Our back patio door was as NIGHTMARE. It was original to the house (40+ years old), and it was impossible to open. I am not exaggerating, this door was a struggle to open every time. It was a cantankerous, screechy, sticky, nightmare of a door. I literally dreaded opening. So when we replaced it, and the new door opened like a dream, I wondered why we didn’t do it years ago. The best part. . . its not complicated and only cost about $650 in materials. It was less scary than I expected. In this post I will walk you through exactly how we removed our old door and installed the new one, including the tools we used, what it cost, and what I would do differently next time. The full video is below if you would rather watch it happen in real time. No gatekeeping here. This is everything I wish I had known before we pulled the old door out of the wall.
My only regret? Not doing this sooner!
Watch the Full Sliding Patio Door Install
Can you really install a Sliding Glass Door by yourself?
The answer is yes you can do it, but you will definitely need at least one pair of extra hands and a third person helping is even better. If you are comfortable with a drill, a level, and a caulk gun, then this sliding patio door replacement is a very doable DIY. Lifting the door is the part where a third person is really helpful. If you own your home you are most likely replacing an old slider with a new one. This is a quick overview of what is required: Order new door, remove old door, check door in opening, install drip edge, install sill pan, caulk door/threshold, shim if necessary, securing door, attach threshold, and add finish trim.
Expect it to take a few hours if your opening is in good shape.
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What This Project Cost
Materials cost breakdown:
- Sliding Glass Door: $579
- Flashing tape: $ 65
- 1×4’s to frame and trim: (4x) at $9 = $32
- low expansion foam: $6
- caulk: $8
- Shims: $10
- Screws and washers: $20
Total cost: $690
If you had this professionally installed it would cost several thousand dollars but if you’re willing to do it yourself, you can save quite a bit of money!
Tools You Will Need:
- Drill/driver
- 4 ft level
- Pry bar
- Utility knife
- Caulk gun
- Multi-tool (if you need to cut out siding)
If you are still building out your tool kit, start with my beginner DIY tools starter list. Almost everything on it shows up in this project.
Optional But Nice To Have:
- Ear protection or my favorite ear plugs
- My super comfy work boots Get $10 off with code SELENEBUILDS10
Measure and Order your New Door
- Measure your opening you will need height x length x width, remember the measurements will be a bit shy. For us the 72 x 80″ door was actually 70.5″ x 78.5″ this is normal.
- Measure your wall thickness
- if your wall is 4.5″ thick order a 4-9/16″ door
- if your wall is 6.5″ thick order the 6-9/16″ door.
- Specify the handed slide
- this will be left or right
- Order your door and get it shipped to your house.
- DO NOT PICK UP IN STORE even if you have a truck
How to Remove an Old Sliding Patio Door
- Remove exterior trim and cut back siding to reveal flange (if necessary).
- Remove the sliding panel first. This usually can be lifted straight up and out.
- Remove the fixed panel. (If fixed panel is part of frame skip to step 4)
- Remove the interior trim and any screws through the frame.
- Cut the old frame free (if necessary) and pry it out.
- Clean up the opening and check the sill is sound and level. Our concrete sill was full of pits and not level so it needed to be repaired before installation.
How to Install New Slider:
- Dry fit the new door in the opening. Ours was a standard size sliding door: 72″ x 80″ x 4-9/16″ Jamb
- Make a sill pan with roll flashing at the bottom of the opening.
- Install a drip edge across the top
- Run a bead of caulk around the flange and on the sill pan and set the door in the frame.
- Shim, level, and square the frame. This step decides whether your door glides or drags, so take your time here.
- Screw the frame in and check the slide after every few screws.
- Insulate the gaps with low expansion foam.
- Reinstall trim, caulk inside and out, and adjust the rollers.
Mistakes I Made (So You Can Skip Them)
We didn’t realize that the opening was larger than the slider so we ended up having to buy some 1×4’s to re-frame the opening.
We also didn’t cut away enough of the exterior siding for the new door and had to cut more which took extra time.
Use shims. We tried to make the frame perfect and it wasn’t use shims to plumb and level is perfectly once the door is in the frame.
Sliding Patio Door Install FAQ
How long does it take to install a sliding patio door?
Plan on a full day for a straightforward replacement, 2 to 3 days if the house is old or the door has been in the frame for a while or sill needs repair.
Do you need two people?
For the panels, yes. A glass door panel can weigh over 100 pounds. And for the final placement with caulk a third is a good idea. Everything else is a one person job.
How much does it cost to replace a sliding patio door?
This cost us just under $700. Doing it yourself, the door is most of the cost. A pro install typically adds $500 to $1,500 or more in labor.
Do you need a permit?
It depends on where you live and whether you are changing the opening size. A same size replacement often does not need one, but check with your local building department first.
More Outdoor Projects
The new door opens onto the patio we have been slowly fixing up all summer. If you are working on your outdoor space too, here is how I installed turf over a dirt patch, how I painted our concrete patio, and a deck refresh with composite boards.
Thats all for this week! Next week we need to replace a window in the guest room so be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Until next time, Happy DIY-ing!
xoxo,
Selene
