I have a narrow room from which we are going to remove the awful sliding aluminun
window and want to replace with wooden exterior and interior dual french doors to the patio at the front of the house. Ideally I would prefer to purchase or make a pocket door to the outside rather than hinged doors to conserve wall & floorspace on the inside. I could easily construct a second interior wall to conceal the pocket doors. My research has yielded only limited expensive custom made doors ($3000 per side) or buying four panel systems and needing to cut down or eliminate the outer panels. Wood
Does anyone know of a relatively reasonably priced source or have a framing design, concerns for making my own water tight frame (keeping rain from entering the wall)?
Of course the wall I want to install them into is the front wall which is south facing and so receives the brunt of all storms. Being in a canyon in the redwood forests, this is also the primary direction by which we get sunlight into the house.
I should also add, that the narrow wall is such that the current window/future door opening is 60 inches wide. The wall on either side is 27 inches wide. So to keep the maximum aperature for viewing the outside, receiving light, and sufficient width for ease of walking through the doorway would suggest dual pocket doors. However, even 30″ dual pocket doors would not be able to open completely.
Thanks
Jeff
Edited 10/8/2004 1:40 pm ET by Coastalcabin
Replies
Welcome to BT. Be prepared for several opinions <g>.
Water-tight (and coastal cabin) and "pocket door" does not make an "equals" sign for me. (The nailing plywood over part is throwing me, I admit . . . )
If the floorspace is that tight, a mullioned slider would seem a better way to go--you'd get the look and a designed to be weatherproof frame.
Alternately, check on some of the outswing french door combos (check the center-hinged ones particularly). An oustswing would have the advantage of sealling tighter in a storm. But it does also have exposed hinges, complicating the door's security.
Give us more info (that's what "we" all say, all the time <g>).
I've often thought it might be possible to modify a stock sliding patio door to become an exterior pocket door. Just a matter of enclosing the fixed panel, and fitting flush pull hardware. This leverages the air sealing design from the factory, so you do not have to reinvent it yourself.
I thought of that too, but then my design sense got hold of me.
If you think about the wall thickness the inside pocket face would need, to contain enough insulation for whatever climate is being built in, then the thing begins to unravel.
And what, really, are you gaining? Why not just install the slider and be done with it?
Dan,
Thanks to you and the others for responding.
I should add, that the cabin/house is in a narrow canyon in the redwood forest. This front wall is facing a steep-sided, redwood, covered canyon wall which is also the primary direction from which we get sunlight into the house. So needless to say, sunlight is very limited in the winter months.
Most importantly the narrow wall of the room is such that the current window/future door opening is 60 inches wide and the walls on either side are only 27 inches wide. So to keep the maximum aperature for viewing to the outside, receiving sunlight, and sufficient width for ease of walking through the doorway would suggest dual pocket doors. However, even 30" dual pocket doors would not be able to open completely, but when both are opened provide enough space to comfortably walk through.
This would not be the primary doorway, just occasionally to the patio mostly during the summer months. The primary function is to allow light into the room and aide ventilation on warm days, while looking visually appealing, yet allow comfortable egress without a person needing to walk sideways in those times when we wish to use it as a doorway.
Thanks
Jeff
Edited 10/8/2004 2:21 pm ET by Coastalcabin
Most importantly the narrow wall is such that the current window/future door opening is 60 inches wide and the walls on either side are only 27 inches wide.
Consider outswinging french doors?
I did consider outswing. However, given the high gusts of wind we have even in the summer, and the fact the rockwork trim that is being placed on the outside of the house
would limit the doors to only opening nearly perpendicular to the house. I would
prefer not having the open doors protruding into this patio space which is somewhat
limited in depth.
Since you don't need the wide opening another option, beside the sliding doors is an antrium door.
The name varies, but these have a fixed "door" and they opening door is hingeed in the middle. So the swing space is agaisnt the fixed side and not in to the wall.
"If you think about the wall thickness the inside pocket face would need, to contain enough insulation for whatever climate is being built in, then the thing begins to unravel.
And what, really, are you gaining? Why not just install the slider and be done with it?"
I guess I was thinking that the fixed panel would stay hidden in the wall, sealing out the outside as normal.
What do you gain? Just the wall space really. If you wanted to build something in or place something there, it might add value.
That works...
Needs at least a 2x6 wall for all to go together well without too many modifications...
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