How to Remove French Doors

1. Preparation

As the removal procedure for windows, you will have to use heavy equipment to remove patio or French doors. You should therefore cover the floor and furniture with protective foil, in order to prevent damage from stone fragments. Before you remove the old components it is very important to re-measure the reveal and compare it to the dimensions of your new aluminium, wooden or uPVC doors. After making sure that the measurements match, you can start with the next steps (Fig. 1):

2. How to remove the Casement

French doors basically consist of hinges, a locking mechanism, stay arm, casement and profile. The first step is to lift off the casement from the hinges. Depending on the age of individual construction components, the procedure may differ. In particular, knowing whether the system features a tilt-and-turn mechanism or not is very important.

a) How to remove from older French Doors

If the French door has a tilt-mechanism, please follow these steps:

• Unlock and open it, moving the handle into its tilt position afterwards (Fig. 2a).
• Now you can lift up the casement until you can remove it from the corner bearings (Fig. 2b).
• Take off the stay arm. The stay arm is the metal rod holding the system in tilt position.

If the French door cannot be tilted, please consider the next step:

• Open the casement and lift it up until it can be removed from the hinges.

b) How to remove from newer French Doors

The removal of modern wooden, aluminium or uPVC doors is usually less complicated in comparison to older systems. But you will need pincers and a screwdriver.

• First you need to unlock and open the door – no matter if with or without tilt mechanism.
• Use pincers to remove the plastic cover that protects the stay bearing at the upper hinge.
• Once the plastic cover is removed, please pull the respective pin out downwards from the stay bearing (Fig. 3).
• Now you can lift off the entire casement from the corner bearing.

3. How to remove the Frame

The frame is firmly embedded in the masonry and stabilizes the door. This is why the removal of the frame from the wall requires greater effort and certain techniques. For the procedure you will need the hand-held milling machine and the rip saw, as well as a crowbar.

• Please make sure that roller shutters or similar construction objects do not affect the procedure. Remove existing roller shutters, which may be mounted or connected to the French door (Fig. 4a).
• The frames of French doors are normally embedded at the sides only. Cut along the sides of the doorframe, using your rip saw of milling machine. If you find more connections it will be necessary to also cut at the top and bottom as well (Fig. 4b).
• For easy removal, cut the frame into several pieces with V-shaped cuts to avoid jamming during the next step. Six cuts are normally enough, once on the bottom, once above and twice each on either side (Fig. 4c).
• Use the crowbar to lever out the frame pieces from the wall opening. If the pieces are still connected in certain parts, cut in the respective area with the rip saw or hand-held milling machine again (Fig. 4d).

This step-by-step manual will help you to remove French doors like a professional. The procedure is also applicable for the removal of wooden, uPVC or aluminium windows. Do you want to learn more? This detailed video will give you further information.