I'll be replacing my old sliding patio door soon. It is a standard sized patio door and I'm getting the door from an Andersen retailer. My friend and I will remove the old door and replace it with the new door. The new door's RO is approximately 3/4" shorter width-wise than the door there now. I'll need to fit it correctly between the studs with shims, etc. I'd like to purchase all my finishing wood before I start the job but I have this feeling that in order to see what is really behind the edges of the old door's track (i.e. wood condition and size/thickness) I'll need to wait until I pull the old door out.
I am particularly worried about the sill. Are sill widths pretty much the same or again I should wait until I pull out the door track and see exactly the width? I need to replace the sill as it is beginning to rot on the outside edges. The thickness is 1 1/8".
Thanks, Walter