Walls and Ceilings - removing sliding door frame/patching

I added a room on to my house in the back where a 10 foot slider was. When we did the addition, we left the metal door frame in place thinking we would put the sliders back on when the kids were teenagers so they could have their own space. Now they don't care and we want the frame out before we put hardwood floors in. The hardwood will go over the area where the frame is currently and stop when it meets the carpet.

Is this a simple do it myself and then have the drywall guy patch it up? I am almost afraid to remove the frame, afraid of what is there since it is a good 5 inches wide of metal all the way around. How would I do it, just pry it off with a crowbar? ANY tips or hints would be great! Thanks!

It depends on what you want the opening to look like. Usually upon removal of the door frame, you will install a casing around the opening and trim it with door trim. You can also have the drywall guy wrap the ends and top header with sheetrock and finish, but that will leave the opening vulnerable to bumps and nicks. I prefer the cased opening and trim. You would do this after the hardwood is installed. The wall including two layers of sheetrock (one on each side) will be 4 9/16", unless you have 6" walls, then it would be 6 9/16". It definitely is a do it yourself item. Have you considered the difference in the heights of the floors in the two rooms? Are they the same?

Thanks for your reply Chandler. The other openings into the entry hall and living room are just smooth like the rest of the walls and are each about 5 inches wide. The metal frame at this opening is a tiny bit bigger. I wanted them to all look alike so at least now I know what to ask the drywall guy for, after all he will be here anyway.

At one point, one of the other doorways/openings was damaged and at the corners on both sides were metal strips all the way up the wall edge shaped like the corner. They were not visible until the area got damaged though and I guess they were put there to protect the edge? Do you know what these are called and should I ask to have that put in when he "wraps the ends"? (see, already got the lingo down!)

Nope, we don't know about the transition between the hardwood and the carpet yet. They are pretty darn close but you never know until you take the old carpet off and the metal frame off, right? I am just afraid there will be a giant hole between the two rooms! Think I should pry this metal frame off myself before they even come on Monday? The sheet rock guy will be starting the ceilings and the floor guy will be here to go over the bid. The floor guy did not seem at all concerned about it!

" on both sides were metal strips all the way up the wall "

This is called corner bead, it comes in both metal and plastic/vinyl. Your drywall guy knows to use it on any outside corner. It's purpose is to both make it easy to mud a nice corner and to protect it from minor damage, it can still be bent or have the mud knocked off.

Your floor guy deals with these transisions all the time and should know what to do.

It would make it easier if you could remove the door frame ahead of time. That way you can formulate answers to questions they will ask when they get there. They will charge you labor for removing it anyway, so you will be ahead of the game.