Patio / Sliding Door replacement

[Gretamom]

My husband and I own two 4-plexes (rentals). We need to replace two of the patio doors that go out to the decks. They are currently wood, but they are rotting on the bottom and we want to change them to vinyl. My husband is pretty handy. Has anyone replaced one & is it fairly easy? If it was my house I would be more likely to jump in and do it, but they are our rentals and I know the tenants would want it done the same day. 

[Greg]

It's often pretty easy, but there can be "gotchas"... like more water damage under the door unit, the sill.  I'd do some recon and pull the exterior trim, to see you you can be sure of the size, and any other checks you can think of.  A helper who can go and get other needed stuff would be advisable.  Or, take along extra material like treated wood for a replacement sill, various plywood materials, etc.

[waffle]

How easy it will be will also depend on the difficulty of getting the door where it needs to go. The title suggests that these are sliding doors and you mentioned that they are going into a 4-plex. Are you going to have to take them up stairs and/or through the house? I'd take into consideration how likely you are to damage the door or the building trying to do the install.

if its all on the first floor then it really shouldn't be too hard with a bit of planning.

[paddedhat]

Good advice so far. Keep in mind that your rough openings might be different between an old wood unit and a new vinyl slider.  Second these things are HEAVY, and take two fairly strong people to wrestle around. Finally, glass does not travel well if laid flat. I can't believe how many times I see the clueless help at a big box store, helping a customer load a very expensive patio door on to a pick-up by laying it across the top of the bed. This stresses the glass tremendously, and it may shatter from the stress, even well after it's installed.

[prime95]

If you have ever installed new (not replacement, they're different) vinyl windows, you'll find the installation similar.  They typically have a nailing fin.  Just make sure your opening has enough room for expansion, level, you seal it, then trim it out and you're good to go... or this youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV8nBPWWZD0

[Gretamom]

If you have ever installed new (not replacement, they're different) vinyl windows, you'll find the installation similar.  They typically have a nailing fin.  Just make sure your opening has enough room for expansion, level, you seal it, then trim it out and you're good to go... or this youtube video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV8nBPWWZD0

Thanks for the info & the link to the Youtube video! I'm going to watch it with my husband. Totally Awesome Bonus - I talked with a friend's husband at a social event this past weekend who is a general contractor and house builder - he offered to show my husband how to do it after work or on the weekend (for free of course!). It's good to network!