Show All ItemsWe purchased a house in 2011. When we moved in, the front door wouldn't open all the way; it drug the floor at about 70 degrees from full open. Enough to squeeze by it, and you could force it all the way open, but it was rubbing the floor pretty good. I figured this was an easy fix and didn't pay too much attention to it. A few weeks after living there, I realized that the reason the door was dragging was because the door was not plumb. The top of the jamb was leaning into the house, so as you opened the door, the knob side of the door swung downward as well. I devoted some time to remedy that situation and quickly realized my next hurdle. Now that the door was plumb and would swing all the way open, I also realized that the bottom seal/weatherstripping was missing from the door. The "new" hardwood floors (installed prior to purchase) were great, but the person that installed them failed to realize that the thickness of the flooring would impede the ability of the entry door to seal properly.
Low and behold, the reason is because the threshold is lower than the floor height. So for two very cold winters we have had a large gap under our front door. We plug it with draft stoppers, towels, etc., but it still lets in a ton of cold air. I decided that this winter would be different so I started researching my options. In most cases, it's easier to raise the header and keep a standard door size, but the soffits on the front of my house are directly above the door frame, so I have ZERO room to go upward. I need a door that is approx. 1 1/2" shorter than the standard height and I can build up my rough opening from the bottom. I priced doors from everywhere in town, and they are all special order ranging from $450-$700 for a basic, 6 panel, steel clad door. Keep in mind that a basic, 6 panel, steel clad door can be purchased at any home improvement store for just over $100. So, we're looking at $300+ to cut 1 1/2" inches off??? After researching off and on for a while, I decided to tackle the project.
Follow along if you're still interested.Step 1: Gather tools and suppliesYou'll need a variety of tools to complete this task exactly as I did it. Some tools may be substituted for others, this is just what I used. Note: you will NOT need a torch to complete this task. :)Tools:normal hand tools - screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, etc drill router with straight bit circular saw reciprocating saw utility knife air compressor air stapler straightedge (at least as long as the door is wide) squarepencil caulk gun sawhorses clampsSupplies:replacement steel entry door Liquid nails 1 1/2"-2" staples scrap woodAfter some research, I purchased my door from Menards for two reasons. The first is because they regularly go on sale for $119. Second because I think it is a better built door. The doors are made by Midwest Manufacturing, who has a door comparison here. I assume competitor H and competitor L refer to Home Depot and Lowes, but that's only an assumption. I do have experience with the Reliabilt brand door from Lowes, and my opinion is that this Menards/Midwest MFG door feels like a better built, heavier duty door.
Feather River Door Company There are many reasons why over a million of our doors are in homes just like yours. Feather River Door Company is an industry leader in high-quality, energy efficient entry doors, patio doors and interior doors that offer superior durability and enduring beauty. With Feather River doors, you can be assured that your new door has passed a rigorous quality inspection for both appearance and performance. Most of all, you can count on a warm welcome every time you step into your home. Exterior & Entry Doors Experience what our award winning fiberglass exterior entry doors have to offer. Durability and energy efficiency of fiberglass. Hand stained finish with hand crafted decorative glasses for a major curb appeal. Available at The Home Depot. Visit Door Builder for all collections & options. Self-closing door hinges work via an internal spring attached to the door and a door frame. The hinges use the spring's tension to automatically close doors instead of relying on the user to do so manually.
You will see these hinges most often on screen or storm doors, installed in conjunction with a regular front or back door. The tension of the spring hinges should be just about right for smooth and full closing, but if you've noticed your door is having problems closing too slowly, too fast, or not far enough, you'll need to make some adjustments. Below are the materials and instructions for how to correct problems with self-closing door hinges. Step 1 – Determine the Adjustment Determine if you need to loosen or tighten the hinge spring tension by opening the door fully and allowing it to close. As mentioned previously, the door should close smoothly and fully with little noise. If the door closes fast and with a bang you need to loosen the hinge spring tension. If the door does not close fully then you need to increase the tension. Step 2 – Increase the Hinge Tension In order to tighten the hinge spring, first close the door. Insert a nail set on a hole located beside the locking pin of the hinge adjustment spring.
This hole is normally located either at the top or the bottom of the hinge’s housing. Remove the locking pin by rotating the adjustment in the direction of the jamb. Then, place the locking pin a hole nearer to the door and release the spring pressure. Test the door at this time to see if it closes smoothly and fully. If it is still not tight enough, simply start over and move the locking pin even further in. Step 3 – Decrease the Hinge Tension To decrease the tension, just follow the same procedures in the previous step but instead of relocating the lock pin to a hole nearer to the door, place it one hole away from the door instead. Step 4 - Lubricate These adjustments to the spring's tension should fix the problems you have with the speed and completion of the door's closing mechanism, but if you are having problems with noise still, you might consider lubrication. Take a can of WD-40 and go in close to the door's metal workings. Have someone open and close the door slowly to see which parts are making any scraping or squeaking sounds and spray them with the lubricant.