We’ll show you the easiest way to frame a new exterior door.
Expect to spend a whole day or two on thishome renovation project.
A quick look from the basement or crawlspace will often tell you what’s hidden inside the wall above.
Credit: Jeff Herr
But expect the unexpected whencutting into a walland work carefully to avoid damaging utility lines.
Before building exterior door framing, you should also determinewhat sort of stairwayyou’ll need outside.
The method shown hereminimizes drywall work.
Credit: Dave Toht
Project tip:Most homes have platform framing, with studs that span between a bottom and top plate.
Also, cut and install short cripple studs for each side and cut a piece of subflooring to fit.
Mark Stud Locations
Pry away the studs and pull them off the bottom plate.
Credit: Dave Toht
For safety, pound exposed nails out of the exterior wall or bend them while you work.
Then, mark the locations of king and jack studs.
Studs are 1-1/2 inches thick.
Credit: Dave Toht
Check that the distance between the jack studs equals the width of the rough opening.
Assemble Jack and King Studs
Assemble a king-and-jack-stud combination.
Next, cut the king stud to reach from the bottom plate to the top plate.
Credit: Dave Toht
Place the jack stud on top of the king stud and nail or screw the pieces together.
Secure Studs
Angle-drive nails or screws to attach the studs to the bottom plate.
Also, angle-drive fasteners down through the faces of the studs.
Credit: Dave Toht
Attach them to the top plate the same way.
Carefully align the front edge of the jack stud with the front edge of the existing stud.
Construct Header
To construct a header:
1.
Credit: Dave Toht
Cut 1/2-inch plywood spacers.
Fasten the pieces by driving two 3-inch screws or 16d nails every 8 inches.
Place the header, crown side up, on top of the jack studs.
Credit: Dave Toht
You may need to tap the header into place.
Attach Header
Attach the header with angle-driven screws or nails.
It doesn’t need to be perfect, but it should be pretty close.
Credit: Dave Toht
If you have doubts, set the door temporarily to ensure it will fit.
Cut Cripple Studs
Cut short cripple studs to fit between the header and the top plate.
Tap them in where the old studs used to be.
Credit: Dave Toht
Then,use a reciprocating sawto cut the bottom plate straight down to the floor.
Pry the plate out.
Drill Through Siding
Drill 1-inch holes through the siding at each corner.
Credit: Dave Toht
If you havestucco siding, first cut away the stucco.
Dispose of Siding
Have a helper or two catch the siding and sheathing section as it falls.
Cut the section into disposable pieces and cart it away to the trash.
Credit: Dave Toht
Credit: Dave Toht
Credit: Dave Toht
