How to Install or Replace a Door Threshold

If your door threshold is old and worn, consider installing a new one. Not only will it update the look of your entryway, but also it can save you in energy costs if it no longer meets the door. This is a simple project that can be completed in less than an hour.

You can buy a new threshold at any home improvement center. Although metal ones are popular due to their durability, you should consider the overall look of your home and door before making any type of decision. A hardwood threshold can look great and withstand years of use.

Before you can replace the door threshold, you must remove the old door piece. Cut it into two parts. Be careful during this step not to damage the flooring on either side of the doorway.

Once the old door piece has been cut apart, you can remove both pieces with a prybar. Make sure that you do not accidentally gouge the floor when using the prybar or you will have to replace the area around the door.

Take the two old door pieces to use as a template for the new piece. Be sure to replace the amount lost when you cut the threshold to the length of the piece. Then cut the piece to fit.

Test the fit of the piece. If you are installing a metal threshold, remove the new piece and apply a few beads of silicone caulk to the flooring underneath. Then replace the piece and attach with the screws included. If you have chosen a metal threshold with a gasket, cut and fit the gasket into the metal groove.

The gasket may wear quickly, but you can replace it in less than ten minutes. Check every year for signs of wear; you can buy a gasket to replace the old one at any home improvement store, preventing the need for replacing the entire door threshold. You will seldom need to replace a metal one, unless it becomes dented from an accident.

Wood thresholds should be installed differently. Once you have cut the new piece to fit into the doorway, run two lines of wood glue on either side of the doorway. Replace the new piece and secure with nails spaced every 6 inches. Using a nail set, push the nails slightly beneath the surface of the wood and fill the holes with putty. Sand and paint or seal as needed.

Wood thresholds do not come with gaskets, so you’ll want some sort of stripping on the bottom of the door to make a good seal with the threshold. A wood threshold will wear out eventually, but replacing them should be both quick and inexpensive.

Completing small projects like this can elevate the overall look of your home. If finishing these types of projects is not your strength, make a list of anything in disrepair and call a handyman.