The first thing you will want to do is gather together a few supplies and tools that you will need to install patio doors.  You will need a hammer, nails, measuring tape, level, wooden shims, insulation, and caulk.

Before you purchase your new patio doors you will need to measure the door opening to determine the size of doors you need to buy.  Measure the door opening from stud to stud horizontally and from the floor up to the top of the door opening vertically.

Once you have your measurements you will need to decide on the type of patio door you would like to install.  French doors are always a nice option if they fit in with the decor and door space you have available.  Find a reputable manufacturer or dealer of patio doors and review your various options of pre-hung patio doors.  There should be knowledgeable staff available to help you in your decision process.  You will want your new patio doors to be one inch smaller both vertically and horizontally than your door opening.

Once you have your patio doors purchased you are ready to install the patio doors.  Slide the pre-hung patio door unit into the middle of the door opening.  You want to make sure the door unit is centered and that the doors swing out.

Next, take your hammer and nail the patio door unit temporarily into place.  Don’t sink the nails all the way into the jambs until you have the door unit fully adjusted and level.

Use a level to make sure the door is plumb.  If it is not even then place wooden shims along the sides until it is level.

Once you have the patio door unit level, countersink the nails you installed before.  You can also place insulation around the jambs and studs and install a trim kit if your door unit came with one.  Finally caulk the joints to help seal and weatherproof the door unit.

Following the easy steps, you will have your new patio doors installed in no time.

Step 1 Locate the necessary tools and supplies you will need to repair door trim

You will need a hammer, finishing nails, pry bar, block of wood, hand saw, miter box, nail punch, and some sand paper.

Step 2 Remove the damaged door trim

Place your block of wood against the wall that is next to the door frame. Place your chisel and the pry bar just underneath the edge of the door trim.  Make sure the wood block is under the edge of the door trim so that the pry bar will be resting across the wood block and not the wall.  This will help prevent damage to the wall.  Remove the damaged door trim.

Step 3 Measure the length of the door trim you need to replace

Step 4 Locate matching door trim

Take a piece of the old, damaged door trim to a home improvement or hardware store to find matching door trim to buy for your repair project.

Step 5 Use your miter box to compute the proper measurement and angle for your new piece of door trim.

Step 6 Use a handsaw to saw a new piece of door trim using the specifications from the miter box.

Remember the old saying of measure twice, cut once.  Check to make sure the new piece of door trim fits properly.

Step 7 Nail the new door trim to the door frame

Nail the new door trim to the door frame edge with finishing nails.  Use a nail punch to set the nails just underneath the surface.  Fill in cracks or gaps in the door frame or door trim with wood putty.

Step 8 Sand off any excess wood putty on the door trim with sandpaper.

Step 9 Apply sealer to the wood and do any necessary painting of the door trim to match with the rest of the door and door trim.  You may need to apply a couple of coats.

As you can see from these easy to follow, step-by-step instructions, repairing door trim is a relatively easy job.  All it takes is a few tools and supplies and some time and patience to get the job done.

Step 1 Gather your supplies and tools

You will need a few simple supplies and tools to install pre-hung doors: a hammer, a level, wooden shims, nails and silicone caulk.

Step 2 Measure the door opening

Measure the space where you are going to install the new door. Make sure you measure from stud to stud across, and from the top of the opening to the floor vertically.  You also need to measure the wall thickness around the door.

Step 3 Buy your pre-hung door unit

Once you have your measurements it’s time to go door shopping.  You can find pre-hung door units at home improvement stores.  They generally cost anywhere from $100-$300 or you can order custom units from a door manufacturer or distributor.  Select a door unit that is 1 inch smaller (length and width) than the door opening and 1 inch longer than the wall thickness where the door frame wraps around the wall.

Step 4 Place the pre-hung door unit into the door opening

Slide the pre-hung door unit into the opening.  Center the unit as much as possible.  Next install a few temporary nails into each wall jamb.  Don’t nail them all the way in.

Step 5 Make sure the door unit is level

Use your level along the jambs and across the head of the frame to check the plumbness of the door unit.   Make sure the frame is level.  If it isn’t you can place wooden shims in between the studs and jambs.  Keep adjusting until the door unit is level.

Once the door unit is level you can countersink the temporary nails and add nails along the jamb, spaced about six inches apart.  Make sure to nail any wooden shims down.

Step 6 Install Trim Kit

A trim kit contains wooden strips that add an extra stylish look to your door.  If you are using a trim kit install it.

Step 7 Finish door installation

Caulk the joint at the point where the pre-hung door unit meets the wall.  This will seal the door in place.

Installing pre-hung doors is easy if you just follow the above steps.  Enjoy your new doors.

Option #1 Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan is a good option to consider for financing your home improvement project.  The equity in your house serves as the collateral for the loan.  You can either receive a cash payment or a line of credit.  The advantage to the home equity loan is that the interest rate tends to be lower than other types of home improvement loans and the interest is usually tax deductible.

Option #2 Personal Loan

A personal loan is an unsecured loan, which means there is no collateral to secure the loan.  Personal loans have a higher rate of interest than secured loans.  These are also available as either a cash payment or a line of credit.  The advantage is that you will not need any collateral to secure the loan.  However, you will need to have sufficient income and a good credit history to qualify for the loan.  The disadvantages are the higher interest rate and the interest is not tax deductible.

Option #3 Home Improvement Loan

Some lending intuitions offer loans that are specifically called home improvement loans.  They are usually unsecured loans but sometimes might be secured by your house.  They usually have higher interest rates than home equity loans.

Option #4 Refinance Your Home

Another option to consider for financing your home improvement project is to refinance your home mortgage along with your home improvement costs into a new mortgage.  The advantage is you will only have one loan payment to make.  You will need to check to see whether your existing mortgage has a prepayment penalty and compare the interest rate on your current mortgage versus what the interest rate would be if you refinanced.  You will need to have sufficient equity in your home to cover adding the cost of the home improvement expenses to your mortgage.  The interest will generally be tax deductible, just like most first and second mortgages are.

You have several options to consider when choosing a home improvement loan.  You will need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each home improvement loan type, along with your own personal situation such as the amount of equity you have in your home, your credit rating, and other considerations before you make your final decision on which home improvement loan is best for you.