Opening Act

You don’t have to blow out the walls to make a room feel bigger and brighter. Installing larger windows provides the same effect at a fraction of the cost. A more dramatic way to enhance the appearance and versatility of a room without breaking the bank is to replace an existing window with French doors.

FRENCH LESSONS

Double-wide wooden French doors were the architectural ne plus ultra long before aluminum sliding patio doors appeared. Today, they’re commonly used in both exterior and interior walls.

French doors offer two main advantages over sliding doors. They operate more smoothly because they swing on hinges. And both doors can be opened at the same time for total access and unobstructed viewing.

One drawback to both traditional and modern French doors is that they swing into the room, rendering the space inside the doorway unusable. In most cases, more than 30 square feet of floor space must be left clear for the doors to open fully.

We solved that problem in a first-floor master bedroom by installing Andersen’s French-wood Hinged Doors.

Because these doors swing out of the room, they don’t sacrifice interior floor space. In this case, they also allow access to a backyard deck.

The doors, which come with an unfinished-pine interior, have a low-maintenance vinyl-clad exterior. Double-wide units come in nine sizes ranging from 5 feet wide by 6 feet, 8 inches tall ($1,500 to $2,000) to 6 feet wide by 8 feet tall ($1,900 to $2,400). Single- and triple-door units are also available ([800] 426-4261; https://www.andersen-windows.com).

INSTALLATION

The bedroom window we replaced was actually two windows mulled together. At about 6 feet wide by 5 feet tall, it was the right width for installing the 6 feet wide by 6 feet, 11 inches tall door we chose (Model 60611, $1,600 to $2,100). That meant we didn’t have to enlarge the opening or replace the existing header.

If you need to cut a wider hole for the door, install a new, longer header above the opening. Installation, including painting and staining, takes about two days. You’ll need two people to help you because the door weighs 270 pounds.

Start by prying off the casings, or moldings, from around the inside of the window. Use a reciprocating saw fitted with a metal-cutting blade to cut any nails driven through the window jambs and into the trimmer studs. Remove the window sash and pry the window frame out of the opening.

Mark the wall section below the window that must be removed, then cut through the siding and plywood sheathing with a circular saw. If the wall section contains any wiring, reroute it before starting to cut. Pull out the severed wall section carefully so it doesn’t drop onto your toes. If the wall sole plate remains, cut it out too. The bottom of the opening should be flush with the interior plywood subfloor.

Be sure the bottom of the opening is level and flat; use wood shims to level it if necessary. Lay two thick beads of adhesive caulk across the threshold, then lift the door and set it into the opening. Have two people hold the door assembly in place from outside while a third person secures it from inside with screws driven through the side jambs and into the trimmer studs. Also drive screws up through the head jamb and into the header.

Test the doors to be certain they swing open and closed fully without binding or catching. The French wood unit features adjustment screws at each hinge for precise vertical and horizontal alignment. Once the doors are properly adjusted, install the brass lever handles and keyed lock cylinder provided.

Next, install the pine stop molding that comes with the unit along the inside of the doors; be sure to nail it tight against the inside surfaces of the doors. Pack fiberglass insulation into the spaces around the door frame and install new casings. Then apply a continuous bead of adhesive caulk around the outside of the door frame.

You can finish the bare pine interior of the doors and trim with paint or with stain and varnish. Or use a clear varnish topcoat. An exterior-grade finish that can stand up to sunlight and wet weather is needed.

Reprinted from the pages of Today’s Homeowner Magazine. For more advice on improving your home, call (800) 456-6369. https://www.todayshomeowner.com.