PVC windows and doors are commonly installed in apartments, houses, summer cottages, gazebos and verandas. When placing an order for these structures, you need to take into account that the installation of plastic doors costs up to 40% of their cost. You can perform this procedure yourself, having familiarized yourself with its rather simple technology.
Features and benefits of plastic doors
The design of PVC products is thought out to the smallest detail. The doors consist of a rigid steel frame, polymer plates and an internal opening mechanism.
Advantages of metal-plastic doors:
- The strength of the frame, which does not change its shape, regardless of the intensity and operating conditions.
- Resistance to moisture and ultraviolet radiation due to the peculiarities of the materials and technologies used in the manufacture.
- Presentable appearance. Products have a precise and accurate configuration, the texture can be matte glossy or textured. Manufacturers produce products in a wide range of colors.
- Versatility. Hinged and sliding structures are available on request, with the functions of vertical reclining and micro-ventilation. It is possible to install a mosquito net.
- Long service life. Lasts at least 50 years with minimum maintenance. Shrinkage is eliminated by adjusting a conventional hexagon in the hinge and handle knots.
An important plus is the excellent insulating qualities of the structure. Installing a plastic entrance door allows you to protect the building from noise, dampness, heat and cold.
Preparatory work
To properly install a plastic front door, you need to perform a number of preparatory measures. Their volume and quantity depends on the conditions accompanying the repair.
The preliminary stage is carried out in the following sequence:
- Measurements. This should be done from the side where the opening is smaller. If there are platbands or plaster, they must be removed. It is imperative to establish a vertical using a plumb line and start from these indicators. The size of the box should be 2-3 cm less in height and width than the parameters of the opening.
- Dismantling of the old structure. First, the door leaf is removed and taken out. Then one of the vertical racks of the frame is sawn through, pushed on with a nail puller, the fragments are removed from the grooves. Previously, the bolts are unscrewed, the nails are pulled out, the caps of the crutches are cut off.
- Opening processing. Plaster is chipped, unstable fragments are taken out, large cavities are sealed with cement mortar. In conclusion, the wall is cleaned of dust, treated with an antiseptic and a primer.
If the installation of PVC doors is carried out during the cold season, it is advisable to carry out the practical stage of preparation not earlier than the order is delivered. Otherwise, you will have to spend several cold nights in the house.
Required tools and materials
To install a plastic door with your own hands, you do not need complex and expensive equipment. List of required tools and materials:
- puncher, screwdriver;
- level, ruler, plumb line;
- a hammer;
- stationery knife;
- spatula, chisel, mallet;
- polyurethane foam complete with a gun;
- plaster;
- butyl tape;
- cladding for slopes;
- anchor bolts.
Remember about safety. It is recommended to carry out work in protective goggles and gloves, when using a perforator in a respirator.
Do-it-yourself door installation
Step-by-step instructions for installing a PVC door leaf:
- Take out the glass unit, and then remove the canvas from the hinges. If it is not wide and not very heavy, the glazing can be left on.
- Place identical wooden or plastic wedges on the lower part of the opening, place the frame on them and align. Then, using the other wedges, plumb line and level, give the frame a precise vertical and horizontal position. Commit it.
- Fix the frame permanently. First, drill holes in it with a drill (3 on the sides, 2 each at the top and bottom). Then make holes in the wall with a drill, but using a puncher. If the house is made of timber, make holes with a diameter of 3-4 mm for self-tapping screws. Insert the hardware into the holes and screw them all the way in. Overtightening the fasteners is not allowed, as this can lead to deformation of the supporting structure.
- Check the vertical and horizontal profiles. If deviations appear, eliminate them by manipulating the fasteners.
- Hang the canvas on the hinges, insert a glass unit into it. Check the presence and correct position of the seals. Cover the fragment with glazing beads.
- Seal openings. First, their surface is cleaned of crumbs, dust and moistened with water from a spray bottle. Then, in 2-3 doses, foam is blown into the cavity. After complete solidification, the protruding parts are cut off, and the opening is sealed with butyl tape.
It remains to adjust the structure, make a beautiful threshold and slopes.
Adjustment of plastic doors
Adjustment is an important step in door installation, as an unadjusted structure will quickly break down. Calibration requires pliers, screwdrivers and hex wrenches. The position of the blade is adjusted by turning the hexagonal sleeve located in the loop. When screwed in, it rises and vice versa. The latch is adjusted in the same way. Its effectiveness is tested by trial until the optimum level of force is reached at which the door locks easily in the closed position, but does not open due to wind or accidental contact. In case of poor pressing of the blade to the frame, the oval-shaped bolt recessed in the side part is tightened or loosened. For this, pliers or pliers are used. If the handle is loose, you need to pull it back, turn the decorative strip to the side and tighten the screws behind it.
