How To Enlarge Front Doors

How to Enlarge the Front Door to Your Building or Home in Toronto

You can go and impress your neighbors with your home improvement skills when you show them that you know how to enlarge front doors. Through our trial and error, we discovered these helpful tips to spruce up your old entryway. Follow these tips if you want to own the best doorway in some of the best areas like Barrie, Wasaga Beach, Newmarket, Markham, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon.

Steps on How to Enlarge Your Front Doors

1. Take measurements

No home improvement plan is complete without taking proper measurements first. These are required if you plan to replace the smaller door for a bigger one later. Use a ruler and some graph paper to get the measurements, then pencil in the outline for the new door. Be it a single or double door system, it is wise if you order your new door before you start taking out the old one.

Enlarge Front Door in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon

2. Take out any surrounding drywall and casing

Pry off any existing casing or wood frames around the door with a chisel or a door jam. You can use a shim between what tool you have if you’re afraid of the drywall chipping. Push down on the tool until the casing is taken off. Remember to do this slowly to prevent damage to the wall.

Enlarge Front Door in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon

3. Screw out the old door

Use an electric screwdriver to take off the door hinges’ screws. Pry off any door jamb material left off. Also, be careful not to hit the king studs or the header of the doorway. Extract any glass panels, if there are any, and rent a scaffold if necessary.

4. Check for any wiring, bricks, and pipework in the way

Take a look if there’s any electrical wiring in and out of the wall. Reroute these wirings to make room for the wider entryway. Remove any bricks on the entryway exterior for the new door system, too. You can use a chisel, a pry bar or even a reciprocating saw to take off the bricks and siding. Check to see if there are any plumbing pipes in the wall before cutting.

Enlarge Front Door in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon

5. Prepare the door frame

Make any necessary changes to the header beam if required. You can even find pre-made beams available in hardware stores or lumber yards. Using this beam will help distribute wall weight onto the bottom panel. If the beam prepared is too big, cut it with the use of a circular saw.

Enlarge Front Door in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon

6. Install the king studs

You’ll need to transfer the double king studs from the top plate of the wall to the bottom plate. This is needed to make the door wider. Use a circular saw to cut these king studs from 2 x 6 in. boards. Nail them to the plates to reinforce more support for the new door system. Cut out the frame to finally pave away for the new door.

Enlarge Front Door in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon

7. Install the new door system

Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when securing the new door system and side panels into the frame. Screw in the door frame with an electric screwdriver. Add any insulation before covering the walls. Once the new door is placed, add the new drywall, wood trim and cover the interior walls. Cover any holes with putty if needed. Use joint compound for the drywall and sand it after it dries before you apply paint, if you are planning to do so, that is.

Enlarge Front Door in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon

Get the Help of an Expert if You’re Planning to Enlarge Your Door

And there you have some of the basic tips on how to enlarge your front door. If you are in Newmarket, Hamilton, Vaughan, Mississauga, Whitby, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Etobicoke, and Caledon, feel free to contact Everest Windows & Doors if you need some extra help.