Composite timber door with side panels

[Benway]

Hi.

What's best practice for attaching full height side panels to the door frame?

I've been supplied with two steel joining strips. The plan was to pre drill the strips and screw to the door frame from the steel strip side, meaning the inside of the door frame is untouched. I assume the screws randomly screwed into the outside of the door frame are for this purpose.

The slight issue comes when attaching the side panels. Do you just use longer screws and screw from the inside of the side panel?

My side panels are quite narrow so it would be easier to attach the joining strip to the side panels first then use the long screws in the door frame, but this option isn't as aesthetically pleasing as I'm making holes where weather is more likely to be able to get in.

Or am I as usual over thinking it and it doesn't really matter?

Cheers.

 

[Benway]

Gone for 9 screws in the joiner plate to attach it to the door first. Can't attach the side panels as need to get some 80mm baypole screws from Screwfix in the morning.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/1041p