I am considering replacing my sliding glass patio door with two 36″ six-panel pine exterior doors. I’m very new at this and am wondering if I would be getting in over my head. Would it be very much more complicated than building the jamb (or buying 2 prehung exterior doors and modifying those jambs), replacing the threshhold and hanging the doors to meet in the middle like glass French doors? I searched for previous posts and couldn’t find much information specific to this question. Also posted on FWW and it was suggested that I try here.
As always, thanks in advance for any advice.
Replies
You probably know this, but french door units are available, factory built, from everyone from Andersen to Weathershield and in between.
You name the flavor. All wood stain-grade, all wood primed, clad exterior, prefinished exterior, vinyl-wrapped exterior, fiberglass skinned, pultruded fiberglass frames, no locks, plain locks, triplepoint locks, brickmold on, brickmold off, yadda, yadda, yadda. I could go on for hours.
A job like yours involves a compete tearout of the existing door, frame, sill, including of course the inside and outside trim, which comes off first so as to get at the rest.
Ideally you will find and buy a new unit with a rough opening size requirement close to, but not over in height or width, what you will get when you execute your tearout. Packing in to reduce a rough opening for a new install is significantly easier than the sawzall surgery you'll get into if needing to enlarge.
Gene,
I was initially thinking that I wanted to install wood entry doors (without the glass) but the more I think about it, the less I like that idea. The problem was that the sliding doors are in the master bedroom, my husband and I are both in shift work, and it was letting too much light in. In the long haul, though, can there ever be too much light? Especially if we ever try to sell the house.
Time to start trolling the 'net...thanks for the advice!
Lara
curtains are cheaper.
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. -Albert Einstein
http://www.peteforgovernor.com
Too true!! Losing a lot of energy tho, this house was built in 1974 and we need to do something. Plus the door is fugly.
Thanks for the belly laugh
Visit the "home centers" near you and look over the selection of French doors and the like available. If you're really serious, pry off the interior trim on your existing door and measure the rough opening size, so you'll have that to limit your selection. (But bear in mind that rough opening size can be "adjusted" to a reasonable degree, so don't let it limit you too much.)
While you're at it, also look at newer sliding doors. The better quality ones seal a lot better than they used to.
Trying to get two single doors to mate in the middle would be tricky. Usually such door combos are made with one door intended to open before the other, and the door edges interlock to a degree to assure a good seal between them. Unless you were prepared to "remanufacture" the doors to a degree you'd end up with a lousy seal in the middle.
You bring up some great points...I have a much better idea of what I want and need to do now. Thanks!
Instead of french doors you might want to look at "atrum" (sp?) doors or patio doors.They have one fixed unit and the opening door is hinged in the middle.requires much less wall space for opening. And I suspect they seal much better than a french door.I would go that way unless, for some reason, that you need both to open for acess of large furniture.
It sounds like you have two objectives: improved energy efficiency and better room-darkening. The least expensive approach would be to install insulating balckout drapes.
To address the ugly single pane aluminum slider with something more energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing you have two options - another slider or french doors. Sounds like the existing slider is a 6-footer. That's a good thing, as french doors are readily available in that size.
Regardless of which way you go, get a complete pre-hung unit from the best manufacturer you can afford. Neither option is inexpensive but the quality on the good units is outstanding. I'm a Marvin fan, others here like the Andersons. There are some good next-tier and regional brands as well - there have been extensive threads here about whose is best - use the search function.
You will still need room-darkening drapes or blinds. That's a whole discussion by itself - the options are almost limitless. Do some Googling, you will find sites with good basic information to help you make an informed decision (including some idea of the price range).
OK, back to the door. It's an aesthetic choice as much as anything. I've done both, and like both - all depends on the location. Here are pictures of our west-facing converted garage, before and after. Our objectives were energy (HOT in the afternoons) and aesthetics. The wood frame and low-e glass made an amazing difference! [Ours is an 8-footer so we needed the sidelights to fill the space. Bonus: they open!]
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Edited 7/15/2006 4:19 pm by wrudiger
Edited 7/15/2006 4:19 pm by wrudiger
Edited 7/15/2006 4:20 pm by wrudiger
That's a nice makeover, including the yard!
Consider carefully the existing opening size vs the opening for whatever door you select. If the new unit is larger than the old, you will be looking at some more significant work that will very likely involve removing and replacing the interior and exterior wall claddings on that wall.
Another consideration is that the new french or patio style door(s) will swing into the room and you need to think about if there is enough room space to really accommodate your furniture and the door(s). Bill is right though, consider a replacement with a fixed panel and an operable panel.
All: Can the term "double hung" be used in reference to a door type? I have never heard the term "double hung" used in that context. just wondering...
Edited 7/16/2006 10:52 am ET by Matt
That is an amazing transformation. The landscaping is beautiful, too.
I hadn't given much consideration to the fact that they'll be opening inward; back to the measuring tape. I thought about the room darkening drapes, but the windows in the master bedroom of our previous house were completely blacked out, and although it was great for sleeping I felt like I was in a dungeon after awhile. So we'll just live with the light. We do have a basement bedroom that's completely dark. I'd rather not go with another sliding door, mostly because I love the way the French doors look and I think it adds a lot of character. The fixed door that swings in the middle is definitely an option; thanks for the suggestion!
I must have been thinking of double-hung windows and just applied it to what I wanted - Hi, Ima Goober, nice to meet you :o)
Thanks again to everyone for all of the input! Your advice has been indespensable.
FYI, the doors in the picture are outswing. They are available both ways, though inswing is more common. The main hassle with outswing is screen doors (or the lack thereof...).
I've read numerous posts saying that the outswing door is much more difficult to install in such a way as to minimize water leakage and damage...have you found that to be true?
Ours came pre-hung and we haven't had any weather infiltration issues. To me it's just like any door - as long as the doors are well designed and weatherstripped you shouldn't have any problems (of course, refer to a previous post about varying quailty from different manufacturers).
They are West-facing, and most of our weather comes from the south-east so they don't get the full brunt of the storms.
I've had some leakage issues with outswing doors. If they are under a porch, or there is a good eave overhang not far above it is less of an issue. At the very least, sometimes, after a hard driving rain, water will sit on top of the door and spill out on ya when you open the door. Can't be good for the longevity of the door either... In the new homes I do (I'm not a re-modeler) I only use outswing doors if it is absolutely necessary.
Roger dat, thanks again guys!!