DIY: How to Hang a Metal 6-Panel Exterior Door

Move outside the home and locate the exterior trim that runs around the perimeter of the door. Insert a pry bar under the top edge and gently pry it up from the wall. Repeat the process all the way around the door frame to loosen and detach all of the trim work.

Move back inside the home and locate the hinges of the old door. Insert a screwdriver into the bottom center of the hinge and tap it with a hammer to remove the bolt. Repeat the process on the remaining hinges and then lift the door out of the frame.

Detach the remaining hinge sides from the door frame by removing the screws, using a screwdriver. Look at the threshold or door sill at the bottom of the door opening. Locate the screws and remove them as well.

Put on safety glasses and plug in a reciprocating saw. Slide the blade of the saw into the gap between the doorjamb and the wall. Squeeze the trigger, and move the saw around the perimeter of the door to cut through the nails holding the jamb in place. Set the saw aside, and grasp the sides of the doorjamb to pull it out.

Install exterior-grade waterproof caulk in a caulking gun. Cut off the tip of the nozzle and apply it around the wooden subsill board at the base of the door opening. Create a perimeter around the board 1 inch from the edge and then fill in the center, using zigzags. Apply more caulk to the bottom edge of the door in the same manner.

Insert the new metal door in place from outside the home until the frame around it is flush with the walls of the home. Insert a wooden shim into the upper left and right side gaps between the door frame and the house. Place a level vertically on the door and tap the shims in further as needed until it is perfectly level.

Insert more shims in the gap at the location of each of the door hinges. Open the door and insert the provided screws through each door hinge. The screws will penetrate the doorjamb and the wooden shims.

Cut off the shims flush with the wall, using a utility knife or other sharp blade. Next, fill in the remaining gaps along the doorjamb with expandable spray foam. Wait until the foam dries and cut off any excess with a utility knife.

Reattach any trim around the perimeter of the door, using finishing mails and a hammer. Space each nail approximately 4 to 5 inches apart.

Open the new doorknob and lock set. Locate the thin strike plate and install it on the inside of the doorjamb, using screws. Align the plate perfectly with the location of the doorknob hole. Next, slide the latch into the edge of the door and secure it with the provided screws. Finally, insert the the knobs into either side of the precut hole, making sure that the keyhole faces the outside. Insert the two long screws into the provided holes to secure the knob.