Is changing patio doors a DIY job?

Is changing patio doors a DIY job?

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Discussion

mattman

Original Poster:

3,174 posts

221 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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We have some fairly standard sliding patio doors that I'm looking to swap out for a 2nd set of UPVC french doors a friend has offered us. The sizes match so there shouldn't be an issue there, but wanted to know if its a DIY job to swap/replace or whether I need to get someone in?

I'm fairly handy with a drill and a saw so not a complete numpty, but as it has a security element of access to the house I equally don't fancy fudging it up!

cptsideways

13,535 posts

251 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Relatively simple, follow some of the online guides on youtube to get some idea of the task in hand.

Fit the better type locks though, the anti bump ones

option click

1,164 posts

225 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Pretty easy DIY, but in my experience you'd do well to get an extra pair of hands to help you - the doors can be pretty heavy and awkward to lift onto the mountings.

Edited by option click on Thursday 18th December 11:25

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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And if you cock it up you have an awfully big hole in your house.

bigdom

2,072 posts

144 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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mattman said:
We have some fairly standard sliding patio doors that I'm looking to swap out for a 2nd set of UPVC french doors a friend has offered us. The sizes match so there shouldn't be an issue there, but wanted to know if its a DIY job to swap/replace or whether I need to get someone in?

I'm fairly handy with a drill and a saw so not a complete numpty, but as it has a security element of access to the house I equally don't fancy fudging it up!
Getting the sill level is integral to it fitting/operating properly. A few packers, foam gun, and frame fixings and it's relatively straight forward - don't overly tighten the frame as this will twist it/pull it out of square. A bit of sealant, the go over with some quadrant like below the top around the frame outline, stuck on with super glue for a nice tidy installation.

(http://www.diy.com/departments/floplast-pvcu-quadrant-moulding-w19mm-l25m/153446_BQ.prd?gclid=CLSEoavYz8ICFe3MtAodLS4Acw&ecamp=SEAPLA153446_BQ&ef_id=VAhZ8AAAASe@oOa1:20141218132508:s

Spare tyre

9,458 posts

129 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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i did my front door on my old gaff by myself, new unused pvc thing, easy ish

however, when i got my back door done i simply didnt have time to find a suitable one and get it fitted (was trying to get house on the market)

Rand round a few places locally and in the end used a local bloke who could supply and fit the door for not much more than i could have purchased it myself, plus he did a great job and only took an hour or two

so dont rule out getting a couple of quotes from local trades men

mattman

Original Poster:

3,174 posts

221 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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thanks for the replies - will check out some local fitters first before i get the tools out

ColinM50

2,630 posts

174 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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As spare tyre says, not a difficult job to DIY. I've done half a dozen front/back doors, a porch, a few windows and two conservatories and it's fairly obvious how to do it. As someone else said, use packers between the frame and brickwork and don't over tighten the frame fixings.

It is easier with two. I'd keep my eyes open for someone local having new windows and ask the fitters if they want a day's work. Bank on around £150 a day.

andy43

9,548 posts

253 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Hardest bit will be getting the doors to latch and lock - can take quite a bit of fiddling with if things aren't as square (or as on the p ss) as they were in their previous location.