[bob22]

I may be putting a new exterior door in a wall sided by vinyl. Depends on some spacing considerations and door swing.
Assuming I get a prehung with brick mold, would I be able to cut in the door without taking down the siding?
Not too big a wall, about 8 feet high x 20 feet long(back wall of two car garage) so I could strip old And reinstall or put up new.
Any suggestions or cautions?
I assume all exterior doors require a switched light by it?

 

[Nealtw]

I have done it but it gets to be a pain real fast and trying to get the head flashing and soft flashing right, it really isn't a time saver.

 

[XSleeper]

I would take the siding off.

 

[de-nagorg]

I too would take down the siding and rehang it.

You're going to need some J channel to trim the door proper, and it is much easier to put J channel up without the siding in the way.

Get a "zipper" tool and just remove the siding in the area around the doorway, and save yourself some work.

Some of the siding will be long on one side or the other of the opening, mark the back of each one with a crayon to tell you where it goes back into the puzzle, and cut off each piece to refit it in to it's home.

Caution vinyl gets brittle after a few years, so cut gently.

Flash the entire area around the new opening, you don't want any water penetration.


ED

 

[Old Thomas]

I make a pencil or Sharpie line on the wall at the top of each siding panel as I remove it, and number each piece and the wall where it goes. Vinyl siding relaxes a bit as it ages and it is easy to pull it up too far when putting it back on, then when you get to the panel over the door it is too high to mesh with the rest of the wall. Getting the right piece in the right place with the correct amount of lift is easy if you plan ahead.

 

[carpdad]

The door brick molding is usually installed with staples. You can remove it and replace with something else that fits. I assume flashing is ok and not too damaged while removing the old door. It's also back of the garage, looking good is secondary.
If not covered, could be an idea to add an awning roof, maybe 4' wide, over the door. Cut the holes in the siding for brackets and sheetmetal flash over the holes. Sheetmetal can slip under the siding joints and held with caulk or half inch screws. Mine was from a box store and metal roof with low angle side bars.

 

[bob22]

Thank you all for the great ideas and tips.
I'm going to try to reuse the siding as it abuts another wall of the house and though white, 28 year old white is going to be different from new white siding.
I thought the flashing would be the biggest headache.
I appreciate the insights!