DIY homeowners often are confronted with the dilemma of how to make an exterior wall opening for adding a door or a window. Making a rough opening for adding an outside door or window is a common remodeling task that most DIY homeowners can do themselves with a little bit of advice and a few common carpenter tools. Depending on the size of the new opening a header ay be required. Having the right tools available will make the task go easier.

Recommended tools:

Skill saw
Hand saw
Square
Level
Drill with ¼ inch drill bit
Claw hammer
Chalk line

To determine the rough opening size add two inches to the finish opening for the door or window. Door and window manufacturers provide rough opening sizes with their products. Once you determine exactly where you want the rough opening determine if there are any electrical wires or plumbing pipes in the wall. It may be necessary to remove them before beginning.

Step 1: From inside the house, remove the wall board from the interior of the wall. If the opening is going to be larger than the stud spacing, a header will be required. Install a temporary support and remove the old wall studs.

Step 2: Drill through the wall at the corners of the rough opening.

Step 3: On the outside, connect the four holes using a level and chalk line. This is the line you will cut on o make the rough opening.

Step 4: Nail a straight 1 x 4 flush with the inside edge of the cutting line. Set the circular saw to its maximum blade depth and cut along the lines drawn in step 3.

Step 5: Remove all the cut wall material and prepare to install the header if needed and finish framing the rough opening.

That is how to make exterior wall openings. Keep in mind that if the opening is larger than the existing wall stud spacing, a header must be added to support the weight above the opening.

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