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Discussion Forum

Big a – – door

gluenscrew | Posted in Construction Techniques on February 17, 2008 10:07am

  Any good links to installing 13′ 1600 lb. steel entry doors? Any advice? There is an arch at the top with glass and the old door needs to come out first- fortunately its wood.   Thanks


Edited 2/17/2008 2:23 pm ET by gluenscrew

Reply

Replies

  1. JohnCujie | Feb 17, 2008 10:25pm | #1

    Would be great to see a picture of it. Are you responsible for figuring out the supporting requirements or has someone done that?

    John

  2. CAGIV | Feb 17, 2008 10:35pm | #2

    sub it?

    Team Logo

  3. Michael_Maines | Feb 18, 2008 12:14am | #3

    Any advice here?  Sounds like your entry door--

    1. VaTom | Feb 18, 2008 05:19am | #15

      Mine're considerably lighter, but I don't see any problem.  I'd be looking at hardware load ratings carefully.  When I tried to get my locally owned home center to order ball-bearing hinges, they refused.  Told me all I needed was 4- 4" standard butts.

      Better if the door swings easily.  Ours do.  Got my hinges elsewhere. 

      A quick peek at Stanley hinge listings shows capacity up to 2000 lbs.  Yours is wider than their standard, but I don't see a problem.

      Mike Maine's remembering my 6 1/2' x 8' contraption.  The inner door's only 48" wide.  Rarely open the larger one.  Neither are light weight, both swing nicely.  PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

      1. Marc | Feb 18, 2008 06:20am | #16

        Ok Tom, I'll bite...

        Why the two doors?

        1. brownbagg | Feb 18, 2008 06:25am | #17

          one for going in and one for going out.two ways to screw up concrete 1) concrete driver 2) concrete finisher

          1. Marc | Feb 18, 2008 06:28am | #18

            Assume I responded with something impolite :-)

          2. dovetail97128 | Feb 18, 2008 08:30am | #19

            That has to be one of the best and funniest replies I have ever read!!! Rez needs to come up with a prize for ya.
            They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.

        2. VaTom | Feb 18, 2008 04:37pm | #21

          Apart from bb's observation, one's for larger traffic.  My smallest tractor doesn't fit through the 4' doorway.

          You say you don't often want a tractor in your kitchen? 

          This place was designed as my future furniture shop.  Never know when you might want to build a boat.  During construction I found it very convenient to have that large doorway.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

          1. Marc | Feb 18, 2008 04:49pm | #22

            Have to admit that I would not ordinarily think of bringing a tractor in the house.

            Thanks

            Marc

          2. VaTom | Feb 18, 2008 06:01pm | #23

            There you go, preserve your options...

            Here's another one you probably didn't consider:PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

          3. frammer52 | Feb 18, 2008 08:03pm | #24

            wtf

          4. frammer52 | Feb 18, 2008 08:14pm | #25

            I wondered what happened to my jeep

          5. VaTom | Feb 18, 2008 08:50pm | #26

            Still here, come and get it.  Bring a roll-back.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

  4. JTC1 | Feb 18, 2008 12:21am | #4

    I'd attach the brickmold first, hang with big nails - 15 ga should do it, no shims........... :-)

    Bump. I wouldn't even know where to start.

    Jim 

    Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
  5. YesMaam27577 | Feb 18, 2008 12:51am | #5

    Maybe you should post this over at the forum where NASA contractors get together. At some point, somebody had to figure out how to hang the doors on the building that houses the shuttle in the vertical position.

    Maybe those guys will have some thoughts.

    Politics is the antithesis of problem solving.

  6. gluenscrew | Feb 18, 2008 01:47am | #6

      It looks like I am responsible.I just met with the homeowner on Fri. and was the first one to look at it. I want to do it because times are lean and these people have big bucks.If I look good there might be alo more where it came from. Apparently they had a falling out with the fabricator.

       The guys that made the whole thing welded tabs onto the jamb and it looks like a matter of drilling holes through the tabs bolting it over new flashing ,then caulking and plastering, etc.

      Its going to require a crane of some sort.



