4 Lessons I Learned Installing A Storm Door

When I started working at Larson Manufacturing, part of my training was to install a storm door. Mind you that it was my first week and installing a storm door was something I never thought I would have to do at my new desk job. My product knowledge was basically that I had a storm door on my house and I did not install it. 

To be honest, initially I was really anxious and nervous to install a storm door. My lack of knowledge on the product combined with my do-it-yourself skills that usually end up with less than Pinterest-worthy results did not help with my confidence. I do not know why I was so concerned. It was my first week and they were not going to completely judge me for my ability or lack of ability to install their storm door. They just wanted me to know what it was like and what the process was. Since I was going to be so involved with the product without actually touching the product I should know what the process is and be able to work my way around having to get the job done.

I approached the project with little to no enthusiasm at all. I knew how to work a drill (mostly) and how to skim directions. These are not inspiring words for someone reading this trying to get all the help they can get on installing their new door, but it was my experience. This was just not what I had signed up for, but what I got to accomplish was something I will never forget. 

I tore open the package in front of a group of three men that install storm doors for a living and I didn’t look back.  My height and strength was not in my favor for putting this door together, but it did not take much help other than that. From start to finish the install took me a little over an hour, but I know could’ve gone faster.

My experience led me to three lessons when installing a storm door.

1. Actually read the directions beforehand.
   • I read the directions as I went, but that definitely wasn’t the best choice. Holding up a partially installed storm door is very awkward when you realize you dropped the directions and lost the drill bit you need for step 3. Read (or at least skim) the directions to save yourself time and unplanned yoga moves. Trust me, it’ll help.
2. Bring a step stool
   • I’m 5’4 and for some reason it didn’t occur to me that I should have a small ladder or a step stool. Well, it did occur to me but not until I was on my tippy toes, holding a drill above my head trying to drill a screw in straight. A small step stool will give you a better perspective and make drilling so much easier.
3. Get everything you need together before you start. 
   
   • There is nothing worse than getting knee deep into something and then realizing you need to stop what you are doing and go get a certain part or find the right screws. Our instruction manuals lay out everything you need additionally to what is supplied with the door on the front page. I highly recommend grabbing all of those things and getting familiar with each step before you start putting things together. 
4. It’s surprisingly simple
   • When I was done, I was quite surprised and impressed with myself. I didn’t think I could do a full install in an hour. Despite my lack of reading directions and doing a few minor steps out of order, it was pretty simple. I actually had one of the installation guys double check it because I felt like I was missing something, but nope—I did a complete storm door installation in an hour.

Check out our How-To Guide that gives step by step installation help.