When to install exterior doors in a new home, and when to install interior doors?

When to install exterior doors in a new home, and when to install interior doors?

The construction of a house is a complex investment, for which it is necessary to plan in detail the schedule of work and the associated stages of installation of the various elements. When it comes to window and door joinery, it might seem that they should be installed as soon as the masonry work is completed, in order to close the house as soon as possible and protect the interior from changing weather conditions. Many people mistakenly believe that the installation of windows and entrance doors should take place as soon as the building shell is achieved. This approach can lead to many problems, and installing exterior doors too early often means unnecessary stress, frustration and even financial loss. Wondering when to install your home’s front door? Contrary to what you might think, better later than hastily, as you will see in our guide.

When to install an exterior door in a new home?

It is generally accepted that entrance doors are installed after the walls have been erected and the roofing completed. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially in the case of doors made of wood or other moisture-sensitive materials, which can suffer greatly from this rush. They are hygroscopic and tend to absorb moisture from the air, which can lead to deformation of the leaf. At the stage of house construction and room finishing, when plastering walls, pouring floors or plastering is in progress, humidity in the interior is high. Wooden doors exposed to it can warp, and this will affect their subsequent proper functioning. The problem does not apply to steel and aluminum doors, but they too are exposed to unfavorable conditions and, above all, mechanical damage. All finishing work is very dirty and generates a lot of moisture, which negatively affects brand new exterior doors. Dents, scratches, splashes or dirt can be irremovable, while the causes of their formation are difficult to determine in the face of several teams working on finishing the house. Even wrapping the door in protective film or securing it with cardboard is no guarantee against such unpleasant surprises.

When to install interior doors? Key aspects in a new home

When to install interior doors in a new house? Most sensibly after all wet finishing work has been completed and the interior has been thoroughly dried. The trouble arises if, after premature installation, the doors are, for example, splashed with parquet glue, soiled with paint, or an ugly scratch appears on their surface, created when bringing in furniture. The timing of their installation should therefore be well thought out and done in a timely manner. Remember, too, that makeshift protection or wrapping with foil or newspaper is a bad idea for several reasons. Without proper ventilation, condensing water will seep in, and foil or adhesive tape can leave hard-to-remove marks on the veneer.

At what stage is the front door installed?

When to install exterior doors? If you want to isolate the building from the outside elements, then it is worth considering temporary solutions. Covering the entrance openings with OSB or buying an inexpensive construction door will help protect the house while interior finishing work is underway. After they are completed, when the walls and floors have had a chance to dry out and the moisture has freely evaporated, you can have professionals do the final installation of the exterior doors. Failure to follow the proper order of installation can risk a number of problems, including deformation of the door or difficulties in its smooth operation. With the knowledge of when to install the front door and the knowledge that haste is a bad adviser, remember the same principle regarding the doors separating the various rooms in the house. Especially for wooden models, it is important that they are installed in a dry and clean environment.

When to install interior doors in a new home – practical advice

When are interior doors installed? This stage should be scheduled after all the finishing work is completed. This includes painting the walls, but especially laying the floors. Terracotta, panels or floorboards must be laid to the end so that the interior doors can be properly adjusted. This will make it easier to precisely align the leaf with the floor level, and this will avoid later problems, such as resistance or jostling when opening or the formation of uneven gaps. Installing the sash at the finished floor guarantees an aesthetically pleasing finish, no uneven gaps and smooth opening and closing. Installation at an earlier stage is a risk of damage during finishing work or the need for removal by one of the construction crews. Remember, too, that interior doors, especially those made of more delicate materials, can be accidentally damaged when bringing in furniture or household appliances. Surface scratches or damage to the veneer will be difficult to repair or mask.

Exterior versus interior doors – the ideal time to install them

When to install interior doors? In the passageways between rooms, the leaves are installed at the very end – when the walls and floors are ready. In order to make this process as easy as possible for individual professionals, it is advisable to plan the process in advance, i.e. mark the planned level of the floors and take into account the dimensions of the door frames in advance and prepare the appropriate openings. If you hesitate when to install the doors inside the house, do it at the very end, when most of the work on furnishing the rooms has already been completed. In both cases, proper installation is essential, according to the manufacturers’ recommendations. This requires precision, technical knowledge and knowledge of the product, so it is best to entrust it to a professional team of fitters. Improper seating of door frames, as well as incorrect adjustment of door leaf hinges, can lead to problems with opening or closing, and consequently to damage.