Greetings All:
I am about to embark on what will probably be several DIY remodel projects and, although I am a woodworker, I have not tackled anything that required me to partially demolish my house (excuse me, I should have said “deconstruct” my house) before I start.
I thought I would start small by replacing the door leading to my garage from the inside of the house. My question, elementary as it is, is as follows: Should I just replace the door itself, or should I get a pre-hung door and replace the whole thing, casings and all? What are the advantages, if any, of replacing the casing as well as the door?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Dennis
Replies
"What are the advantages, if any, of replacing the casing as well as the door?"
To be frank, so it doesn't look like a kid did it.
Unless you're playing with old growth something or another...
Replacing the unit with a new prehung door will actually be simpler than hanging a new door in an existing jamb. The cost will only be marginally more.
Depending on what kind of woodworking you have experience with, you may find installing a new door in an old jamb a piece of cake.
IF the opening is worth saving, then surely replace the door only, meaning if the jambs are still square, straight and not beat up... and if the casing is worth it... If it seals well enough to keep that cool garage air out...
If not, get a prehung and reuse or replace your casings.
Be sure to get the fire rated door from between garage to house.
"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
If you are talking a new entry door for that garage/house opening.
A UNIT of door hung to frame with weatherstrip, adjustible sill and brickmould if you want that stile for the garage side will afford you if you don't get took or buy junk:
Insulated well sealed door that's fit to the frame. Easy to install and allows for future adjustment and replacement of bottom sweep and weather strip.
If you hang a new door to your jamb and are a novice to hanging doors you might not end up with as good a result.
However, there's no reason you couldn't retrofit the weatherstrip and hang a new wood door to that opening.
What's in there now?
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
What's in there now is solid core, particle board. It's beat to ####, having been subjected to 40 plus years of abuse. The casings are very beat up as well so it looks like a pre-hung unit will be going in. I have replaced doors in exisitng jams for other people, being very careful to get the hinges in exactly the right place. They both fit perfectly.
Good tip on the "fire rating". I'm sure it's code know, but I don't think it was when the house was built.
Thanks for all the responses
Ask around your area. Most (all) entry units are of a door supplied by a big company (thermatru, masonite, etc ) and fabbed at the local distributor (frame supplied / assembled/ hanging/weatherstripping/brickmld). A good fab job is a good door unit. A bad fab job is a #### unit. The distributors are usually one to an "area"-NW Ohio/Souther Michigan for example.
Best of luck.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I've found some ares aren't requiring fire rated doors. Unless you want to buy a fire rated door you might check. I was tought to use fire rated doors there.
I've done both ways.
Since you will replace casing anyway, pull off one side and see what the RO is like.
If the RO is sufficient to accept stock pre-hung doors, then it would be easier installation and you could go with a steel or fiberglass fire-rated door.
If the jamb is in good shape, plumb and with both legs aligned, you could install a solid wood door and trim it to fit. Steel or fiberglass don't allow for planing the edges or trimming the bottom edge.
get a new prehung fire rated door.
it'll be safer for the family.
easier for you.
win / win.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Check and thanks for your help.
Dennis
"Check and thanks for your help."
I think the first part got cut off - I'll be sending a...View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com