Here's How: Add an Efficient Screen/Storm Door Yourself

James Dulley on Feb 20, 2025

Add an Efficient Screen/Storm Door Yourself

Dear James: I need to add a durable screen/storm door because we now have a dog. What design of door is best for a big dog owner, and can I install one myself? -- Ed P.

Dear Ed: Your dog will probably enjoy having a screen door to relax by during nice weather. Dogs, especially large ones, can really damage the screening and sometimes the door itself. Definitely install pet-resistant screening such as dense polymer or metal.

You shouldn't have a problem finding places to buy a screen/storm door locally. Many local manufacturers make and install their own doors as well as sell catalog doors from the major manufacturers. You can also go to any home center store and buy a door to install yourself.

Even if you are an inexperienced do-it-yourselfer, installing a screen/storm door should not challenge your skills. The key to a simple installation is purchasing a high-quality door, since you will be saving the installation labor costs anyway. Higher-quality doors use stronger, more rigid frames that make the installation easier.

A strong triple-track screen/storm door is your best bet. It has a separate track for each half pane of glass and a third track for the screen. Each can move independently or be removed. In the summer, you can slide down the top pane a little and raise the lower pane a little to create a natural ventilation current. Aluminum triple-track doors are also thicker and more rigid.

Since your primary door provides the majority of the insulation value and airtightness, the core material of the screen door frame is not as important. Also, the door is mostly glass or screen. That being said, choosing a door with a heavy, solid core material gives it a good solid feel and sound when it closes.

First, you must remove your old door. It is a good idea to have a helper when you remove the frame screws on the hinge side. This keeps the door from falling on you when you get to the last few screws and reduces the possibility of damaging the wood in the entryway.

Read the door manufacturer's installation instructions carefully. Most doors can be installed for either right or left hinges. Lay it down with the proper side facing up and install the hinge-side mounting frame. If the door is upside-down, you will end up installing the hinge frame on the wrong side.

There is usually only one hole drilled in each side as a locator hole. Attach the mounting frame to the door with just that hole and center punch the hole locations for the other holes. Double-check to make sure that the frame did not shift from the time that you marked the initial hole location.

Remove the mounting frame and drill the holes into the edge of the door. Use the recommended size drill so that the screws bite into the aluminum skin as well as the solid core. When a big wind catches the door, you do not want it to end up out somewhere in your backyard.

Have your helper hold the door, with the mounting frame in the entryway opening. Mark the locations of the holes in the entryway frame, predrill and screw it in place. Attach the top mounting frame and finally the latch-side mounting frame. There is usually a drilling template enclosed for mounting the latch hardware.

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Send your questions to Here's How, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 45244 or visit www.dulley.com. To find out more about James Dulley and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.