How to Install a Frameless Door: Drywall and Paint Steps

The Steps involved during our Installations

A frameless door only works if the installation is done in the right order. The goal is a door, frame and wall that blend into one flat surface, with no visible trim. That means your framer, drywaller, painter and door installer all need to know what comes first. This guide explains how the process works and where drywall and paint fit in.

Two Types of Frameless Door Frames

Concealed frames are usually made from aluminum or from wood. Both give you the same finished look, but the order of work is different, so confirm which type you have before anyone starts.

Before You Start: Check the Rough Opening

Frameless doors follow the wall, so the wall needs to be in good shape. Make sure the rough opening is as plumb and square as you can get it. An opening that leans can make a door swing open or closed on its own once it is hung. The adjustable 3D hidden hinges used with frameless doors can correct small imperfections, but they cannot fix a badly crooked opening, so it is much easier to get the opening right first.

Installing an Aluminum Frame

1. Set the frame in the rough opening. This works much like a standard door frame.
2. Shim and level it. Adjust until the frame is plumb and level, then fasten it to the studs.
3. Hang the drywall. Aluminum frames have a built-in spot where the edge of the drywall sits, so the board simply meets the frame at the right place.
4. Install the hinges and hang the door panel.
5. Finish the drywall. Tape and mud the joints in the wall. The aluminum frame itself is not mudded.
6. Paint. Paint the wall, the frame and the door so they blend together.

A useful benefit of this method is that the drywall compound is not physically attached to the frame. If the door is ever closed hard and the frame vibrates, the nearby painted drywall will not crack because the two are separate.

Installing a Wood Frame

1. Hang the drywall first. With wood frames, the board goes up before the frame goes in.
2. Set the frame. Place it in the opening, shim it plumb and level, and fasten it to the studs. A flange on the frame overlaps the edge of the drywall.
3. Fill the gap around the frame. Use low-expansion foam between the frame and the studs. This reduces vibration and helps prevent cracks later.
4. Mud the joint. Cover the seam where the frame flange meets the drywall with joint compound, the same way you would join two sheets of drywall.
5. Sand and paint. Once the joint is smooth and painted, the seam disappears and the frame looks like part of the wall.
6. Install the hinges and hang the door.

Painting Tips for a Seamless Look

• Paint the wall and the door in the same color for a fully hidden look, or choose a two-tone finish if you want the door to stand out.
• Our flush door panels arrive primed and ready to paint.
• Let joint compound dry completely and sand it smooth before priming, since flush surfaces show every flaw.
• Plan for the painter to finish the wall, frame and door in the same session for the most even result.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ordering too late. The frames need to be on site before the drywall stage. See our article on frameless door lead times.
• Skipping the foam on wood frames. Without it, vibration can crack the joint.
• Ignoring a crooked opening. Fix it before the frame goes in.
• Mixing up the order of trades. Confirm the sequence for your frame type before anyone starts work.

Need Help With Your Installation?

We provide best-practice installation advice and are available if questions come up during your project. See our frameless door details for cross-sections and hinge specifications, or contact us. You can also call 208-905-4960 or email [email protected].