As a mobile homeowner, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to replace your front door. Maybe the door has suffered some damage, or perhaps it has warped and is no longer sealing properly. Maybe you're just looking to renovate and upgrade. You can call a contractor to help you out, or your can practice your DIY skills and save some of your hard-earned cash by tackling the project yourself.
No matter your reason, it's a good idea to know how to install a new front door on your mobile home. Today, we will look at some helpful tips and tricks to get you going and guide you through the process.
While this is a project you can tackle alone, it doesn’t hurt to have an extra set of hands to help you hold the door in place or hand you tools during the installation process. We’d also recommend having a carpenter’s level, wooden shims, some ¼-inch hex head screws, a pry bar, wood putty, and a power drill for this job.
Getting the Right Door
The first step is one of the most crucial, and that’s ensuring that you purchase the appropriate replacement door. Whether you are buying an inswing entry door or an outswing door, the most important part of this is ensuring you’re your door is sized appropriately for your home’s “rough opening”. This is the measurement of the door frame itself, the width between the studs on each side and the height between the sill (at the floor) and header (at the top). We recommend measuring two or three times to double check your work and ensure accuracy.
You’ll also want to determine if your door is a left-hand or right-hand door. To do this, face the door on the outside of your home and determine which side the hinges are on. If they are on the right, you’ll need a “right-hand” door. If on the left, a “left-hand” door is needed. It’s worth noting that the “handing” of the door is identical for both inswing and outswing doors.
Before you buy your replacement door, you need to answer a few questions to ensure you get a properly sized door that meets your specifications. First, go ahead and get the measurements of your current front door and your door opening. We recommend the “measure twice, cut once” philosophy so go ahead and measure two or three times to ensure your numbers are accurate. Also, note whether you have a left or right-facing door to know you're buying the right one at the store.
Once you think all your numbers are correct, write them down. You may think you can remember them, but trust us, write everything down. It makes things much easier when you're at the hardware store and picking out your new door. Suppose one of your measurements didn't come to a full inch. So, if one side came to 77.9 inches, you can opt for a 78-inch side.
After you know your measurements are correct, this narrows down your mobile home front door options because you know precisely what size you need. At this point, choose the door that's best for you and your home, whether you want a storm door or an inward swinging door. Bear in mind that some combination doors are thicker, so before deciding on anything, it's good to check that the entry matches your measurements.
Removing the Old Door
All right, you have your new door; you have all your tools; now it's time to start and remove the old door from your house. Fortunately, this is one of the most manageable steps so long as you work carefully and have all your tools available in an easily accessible workspace.
The first thing you need to do is detach the old door. Using your power drill with the proper drill bit, you can do this. Many homes use a ¼-inch hex bolt, but use whichever bit fits best for you. Remove the screws with the drill and detach the door hinges.
The next step is removing the door itself. Using your pry bar, you should be able to get under the frame and pop the door out without using excessive force. Carefully go around both sides of the door and the top to pop the door out of place. This step is where it helps to have an extra set of hands to keep things steady and prevent the door from falling somewhere unexpected.
After clearing away the old door, it's a good idea to take this time to use your putty and knife to tidy up any holes or excess sealant. You want to ensure you have a fresh and clean setup before putting in your new door.
Installing Your New Door
Now comes the moment when you install a new front door on your mobile home. While these next steps are still relatively straightforward, they’re where you want to be the most careful, safe, and meticulous to prevent any potential mishaps.
The first thing you want to do is set up the door and make sure it fits, which it should with the correct measurements you took earlier. Use your level to ensure the door is straight, and then close and lock the door throughout the installation process. Take this time to clear the door framing of anything sticking out or obstructions stuck in the way.
Carefully stick your putty tape along the flanges of the doorframe. Once everything is in place, it's time to install the door. Either by yourself or with some help, load the door into the frame, making sure to keep it as straight as possible throughout the process, lest you have to repeat it.
After checking and double-checking that the door is straight in the frame, start drilling screws into the side of the door with the hinges on it. You don't need to tighten these screws all the way since you're just using them to hold your door in place.
Once everything is in place, and you know the door is straight, begin putting in the remaining screws on every side. Getting the lock, bottom, hinge side, and topside. You want to be careful not to overtighten the screws as that can damage the door. With all the screws in place, check if the door opens and closes cleanly along with the hinges.
You made the proper measurements and installed the door as straight as possible. Now that the door is in place, you can install extras such as doorknobs, additional locks, or a swing bar. With everything done, take a step back and see how it looks from a distance. It should look pretty good from where you're standing and hopefully be exactly what you were looking for in a new door.
Swapping out a mobile home front door is an exciting project, whether you're new to DIY projects or an experienced remodeler. Taking the steps one at a time and ensuring everything is going smoothly are vital to the project and allow you to make sure you can finish things without involving a technician. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about door options, the specialists at Mobile Home Outfitters are available to help. Call Mobile Home Outfitters at 888-646-7782 or send us an email at customercare@mobilehomeoutfitters.com.
