View Full Version : Help wanted - new door is thicker
jarrahhead
20th October 2007, 10:11 AM
I am replacing my old front door with a new, much more modern one. The new one is thicker than the old by about 5mm, and will not sit within the existing frame if i attach it as is.
Is this a simple matter of removing the door jam, taking the 5mm off it, and putting it back up, or will doing this open me up to an armful of problems i have not thought of yet?:?
Thanks
JH
Big Shed
20th October 2007, 10:14 AM
If it is 5mm thicker, wouldn't you just take off the door stops, hang the door and re-attach the door stops? Why would you need to adjust the door jamb?
jarrahhead
20th October 2007, 10:28 AM
Sorry.. my inexperienced brain using the wrong terminology. I think the stops is what i was refering to as the jamb. There is a screen door as well, which i neglected to mention, which is why i was talking about taking the 5mm off. (the other side is the stop for the screen door)
Hope this makes more sense...
wheelinround
20th October 2007, 10:43 AM
Jarra are you talking thickness of the door or width of the door???
if its thickness of the door then its possibly going to be a headache if the width of the door it just needs plaining post pics if you can
jarrahhead
20th October 2007, 10:49 AM
The thickness is the problem. Sorry cant do pics right now as property is 30km away, and i dont have pics here with me.
wheelinround
20th October 2007, 10:54 AM
bummer
an easy quick fix would be to router the 5mm off and use chisels for what you can do without removing the door jamb/frame.
Easier to remove frame and do the routering that way.
Ray
Fuzzie
20th October 2007, 10:58 AM
I think you might find in an older house the front door jamb is rebated for the door and the stop is not just planted on top it is part of the jamb profile. With many coats of paint it may be hard to tell. Start by stripping some of the paint in an inconspicuous corner to see if you can tell.
If your house is late 19C Victorian, there is a slight possibility the door jamb is pieced and the door stop covers a void, but I doubt moving the stop 5mm would uncover the void. If the door jamb is a solid profile, sinking the rebate deeper is possible but awkward. I had the same problem with a hardwood door jamb and ended up taking the major part of the required wood off with a router, finishing off the corners with a chisel and bull nose plane.
Using the router was difficult due to its weight and controlling the depth of cut, especially working on the jamb head. If I did it again I might consider getting a much smaller and lighter trimmer, I think that would be much safer. Also watchout for where the jamb fixing nails might be!
If the door stop is planted on, it is sometimes difficult to remove without damage. It can be just as easy to replace with new fingerjointed pine moulding of a similar size if you are going to repaint.
pharmaboy2
20th October 2007, 11:02 AM
on most jambs, the stop for the door is part of the jamb, therefore making it suitable for a thicker door will require a routing job, taking off etc - which i would think a whole new jamb would be easier. If its nailed on stops then it would be easy I suppose.
The other option would be to hang with longer reach hinges in the existing jamb, and add a 5mm lamination to the jamb all the way round to bring it out flush with the door.
The more I think about it, the more it sounds like a whole new jamb and hanging is the go.......
On a side note, i repalced my front door 2 weeks ago, and instaed of going for the hume or corinthian modern door replacement, we went with an aluminium jamb and a 2300 * 1100 door painted bright orange - has turned out a million bucks - the aluiminium jamb and sill gives a very modern look.
jarrahhead
20th October 2007, 11:04 AM
Thank for the advice... sound like i better tread warily. Will start by removing some paint, and will see if i can work out what bits can and cant be removed.
Cheers
JH
les88
20th October 2007, 11:21 AM
If you hung the door with parliament hinges that would fix the door problem and the lock and striker plate in the jamb would need to be re positioned :2tsup:
les
3Days
2nd December 2007, 07:22 PM
If you hung the door with parliament hinges that would fix the door problem and the lock and striker plate in the jamb would need to be re positioned :2tsup:
les
But the door would sit out of the jamb and would you need to take alot off the width of the door for it to close & open properly?