Morning. I’m looking for advice on a project I inherited. It involves two sets of exterior pre-hung double French doors that were pre-hung a little low. That is, the doors were hung, then the interior was tiled (on a slightly sloped slab, of course), and now the homeowner’s ‘completed’ addition has nasty scuff marks where the active doors rub on the floor. The homeowner is understandably very reluctant to have me pull the doors, along with the elaborate interior and exterior trim, rehang them at the level of the tile floor, replace the trim, and have the whole lot painted again. If the doors were wooden, I’d build up the threshold and cut down the doors, but I’ve never cut a vinyl-clad door, and can’t find anything on the web or in my books that says whether or not it’s a good idea to try. Does anyone have an opinion that might help me? Thanks.
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What's under the vinyl?
I've only heard of vinyl sliders, never a swinging entry door. But I've also led a sheltered life.
Could these be fibreglass from someone like masonite or thermatru? If so, and it is a usual store bought prehung and you only need 3/8's or so shorter to clear (no room for throw rug necessary) the tile-
See how high you can adjust the threshold up, if enough for clearance-remove the doors and remove the weatherstrip sweep off the bottom. Cut down the doors bottom as you normally would, that distance that still will allow contact of the reinstalled weatherstrip sweep. With the door flat on horses, set up your saw for depth-use a fence for edge distance, and plow out the grooves for the sweep on the bottom edge of the doors. Caulk and install the sweep. Hang and adjust thresh.
I've done it several times on steel clad and fibreglass doors.
If you need more room-then you'll have to cut out the thresh and remount it higher. Do the door cuts to fit that.
Pain in the #### if you can't remove and reset the units......
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Try to find the manufacturer--look on the hinges, or the top, or an embossed stamp on the jambs somewhere--and call them. If they shouldn't be cut or trimmed, then you can go back to the homeowner with your plan to raise the unit.
Usually there is an adjustable threshold or sill for just such conditions.