As you look at replacing your sliding patio door with a french patio door there are a variety of options and upgrades to consider.
Replacing a french door with a window.
Remove the existing door.
Replacing the essentially non functional exterior door with a window will make the home more secure and will enhance the look of the room by letting in more natural light.
Use 2 x 4s to frame the door and fill the area between the door opening and door size if needed.
Turn your door into a window.
Make sure it s legal to replace your door with a window.
Following are the basic steps in the project.
Doors frames are generally not load bearing.
The good news about turning a window into a door assuming it s wide enough is that the advanced carpentry required for altering a load bearing wall.
See below for a shoppi.
Exterior doors may not be changed if they are also an important exit.
So you ve just built a new deck on the back of your house and those once lovely double windows in the living room would now make a better door sliding glass or french out to that awesome deck.
Remove any remaining caulking and lose debris around the doorway then clean the work area.
The existing door and its frame must be removed first.
This old house general contractor tom silva shows the proper way to install a new window into an old and oversized doorway opening.