Instructions / Assembly
EXTERIOR DOOR 
INSTALLATION
INSTRUCTIONS AND 
WARRANTY
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Thank you for purchasing a Steves & Sons Exterior Door. This document 
covers recommended installation for our basic door congurations: 
Single prehung, prehung with sidelites, double prehung, 
center hinge and french patio doors.
Please read instructions completely prior to installation of door. The 
instructions work with most applications when installing our doors. Any 
changes made to installation process is done at installers risk and may 
void warranty. A copy of the installation instructions should be provided to 
home owner and remain on site for nal building code inspection.
Not all door types can be installed in all locations. We recommend you 
contact building code compliance in your area prior to installation to verify 
product meets code for your application and location.
Coastal areas may require different products and additional anchoring 
methods. Information on coastal products and installation requirements 
can be located at www.tdi.texas.gov or www.oridabuilding.org
•  Measure height of rough opening on both sides. We recommend the 
opening be 1/2” taller than door unit. (Figure A)
•  Measure width of rough opening at top, center and bottom. We 
recommend opening be 1” wider than door unit. (Figure A)
•  Verify your rough opening is square. This can be done by measuring 
diagonally from corner to corner. Maximum allowable deviation should 
not exceed 1/4”.
•  Verify rough opening is level and plumb. (Figure B)
•  Verify threshold is level and clear of debris.
•  Remove shrink wrapping from door and inspect for cosmetic or freight 
damages. Verify that you received the correct product, style, size, 
color, handing and swing. If you have any concerns with the product 
you received DO NOT INSTALL. Contact point of purchase to discuss 
options or conact Steves & Sons, Inc. at 1-800-617-8586
•  Remove shrink wrapping from door and inspect for cosmetic or freight 
damages. Verify that you received the correct product, style, size, 
color, handing and swing. If you have any concerns with the product 
you received DO NOT INSTALL. Contact point of purchase to discuss 
options or conact Steves & Sons, Inc. at 1-800-617-8586
•  We recommend a minimum of 2 people when removing door from 
pallet and installing.
•  Follow instructions attached to pallet to remove door. Remove all 
shipping materials such as corner, hinge, and sill protectors. Select 
doors have wood protector on bottom of sill which must be removed.
•  Apply 3 continuous 3/8” beads of silicone caulk across the sill of the 
opening. (Figure B)
•  If installing on wood suboor, we recommend using a sill pan prior to 
installing door unit.
Inspect Rough Opening
Remove Door from Pallet
Prepare Rough Opening for Door Unit
Figure A Figure B
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2
3
•  Work from hinge side using a 4-foot level, plumb the side of frame and 
tighten the 2-1/2” trim screws.
•  Doors with sidelites and double doors, plumb and tighten screws on 
the hinge side of door unit rst. (Figure D)
Plumb and Fasten Hinge Jamb
Single Door Unit Single Door with
Sidelites Unit
Double Door 
Unit
•  Work from lockset side using a 4-foot level plumb and square the 
lockset side of door and check weather-strip margins for consistent 
contact to door slab.
•  Work from lockset side using a 4-foot level plumb and square the 
lockset side of door and check weather-strip margins for consistent 
contact to door slab.
•  Shim the lockset jamb and secure with 2-1/2” trim screws.
•  Once door is plumb, level, and secured in opening, make sure the gap 
between frame and door viewed from inside is consistent from top to 
bottom of door
• Doors with sidelites shim above mull post and install screws behind 
weatherstrip. (Figure E)
• Patio and Center Hinge doors shim at astragal/mull and install 
screws behind weatherstrip. (Figure E)
• Verify door with astragal is plumb and square in the opening. Drill 
hole in header & sill for ush bolt.
Plumb and Fasten Lockset Jamb
•  With top edge of door tilted away 
from opening, place bottom of door in 
center of opening onto caulk. Then tilt 
top of door into opening. (Figure C)
•  Place shims behind each hinge and 
plumb hinge jamb, then secure 2-1/2” 
trim screws through each hinge and 
shims. If unit includes 2 sidelites, place 
shims on outside of sidelite on hinge 
side of unit.
•  DO NOT drive screws completely in 
because you may need to adjust to 
plumb and square door.
Installing Door Unit
Figure C
Figure D
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5
6
astragal
Figure E
Single Door Unit
Single Door with
Sidelites Unit
Double Door Unit


