out of the track and bring it toward you to free the top. Set the screen door aside.

Cut through the paint and caulk along the edges of the exterior door trim. Remove this trim the same way you did the interior trim. If you have trouble prying the trim from the side of the home, locate the screw heads with a magnet. Draw a circle around them with a marker. Hammer a tiger claw into the trim above the head of the nail. Pull the end of the tiger claw toward you to pull the nail out of the trim. Finish removing the nail with a hammer.

Remove the screws holding the sliding door jamb to the rough opening. Locate any screws at the top of the sliding door frame and remove those as well. Go outside and use a crowbar to remove the sill support from underneath the bottom sill. Look underneath the sill to locate any screws holding the bottom of the sliding door frame in place.

Slide the fixed door over slightly. Push it up -- while at the same time pulling the bottom out toward you -- to remove the fixed door from the track. Locate and remove the screws holding the fixed-door side jamb to the rough opening.

Tap the upper corners of the sliding door frame with a hammer to remove the entire frame from the rough opening. Carry the old frame away. Lay a 4-foot level on the floor in the rough opening to ensure it's flat. Place the level against either side of the rough opening to ensure they're plumb.

Measure the length and height of the rough opening to ensure it is the correct size for your new sliding door. If necessary, secure strips of plywood to the top and sides of the rough opening to decrease the size of the opening.

Place a strip of foil-backed tape along the bottom of the rough opening. Run the tape approximately 6 inches up both sides of the opening. Make two cuts at each corner to fold the tape down and secure it flat against the bottom and sides of the opening. Run another strip along the bottom of the rough opening so that it's completely covered with tape. Apply more strips along the external edges of both sides of the opening, folding the tape over the corners.

Cut off the tip of a tube of silicone caulk. Use a caulk gun to apply three beads of caulk along the bottom sill of the rough opening. Remove the sliding door panel from the new sliding door, and lift the frame up to the rough opening. Position the bottom of the frame over the beads of silicone caulk and push the top into place.

Hammer roofing nails through the metal fin at the top of the sliding door frame to hold the door in place. Place the 4-foot level across the sill to ensure it sits straight. Also, determine both sides of the door are plumb. Go inside.

Fit wooden shims between the sliding door frame and the rough opening at the top and bottom of the door on both sides. Secure the sliding door frame in place at these four locations with the supplied screws. Ensure the frame is still level in the opening.

Return outside. Hammer roofing nails through the metal fin on either side of the sliding door frame. Fill the screw holes on the bottom sill with silicone caulk. Drive the supplied screws through each hole. Secure the top of the sliding door frame to the rough opening with the supplied screws. Place a strip of foil-backed tape along all the metal fins, covering the heads of the roofing nails.

Place the top of the sliding door panel into the track at the top of the frame. Push the bottom of the door into place. Place new exterior door trim over the foil-backed tape and secure it in place with finishing nails. Leave a slight gap between the edge of the side trim and the sliding door frame on both sides. Push foam backer rod into the gap. Cover the foam backer rod with a bead of silicone caulk and smooth the caulk with your finger.

Go back inside. Use a utility knife to score the shims so they break off flush with the surface of the sliding door frame. Bend the shims back and forth to break them. Fill the gap between the sliding door frame and the rough opening with low expansion insulating foam.

Cover the interior gaps around the sliding door frame with new interior door trim. Secure the door trim in place with finishing nails.