    Edited 2/17/2008 5:48 pm ET by gluenscrew

    1. User avater
      Ted W. | Feb 18, 2008 01:59am | #7

      I guess glue n screw might not be enough. :)

      One thing you should do for sure is contact the company who built it, find out how they meant those welded tabs to be used.

      The uppermost hinge will take the most weight when in the closed position, and the open position will distribute the weight between the top and bottom hinge. I imagine there are at least two hinges midway. Not looking at it myself, I'd be wary of using only the plates that are welded to the jamb. Better to fasten rock solidly through the jambs and into the structure.

      Speaking of which, what's the building structure. Wood frame? Masonry? Titanium?--------------------------------------------------------

      Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

  7. User avater
    hammer1 | Feb 18, 2008 02:08am | #8

    In tracing my families history, we found out the first to come to America was the wife of my great something grandfather. She came over with three sons. Great grandad was killed, working on a large church door that fell on him. Better be careful!

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

    1. gluenscrew | Feb 18, 2008 02:17am | #10

         Yeah I should be able to just kick it into place and the friction'll keep it there. Thanks for the warning-Ill be sure to stay clear of that thing.

        It looks like it is a wood frame house, and there are four 5 or 6" hinges. Going back tomorrow to take pictures and stuff. It was laying out on the "courtyard" all wrapped up and I didnt want to compltely unwrap without having something to cover it back up with. 

          I failed to make clear that the whole thing-door and jamb with windows above weighs 1600 lbs. not just the door. As if that makes much difference.

      Edited 2/17/2008 6:21 pm ET by gluenscrew

      1. JohnCujie | Feb 18, 2008 02:32am | #11

        How big is the operating door? Hard to believe that whatever existing framing is in there will be strong enough. Like the other poster said, find out the fabricator's design idea. No one needs a call back for life on something like this. Sounds like a fun problem to solve though. JohnHow much access is there? Can you get a grade all in and boom out with the unit? Could be more flexible than a crane as you can drive it around a bit.

        Edited 2/17/2008 6:39 pm ET by JohnCujie

        1. gluenscrew | Feb 18, 2008 03:09am | #13

             More investigation this week. The operating door is 8'.Big enough. A boom might be good. Its kinda of an akward situation I mght need something that can reach the front door via the driveway below.

      2. peteshlagor | Feb 18, 2008 03:06am | #12

        Backhoe?

         

  8. User avater
    EricPaulson | Feb 18, 2008 02:13am | #9

    I'm wondering how the hell you open and close it?

    Butler perhaps?

    [email protected]

     

     

     

     

  9. ponytl | Feb 18, 2008 04:12am | #14

    pics...

    i've built vaults and installed the door&frame  they had to be in the weight range... i just used my bobcat with a rigged boom  and "tilted"  them into place...

    just need to know what it's all going to be sitting on... and what it can attach to... if you can attach the top & bottom what it attaches to on the sides aren't a big deal...

    just need more info

    but the correct answer is...

    sure i can install it... do it all the time

    p

  10. jack_bogard | Feb 18, 2008 08:39am | #20

    go to nashville and look at the doors on the parthenon. they weigh 7 tons.

    might get an idea from how they did it.

     

     

     

     

  11. JohnCujie | Feb 21, 2008 06:22pm | #27

    So what happened?

    John

  12. User avater
    JeffBuck | Feb 21, 2008 07:39pm | #28

    are we sure those tabs aren't to be welded to a steel frame that isn't there yet?

     

    Jeff

        Buck Construction

     Artistry In Carpentry

         Pittsburgh Pa

    1. gluenscrew | Feb 22, 2008 05:01am | #29

        Went over there today and met with the homeowners assistant and a friend of mine who I will split the job with. Got to looking at the tabs and realized that for this situation the tabs were welded on backwards. There are two big columns on square bases both inside and outside of the door. The inside bases really close in the entry space- the current door only has about 5/8" of clearance as it opens.                          

               I called the fabricator who stated that they intended for the jamb to be tilted up from the inside. He also said that a lot of the time people pull those tabs off and bolt through the jamb into the framing, but that sounds like a water issue or an ugly caulking job.

              So we are going to meet on Mon. and I may have them re-weld the tabs on. It also looks like  its going to turn into an expensive install.

      1. ravz | Feb 25, 2008 09:54pm | #30

        Resized

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