Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Dec 11, 2009 06:15pm | #1

   Why not indeed. once you find a nice piece of lumber, a dozen passes thru the tablesaw will have it shaped and ready to sand.

   Let in rabbets on the bottom and seal it there too.

   Use a sealer/finish that has UV inhibitors.

   White oak better than red for a potentially wet area.

   to seal door to thresh, use a surface mounted weather strip for easiest,

   There are strips that fit into a dado in bottom of the door. Also one that will cam action down tight to the thresh lip as the door comes closed tight. That runs you about $80 tho

   Resource conservation technologies is the place to google up for sources

1. 
   popawheelie | Dec 11, 2009 10:54pm | #3

   Thanks Piffin. I'll try
   Thanks Piffin. I'll try Resource conservation technologies.

   when I talked to the salesman about the weatherstipping ( he wrote up a quote for everything)it sounded like he was giving me the silicon kind that sits in the corner like the Resource conservation technologies.

   I asked about the kerf in the corner and he said that was how it was done.

   I liked everything he siad except the sill and threshold.

   This is the place. http://www.abraxisartglass.com/interior_doors.htm

   I was like a kid in a candy store. I just gave a half down on the door.

   i will use white oak. There is a nice wood plave here in town i haven't set foot in yet.

   http://www.sears-trostel.com/ Can't wait to smell the place.

   Have you installed one of their automatic door bottoms?

   Just wondering if it works ok?

2. 
   Mongo | Dec 11, 2009 07:19pm | #2

   I'm in the process of
   I'm in the process of building a wood entry door and will be fabricating a wood threshold too.

   All the jamb gaskets (door top and sides) as well as the recessed door-bottom gasket, ran me about $80 for a 3-6 by 7-0 door. You can do it for about $25 by using a fixed door bottom sweep instead.

1. 
   popawheelie | Dec 11, 2009 11:13pm | #4

   The salesman at the door place said the jams were ready for a wetherstrip seal in the corner. I think they are like the Resource conservation technologies silicon ones. I like those.

   He included a sweep for $10. But I'm going to try something that doesn't show if it is possible.

   I don't like a bunch of hardware on a door. Less is better for me. he showed me an entry mortice handleset that was big.

   I asked for something smaller and he went right to one.

   I don't want to overwhelm this door with metal if i can help it.

1. 
   lettusbee | Dec 12, 2009 08:22pm | #5

   I have one of these automatic retractable door bottoms at the house if you want to check one out. I've installed a couple, and they do seal up well.

   http://www.ngpinc.com/product_view.cfm?nProduct_ID=665

1. 
   popawheelie | Dec 15, 2009 03:34pm | #7

   Thanks lettusbe. I'd like to
   Thanks lettusbe. I'd like to see one.

   So they work well? You never know with some products.

   I figure, if worse comes to worse, I can instal a sweep on the bottom and put a taller threshold in.

   With the automatic retractable seal the door would be at it's longest length. So cuttting it would come after.

   Do you think the Resource conservation technologies is a nicer one? I just want one that works. If the Resource conservation technologies one is better I'll just get that one.

   By the way, I never did look at the jams he was selling me. He said there was a kerf for the wetherstripping. I'm not sure if the weatherstipping is in the corner. I want the one that sits in the corner and is real soft.

   I'll have to look at what he has.

   I am going to have to put on extensions I think. Maybe a Kreg pocket hole jig for Christmas? My daughter asked today.

   Thanks!

1. 
   lettusbee | Dec 15, 2009 08:03pm | #11

   Do they work well? They did when I left the job, and I'm always curious if they still work years down the road. How bout you buy the one from rct, I'll install mine in my house, and we'll compare next year?

   I've never seen the Resource Conservation brand in real life, but it looks like it has more adjustability than the one I have. I'd go for it.

   You don't have a pocket hole jig?! I'm addicted to mine!

   And I only have the $50 kit. You can buy jamb stock in town, that is already milled with the kerf for the weather strip. Abraxis would probably sell you the jamb stock by the foot.

   Can't wait to see what you do.

2. 
   popawheelie | Dec 17, 2009 10:01pm | #12

   Is the jamb stock in town the same quality as Abraxis?

   I could look at the stock in town before i go to abraxis.

   It is nice to pick through stock and find "nice" fir.

   If I have a choice.

3. 
   DanH | Dec 14, 2009 08:40pm | #6

   The threshold material is up to you, but remember that the threshold is the hardest part of a door to seal, so be sure you have a good plan in place from the start, or you'll end up nailing ugly sweeps to the bottom of the door to end the draft.

4. 
   rdesigns | Dec 15, 2009 03:45pm | #8

   A further reason to avoid the aluminum threshold:

   I have these on both front and back doors, and the cold weather this past week (15 degrees high, -10, low)has caused a buildup of frost all along the inside edge of the thresholds. They are an excellent heat sink working against me, and, when the weather warms, they leave puddles on the hardwood floor.

   Do us a favor and post pix of how yours turns out, and I'll have go at it next spring.

1. 
   popawheelie | Dec 15, 2009 04:33pm | #9

   I will take pictures and post them. Why not?

   I sounds like Idaho is a bit colder than here.

   Right now I have the original door (about 50 years old)with single pane glass and it gets frost on the inisde. It has two types of badly installed weatherstripping and an aluminum threshold. It has a kwuikset double bolt door knob with a deadbolt. The whole thing just cries out for help.

   The door does fit the neighborhood. But I'm not fond of the style. There is a woman down the street who wants to make our neighborhood a desgnated historic preservation area or something like that. To me, the neighborhood was built during a boom. Post WW2 boom.

   I just don't think houses built during a boom are usually well done or distinctive. Why preserve something that was built as fast and as inexspensively as they could?

   The door I'm installing will be from an earlier era. It is prairie craftman style.

   The nicest most exspensive part of town here is old town. Pre WW2. But the lots are small and so are most of the houses. The houses that are nice and larger are $$$$.

2. 
   DanH | Dec 15, 2009 07:33pm | #10

   We occasionally get frost on our AL threshold, but only when the temp is well below zero for an extended period. If you're getting it on a 15/-10 day then I'd guess that the problem is air leakage.