How to gap new door with wood floor?
Hi,
Wondering how small a gap I dare leave between the bottom of interior doors and my wood floor. Was planning on quarter inch, but would like to do less if it’s OK (to reduce sound transmission). But want to make sure door swings clear of floor during all seasons (I’m in Maine, some summer days can get pretty humid).
Would 1/8″ be too little? Floors are maple, birch, ash. Doors are pine 6-panel and will be finished clear with Tried and True Original Wood Finish.
Thanks,
Ed
Replies
Is it humid in Maine right now? If so, cut an 1/8 and it will gain some in the summer (Assuming summers are dy). Bobby
Well, it sure is humid today (big low pressure system moved in last night and it's been drizzling all day). Weather is kind of all over the map in spring.
Summer humidity varies--during the occasional hot, sticky spells, we can get well up to 80% R.H. or so. Average is probably more like 40-50%, even drier when we get the Canadian air from the northwest.
You think 1/8" is OK, then?
1/8 to a 1/4 is good, just becareful through the first few humidity changes and if needed just trim a little off the door. with care this can be done without damage to the door or its finish.
the other consideration is air exchange during heating and cooling seasons. if the door(s) remain closed most of the time a air return passage may be required
Qrtrmeg ought to be able to answer this one. He seems to be clued in on the height of doors etc.
Hey, I could get that puppy to -1/16" I tell ya, +1/8" is nothing. ;-)
Here is a pic of what Mike is talkin about, I think these are set to something like 3/8". We won't talk about what the ro is.
Oh ya, if I ever fix my computer so I could upload pics to it, I would show you the same thing with hardwood floors instead of carpet. Might even bump up the quality of the picture.
Thanks for all the tips. Wow, 1" gap seems huge--but I guess if your aim is airflow, it certainly works.
The last house I lived in had thresholds on interior doors (wood flooring). Found them a bit awkward for some reason. Not exactly that I tripped over them, just that I was always kind of aware that there was an obstacle there to negotiate (kind of like low headroom in a stairwell, even when there's enough clearance, if it's close enough you always instinctively stoop). Not a big deal, but I definitely prefer a flat floor through the doorway.
So, bottom line: you think 1/8" is asking for problems? I suppose I should play it safe and do 1/4."
I have a builder who uses Safe and Sound doors (solid core) around bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry to prevent sound transmission- it does a good job from what I can see (oops- hear!) I leave the bottom gap about 1" to top of finished floor to allow air movement in the home. (forced air furnace & A/C)
Hope this helps...
ed.. if you want a good seal.. use an interior threshold... but you run several risks getting your door bottom that close to the nice finish on those floors.. one pebble under the door and you'll have a scratch that will bug you forever...
the door should swing freely over the floor and the rug.. and the kids toys..
the only way to have your cake and eat it to is to use a threshold
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, I agree that a threshold will work much better in the long run than trying to use a small clearance under a standard interior door. But have you every lived with a threshold under an interior door? Do people trip over it? Under most conditions, people would be tripping on something that tall on the floor.
(This is almost a side question, but I cannot figure out why people don't trip on thresholds in exterior doors. They're tall enough that they should trip people, but they never do. I think that somehow we've all gotten so accustomed to the idea that there might be a threshold that we pick up our feet without noticing we're doing it. Anybody got a better theory?)