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I found a great door at a garage sale that had never been installed. We need a bigger front door and this fit the bill, but it needs to be custom installed. I am fully capable to do this but would like recommendations on thickness and type of wood to use on the jam. I assume the wood needs to be strong and weather resistant. Oak could fit the bill but as a woodworker using oak in such a utilitatrian way is hard to swallow. Any alternatives. Is 3/4 stock OK? It seems like thiker would be better.
Any help would be appreciated.
Dave S.
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Dave - I'm sure it varies by geographic region, but here in THE GREAT NORTHWEST we still use a lot of clear fir for jamb stock. For an exterior door I like to use 2x stock and rabbit one side for the door (usually 1+3/4"+ weatherstrip) and the opposite side for future screen door (1").
Once it dries fir is very stable, especially if you get vertical grain, and very strong. It is also fairly easy to find in these parts. I'm not sure what is most available in your region. The drawbacks are that you have to be careful milling edges and it doesn't hold paint as well as other wood.
There was a discussion a few weeks back about the pros and cons of different woods for outdoor use, and Red Oak has characteristics that make it suspect for exterior use. Apparently White Oak would be a better choice do to the physical make up of the wood. I'm sure someone will say this more clearly. - jb
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It sure doesn't hurt to use weather-resistant woods for front-door jambs. A few good choices would be white oak (not red), south or central american mahogany, spanish cedar, phillipine mahogany (lauan), cedar (pretty much any variety), cypress, redwood. I like to use 5/4 stock for jambs, but you can get away with a finished thickness of 3/4" with a well-framed opening.
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Depends on the Door. Presumably you want to match the door. Your actual jam won't show to the outside (it will be covered with casings). For exterior casings, I like to use redwood or cedar, as the stuff lasts forever.
Oak door=Oakjamb.
Hope this helps.
*Joe-DaveS,A lot of good information so far.Vertical grain fir is an excelent exterior choice. Like Jim says, be careful when you mill it. It splinters easy. ( tear out on the grain at sharp edges ) White oak is a good choice, so is spanish cedar. My choice would be American or Honduran mahogany if it is in direct contact with the elements. Redwood is fine, but a little soft in my opinion.The painters around here seem to have dificulty getting paint to adhere to pressure treated lumber. Don't know much about painting myself, and don't want to. But I think it stains up alright.I would suggest as Jim says and make your jamb and stop out of one piece of 5/4 or 6/4. Added security.Ed. Williams
*Joeseph,Read a lot of good suggestions so far. Mahogany, Spanish Cedar, White Oak, Douglas Fir, are all great choices. But would only use one of these types if you are planning to stain; not paint. If you're going to paint the jambs, use a good quality oil base enamel and make sure you paint both sides and all around the edges. If you do this, simply use White Pine, Spruce, or even Poplar. The paint job will make them last. If you're going for the clear Poly look or a wood stained look to show off grain features, forget what I just said and instead go and choose one of the afformentioned hardwoods. 3/4 thick jambs are OK, but yeah, "Thicker is Better." 5/4 stock planed down to 1-1/8 usually looks real nice.Good Luck.Davo
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I found a great door at a garage sale that had never been installed. We need a bigger front door and this fit the bill, but it needs to be custom installed. I am fully capable to do this but would like recommendations on thickness and type of wood to use on the jam. I assume the wood needs to be strong and weather resistant. Oak could fit the bill but as a woodworker using oak in such a utilitatrian way is hard to swallow. Any alternatives. Is 3/4 stock OK? It seems like thiker would be better.
Any help would be appreciated.
Dave S.