DIY Insulation Panels on a Sliding Door

Measure the height and width of the door panel. Deduct 1/2 inch from the height to make it easier to slide the rigid foam board in and out of position when you change it seasonally. Deduct 2 inches from the width for the addition of wooden support strips.

Measure and mark a 1-inch-thick foam board to the dimensions you determined in step 1. Lay a straightedge tool along the marked line on the foam board. Draw a utility knife along the side of the straightedge to cut the foam board. It may take two or three passes to cut the board completely.

Measure and cut two pieces of 1-by-2-inch lumber the height of the door you determined in step 1 using a circular saw.

Apply a bead of wood glue to the long edge of one side of the foam board. Run a bead of wood glue along the side of one of the wood strips. Set the wood strip onto the edge of the foam board. Attach the strip to the foam board with finishing nails. Repeat for the other long side. Clamp the wood strips to the foam board with wood clamps until the glue dries.

Remove any rough edges on the foam board or the wood strips with fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe the entire surface of the insulation panel with a tack cloth to remove all traces of sawdust.

Paint the foam board and edge strips with a coat of latex paint that matches the interior of the room where you are installing the panel. Allow the paint to dry. Apply a second coat, if desired, and let it dry as well.

Set the panel in place so it covers the stationary door window. Open and close the sliding door to ensure the panel doesn’t interfere with its operation. Drill four pilot holes through the wood strip closest to the door frame and into the frame itself. Attach the wood strip to the door frame with drywall screws.