651-212-4221
Jan 05, 2019
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Fast Facts About DIY Interior Door Installation and Three Season Porch Conversion

Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am.  Have your most pressing home improvement questions answered by calling or texting 651.461.9226.  Here’s must-know information from Barry Stranz (professional & educator) who has 30+ years in the home improvement industry shared on 1.5.19. 

DIY Interior Door Installation…A Do or a Don’t?

Prior to committing to a DIY home improvement project, it’s wise to consider the cost in terms of time and money if you commence work but end up having to wave the white flag.  While interior door installation can seem like a straightforward endeavor, there are several ways, a rookie can get tripped up especially when it comes to common DIY construction code violations.

Tips On How To Install An Interior Door

When starting your DIY door installation, you must evaluate if the scenario warrants the casing being replaced in addition to the door.  Not replacing the door mouldings makes the project easier.  However, most new doors available in the marketplace, do not come pre-routed for hinges because hinge patterns can vary from home to home.  This now forces the homeowner to cut the hinge gains into the edge of the door blank which is a tricky process for a first timer because of the carpentry skills that are necessary. The alternative approach is pulling the casing off, removing the entire door frame, install the new door frame pre-hung, and then install the existing casing that was there to begin with.bedroom

Tips On Installing Sliding Closet Doors

Replacing slide by closet doors, sometimes referred to as sliding closet doors, requires the removal of the hardware track and the doors themselves.  Using a bi-fold or swinging door create problems if you’re putting in a new frame.  If you’ve had a slide-by door, you might not have enough width of the rough opening to create a frame with a hinged door.  You’d be fine with the bi-fold, but not with the hinged door because you might have to open up the framing so the casing comes off and then the width has to be checked so that you know you’ve got enough space.  Normally, you’ve got the width of the door, plus the width of the doorjamb, and additional space for shimming.  These aspects must all be taken into consideration in order to purchase a new door.

The most difficult closet doors for an amateur to install are those that have a French door or swinging closet door.  That’s because there are two sets of doors in one jamb, making them the most difficult pre-hungs to set because there are two doors that need to be plumb level square and aligned in and out so that the top and bottom match on the center seam.  They can even give professional trim level carpenters difficulty.  Bi-fold doors have a lot of adjustment potential, but whereas French type doors do not.

Porch Conversions: Making Your Three Season Room A Four Seasons Room

While a three season porch can provide a relaxing place to entertain, many homeowners are interested to learn whether or not their current space can be converted to a four season porch in a cost effective manner.  In most instances a three season porch does not have a preexisting heating plant within the space.  In order to heat the space so that it’s usable year-round, insulation must also be brought up to code.  The challenge becomes the ability to access spaces where insulation has never been installed.  This could be an overhead attic area that may or may not have easy access.  At times, this can be done by accessing the roof on top through the creation of a hole to spray insulation in.  Wall cavities may also need to be opened up in order to bring your home insulation up to code and the space underneath the room may also require insulation.  The installation of a separately zoned heating plant must also take place, upping the cost of the project.

Don’t Start Your Next Home Renovation Without Watching This!

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Porch Conversations & Deck Installation Reviews:

"Deck looks nice.  Thank you!"

Hector G.
Minneapolis, MN
November 10, 2022

"My wife listens to WCCO regularly and when we needed gutters, fascia and soffit at a home in Minneapolis our son lives in we hired them and were not disappointed. My cousin in Richfield needed similar work on her garage and scheduled them on my recommendation. They just finished a walkway and deck at our house in Savage and again did an excellent job. Their employees were true professionals and longtime employees which reflects well on the company."

Will W.
Savage, MN
October 13, 2022

"Lindus Construction added a landing and steps to our 2nd floor exterior deck. They completed sooner than promised and did an outstanding job. The materials used are top notch, the construction was done with very good quality, and they look beautiful while being very sturdy. Everything was to code and the post construction inspection found no problems. I'm glad I chose them!"

Mark M.
Brooklyn Park, MN
October 3, 2022

"My wood deck separated from the house. They removed it and replaced it with a beautiful new maintenance-free deck." 

Ron S.
Bloomington, MN
September 29, 2022

"The guys who built our deck were very courteous and responsive. There were a couple KDAT boards we didn't like because of some big cracks and we showed them and they replaced them without a problem. After the project was finished they sent out their own Lindus inspector who then showed me some other things that we had not noticed and was sending them back out to take care of. We were really impressed with this.  The initial consultation was very informative about a lot of different products out there today. What they are made of, how they are made, how they hold up, and what is best for your personal budget."

Brandon K..
Hammond, WI
July 21, 2022

"Lindus did a fantastic job on our deck."

Colleen O.
Roberts, WI
July 9, 2022
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