Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
EASY STEPS TO TURN A WINDOW INTO A DOOR
By opening up a space to the outdoors, you bring in fresh air, create a different flow in your home and even provide a private entrance.
Gather your supplies
• Custom-made bifold timber doors
• Architraves to match existing one
You’ll also need Measuring tape; spirit level; utility knife; hammer; chisel; reciprocating saw; heavy hammer; bolster; aluminium flashing; plastic window packers; finishing nail gun; 50mm nails; drill; countersinking drill bit; 65mm wood screws; PVA glue; gap filler; sandpaper; undercoat; painting equipment; paint to match existing architraves; exterior black varnish stain
For you to note Check with your local council to see if any approvals are required to install a door.
Here’s how
STEP 1 To order doors, you’ll need to measure the opening to find the absolute minimum dimensions you have to work with. This is the width of the opening in the brickwork and the height difference between the lintel outside and the floor inside, which is oen higher than the ground outside. Also use a spirit level to find out how square the opening is. Take these measurements to your door manufacturer.
STEP 2 Inside, use a utility knife to cut through paint between architraves and wall. Use a hammer and chisel to pry off architraves.
STEP 3 Use a reciprocating saw to cut through nails holding window in place. They should only be at the sides of the window.
STEP 4 Calling on someone to help, remove window from its opening.
STEP 5 On outside, use heavy hammer and bolster to cut and remove bricks below the window opening. Make cuts so the line of bricks down the side of the opening is continued.
STEP 6 On inside, remove skirting from window wall then use spirit level to transfer line of the sides of the opening in the plasterboard down to the floor. Cut through plasterboard and house frame with reciprocating saw and remove.
STEP 7 Lay aluminium flashing down on boom of opening. Make sure inside edge sits 20mm past the line of the doors inside and cut extra so it goes up the studs at each side by about 50mm.
STEP 8 If required, assemble door frame according to product instructions. Stand door jamb in opening and make inside edge of reveal flush with face of plasterboard. Check the sill for level and pack under if required.
STEP 9 On one side, check jamb is plumb on the edge and face. Place window packers between jamb and
house frame at top, middle and base to wedge jamb in place. Use finishing nail gun and 50mm nails to hold jamb in position. Repeat for other side of jamb.
STEP 10 Measure diagonals of jamb to make sure it’s square. Also stand back and sight along inside edge of jamb and make sure it is parallel with outside edge of jamb at other side of door. This will ensure the frame is not twisted. Adjust jamb if needed.
STEP 11 At top, middle and boom of door where packers are, predrill through jamb with countersinking drill bit, then secure door to house frame with 65mm wood screws. Bifold doors also require you to screw through the head of the door and into the frame, since all the weight of the doors hangs off the head. STEP 12 Install doors in frame in correct order as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Fit the door handle and lock.
STEP 13 Cut and fit storm moulding that is supplied with the doors around outside of door to cover any gaps between the doors and the bricks. STEP 14 On inside of door, fold up flashing against the back of the sill and use a block to fla en it. Also fold the flashing up the sides of the door jamb. On outside, fold the flashing down over the bricks.
STEP 15 For inside of door, cut architraves to length, mitring joins at corners. Place in position then nail. Use PVA glue on joins in corners. Also use moulding along bo om of door to hide the gap there. Cut and refit retained skirting so it goes from the corners of the room and bu s into the architraves. Fill gaps and nail holes, sand, undercoat, then apply 2 coats of paint, le ing dry between all coats STEP 16 To protect doors, apply chosen finish. To match surrounding windows here, a black exterior varnish stain was selected. Apply 2-3 coats, le ing dry aer each coat.