Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
French Door Installation
French Door Installation guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about French Door Installation? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for French Door Installation work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for French Door Installation work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will French Door Installation labor cost? What are the important French Door Installation quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
French Door Installation - Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fair price for French Door Installation? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical French Door Installation expect to pay between $1.08 to $1.58 per unified inch. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
Is a permit needed for French Door Installation work? | Design approval and permits from your local building authority are usually not required for French Door Installation. If your home is subject to homeowner association covenants, you should verify that the French Door Installation complies with association guidelines. |
Is it worth using a professional to perform French Door Installation work? | The appearance, functionality and useful life of the french doors may be compromised by poor installation. Hire the service provider carefully and tie payment milestones to appropriate quality checks (use the list below). |
Is French Door Installation something that I can do myself? | The typical French Door Installation project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality French Door Installation requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
How many days are typically required to complete the French Door Installation work? | Normally, this work can be completed in 1 day. |
French Door Installation - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for French Door Installation. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any French Door Installation work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- The layout, location, style and finish appearance of ALL materials used in French Door Installation will be approved by owner, before any work begins
- A detailed door layout - showing material placement and all joints/seams - will be reviewed and approved before work begins
- There will be a uniform gap of (choose one): __1/16 inch __1/8 inch __other_____ between the door unit frame and its door opening
- French doors will be installed so that the door base/trim is solidly attached and attached completely flush to the mounting surface
- Horizontal and vertical edges of adjacent french doors will be aligned to within 1/16 inch
- Vertical edges of french doors will be plumb to within 1/8 inch in 8 feet
- Each door unit frame will open from the side indicated in the project plan; each door unit frame will open and close smoothly with light effort and will not bind, rub or squeak
- Each door unit frame lockset/latching mechanism will be held immovable by the strikeplate when closed - there will be no "play" of the lockset within the strikeplate
- The french doors will be solidly attached and not slide, rock, twist or move when used
- Each door unit frame will remain open at any position it is placed
- Nail holes will be filled with a suitable putty, leveled and sanded smooth before final finishing, so as to be undetectable through the finished surface
- The door surface and surface finish will be free of surface defects, irregularities and any physical damage
French Door Installation - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during French Door Installation. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the french doors work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Complete written contract, including scope of work, quality checks, warranty, timing and payment terms; ensure that contract is signed before work begins
- Review and approve detailed layout / plan that shows location, orientation and placement of french doors, before any work begins
- Select, specify and order french doors; verify that type, grade, finish, size, color, any options, and quantity are clearly identified in the order; make sure that delivery date, terms and damage provisions are included in the order
- Manage delivery of french doors; verify that delivered model #, grade, finish, size, options, and quantity match the order precisely; thoroughly inspect all items for damage and proper operation; make or authorize final payment only after complete order is delivered
- Store french doors in a secure, dry location that is fully protected from the elements prior to installation
- Confirm date (and time) for project start with subcontractor - one week and two days prior to project start
- Securely attach flashing and vapor barrier around perimeter of french doors
- Carefully remove fixtures, fittings, finish plates, grilles, knobs, pulls and trim that will be reinstalled later; label and safely store these items for later use
- Secure door unit frame to structural framing
- Install trim plates or pieces
- Fill holes, cracks, gaps with compatible patching material; finish patch to match surrounding surface shape, texture and color
- Patch holes, gaps and openings left by the French Door Installation; patch must be flush to the surrounding surface and seamlessly match the texture and color of surrounding surfaces
- Submit final payment; pay with a check to ensure expense can be verified for tax purposes