replacing a prehung door with another.....

[mldollins]

Since I have had bad guys the last year or so up to no good on my property, I want to replace my garage door that has a glass panel with a steel entry door with no windows.

I would rather not pull off the molding and pull the old prehung out and replace it with the new prehung.

But, is it possible to pop the bolt off the old hinges and pop the new door on if they are the same size door?

The door I have now has no deadbolt and it has glass on the upper part. Personally, I like the glass door but its not practical in the country......

thanks

[Bearfootfarm]

But, is it possible to pop the bolt off the old hinges and pop the new door on if they are the same size door?

That will work fine as long as everything is square

[agmantoo]

The chances that the hinge pattern will mate/match/align between the two different doors is about zero.

[salmonslayer]

I agree its not likely you will get a good match if you just try to retrofit the door. Its not hard to sawzall out the old door with frame and install a new pre-hung door. Its really only about a 30 minute job and you will be much happier. Just buy some cedar shims and some 6p nails and you should be all set. You will have to replace the trim around the door but thats also an easy job and you can cut the molding with a hand miter saw.

I just replaced all my exterior doors and interior doors and it was a breeze.

[snowshoehair]

A steel door is only part of making your home more secure. Most doors are kicked in with little damage to the door and most of the damage to the frame. If you replace the whole door and frame assembly, you have the opportunity to also install a high security strike plate and longer screws in the hardware. Even the spray in insulation around the frame adds a bit of strength to the finished installation. And that's just the few things that I know of... there might be more ideas out there.

I'm all for doing it right the first time.

[texican]

Sorry to hear about your evildoer infestation. Metal doors will be an improvement over the door w/window. Others have already commented on how to strengthen your door.

What about windows? If you have any, you've still got a security problem. Fact is, anyone that really wants to get into your house, can, with just a few house tools. Thieves want to work quickly and leave the scene of the crime. The only safe way of preventing them is to actually be there. With a sledge hammer and sawzall, I can have a door 'out' in just a minute or so. Brick, rock, hammer, and the windows are gone. Portable 18v tools will handle most any challenge a homeowner can think of... and bad guys know this too. Portable cutting torches are available too.

Sure we've all heard locks are for honest people. It IS true.

If you want to catch these folks, leave out some bait, visible from the road, and have a hidden game camera observing them taking the bait.

I accidentally stumbled upon an evildoer repellent back in the late 90's. My sis hung some dolls in a torturesome display at my cattleguard. She had a halloween hayride, and my 'station' was the land of dead dolls. Later found that lots of people wouldn't drive down my road.... thinking there was either voodoo or bad juju going on down here.

[pcdreams]

if your replacing a door with a window with a solid door I recommend at least a peep hole or a camera. Otherwise you won't know whos on the otherside should you decide to go out it..