Can anyone help? I am in the process of fitting several pree-hung single entry doors. Most have gone in without a problem, however a couple have a problem with the weather seal [on the base of the door] binding against the ajustable threshold to the extent the door won’t close properly.
I have checked the threshold and they are down as far as posible, the door frame is in plunb and true and the gaps on both sides of the door and the top are even!
Any help most welcome.
Replies
Sounds like the threshold may be bowed up in the center. If the area in the middle of the doorway is higher than the area below the jambs and the "threshold ... are down as far as possible" it could cause it to bow and thus rub. Is should be flat level and straight. Shimming directly below the jambs should push them up and let the middle come into "flat"
Sorry, thank you as well.
Am new to this computer stuf. bit of a ludite!
Not to worry. Good Luck.
TFB (Bill)
Unfortunately, the door hangers in the factory don't adjust the sill up before they start. You don't get any adjustability as an installer. It's worse on industrial steel doors. Sometimes, the hinges on the door are on slotted adjusters. I'd check those first, you may be able to lift the door a little. You can place a shim under the hinge leaf to tip the door up slightly, something like two pieces of thin cardboard under the bottom hinge and one piece in the center.
Did you check the header for being level? The sides can be plumb but the header or sill may not be level. Shimming up the hinge side jamb can help. A 1/16"+- isn't a big deal and the margins the factory hangers used probably aren't that close. In the worst case, you may have to plug screw holes and move the hinges.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Thank you for your reply will give it a try.
Regards
AJ.
I have run into bowed thresholds before. My solution was to remove the adjustable strip and drill a hole to screw it down. Replace the strip and your done. Good luck.
Edited 1/23/2008 6:15 am ET by Skilly
Thank you for your help, i will give it a try.
Regards
AJ
Ya missed toolfreak 99874.2
Peace full.
Is the margin (gap) at the top of the door uniform? If the threshold isn't bowed then the door must be racked, probably due to an out of level floor under the threshold. Hard to fix after the fact... Before the fact, a big wad of caulk needs to be placed on the threshold of the rough opening and the when installing the door if the floor is out of level, a shim may need to be put under the bottom end of one side jamb in order to raise the low side of the door. You may still be able to pound one in depending on how well the door is fastened. Also you can tighten down the top hinge long hinge screw (hopefully there are a few long screws) that go into the jamb to move the door around a little in the hole if it is the latch side of the door that is dragging.
The larger the door unit, worse these problems can be. Between the adjustable threshold and the fact that it is a single door you should be able to get this to work. BTW - a little tip - at least on the doors I use you tighten the threshold screw to raise the threshold - kinda the opposite of what you would think.
Thanks for the help. I have managed to overcome the worst [already hung] door, by removing the threshold strip and planing off the two rear edges, thus alowing it to sit further down in the chanell. As for the others I will take on board all sugestions and hopefully not have this problem again.
Many thanks
AJ.