How to Remove an Exterior Door

The process of removing an entry door varies quite a bit depending on your situation. There are a few things you should look into first.

• Check to see if there is an alarm system built into the door. There may be wires that need to be cut, or removed.
• Check the top horizontal exterior trim, and see if there is an integal flashing that goes behind the trim. It usually sticks out a bit to direct the rain around the door. If there is, then you want to consider leaving the top trim in place. You can still put the door in from by tilting it from the inside. The video below talks about this.  
• be sure to have an assistant there to help with removing the door frame.
• Measure the door after you have removed the interior trim, and confirm that the new door you will be putting in fits the opening you are about to create.

Once you have check for these things, you ready to remove the entry door. Below is a video that can help show you how to remove an entry door that has 2 sidelights. The process of taking out an old double door is pretty much the same.

How to apply Caulk to a window

Caulking refers to the process of sealing a gap between two surfaces for the purpose of making it air and watertight. Below is the recommended process of caulking your Vinyl window. The caulks are available as an option when you purchase your window. You can also buy the separately at a hardware store.

Let's start with a basic informational video about How to Caulk Windows:

When doing a window replacement, There are 3 different places to seal the window.

   1.) The gap around the outside edge of the window where the Flush Fin touches the outside wall.

   2.) The gap between the window frame, and the wall.

   3.) The gap that the trim creates on the interior of the window.

1. The Gap around the outside edge of the window

Put additional polyurethane sealant around the outside of the exterior of the frame as needed to ensure a good seal between the wall and the window frame.Remember to leave 2 or 3 gaps at the bottom to allow moisture to seep out.

2. The Gap between the window frame and the wall

The space between the window frame and the wall varies on each window. That space should be filled in to insulate the window. To do this you should use an expanding foam sealant. You can buy expanding foam sealant in a can that dispenses through a straw.

Tips: place the foam as close to the exterior wall as possible, use only enough foam to bridge the gap to fill the void. Do not overfill the void, a ½ inch bead will stop the draft and match the R factor of most energy efficient windows. The foam is not an insulation material where more is better, foam is intended to bridge the gap and be an air barrier. Let the foam cure and then review each window to assure all voids are sealed.

3. The gap that the trim creates on the interior of the window.

To fill this gap you should use a siliconized acrylic caulking. Clean the surface, apply the caulking lightly, and wipe any remaining caulking off with a rag. You can see this 2 minutes into the following video:

Which caulk should I use?

If you are doing a window installation, we recommend you purchase 1 tube of Polyurethane Caulk, and 1 tube of Siliconized Acrylic Caulk. Use the Polyurethane on the outside of the window, and the Siliconized Acrylic on the inside of the window. You may also need some Expanding Foam Sealant, and Vinyl Trim Strips to fill in and cover up any gaps. This is explained in the Do-It-Yourself article about how to apply caulk.

Siliconized Acrylic Sealant Siliconized acrylic caulk is a little less durable than polyurethane, but it is easier to work with since it cleans up with water, and better tolerated by those with chemical sensitivities. Siliconized acrylic caulk can be painted over after is applied. The added silicone makes it more water resistant and flexible. It is the best choice for interior caulking, but can also be used on exterior caulking. The Siliconized acrylic caulk we recommend is called RCS20, made by GE: Product page for Siliconized Acrylic Sealant RCS20

Information Source: http://www.onlinetips.org/outdoor-caulks