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Discussion Forum

Crash stop for French Doors

| Posted in General Discussion on March 21, 2005 01:35am

Hey, I have several pair of outswing Freedom Doors.  We live in a super high wind area and I need to find some crash/limit stops for the doors so they don’t slam open and crash into the light fixtures.  The hinge kind at our local Ace don’t seem like they’ll do the trick.  Do I have to put the stops that are on the deck? (tripping hazard) or can I find something that can go in the hinge, stainless or weather resistant.  Hardware recommendations and where I can find this stuff would be great! 

P.S.  Yes, the idea of flinging the doors wide open is so romantic and it does keep a nice seal when the wind is howling.  But, boy, watch a 4 year old open those clad doors and I just cringe!

Thanks!
Elliemae

Reply

Replies

  1. calvin | Mar 21, 2005 02:57am | #1

    You may not like this idea, but a client thought it would work well in their case.  Good sized square planter boxes fastened to the deck flanking the opening.  There we installed a commercial stop/latch (nickel) with the catch on the door.  Allowed holding the door open besides the door bump.  This was on a screened varandah so they often kept the doors open.

    Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

    Quittin' Time

  2. DanH | Mar 21, 2005 05:31am | #2

    There's really nothing that will work very well. Have a door on our building that would get torn off by the wind about twice a year. Finally they installed a door stop consisting of a piece of 4" square tubing welded to a flange so it stands straight up about 3 feet. Rubber stop on that to catch the door about handle height at about 110 degrees. This is the only thing that has worked at all, and I'm betting we'll still lose one door every 12-18 months.

    I did theorize about some sort of a device that would be speed sensitive and engage if the door moved too rapidly. It's not sufficient to just stop the door before it gets open too far, you've got to slow it down well before that or it will get up too much momentum.

  3. User avater
    hammer1 | Mar 21, 2005 07:03am | #3

    Commercial buildings have outswing doors. This is so people can make a panic escape. They use hydraulic closers. Banging against a stop can cause damage to the door not to mention little ones. If your doors are steel or fiberglass, you may have to use a surface mounted closer. Many of the heavier concealed ones need to be mortised into the door top or bottom. There are some hinge types but I think most of them would be yanked out with a heavy door and strong wind. There are many different types and brands, most will be carried by commercial door suppliers. They come in a variety of applications, weight of door, hold open device, amount of opening, etc. Here are just a couple.

    http://www.fascias.com/en-gb/dept_506.html (hinge style)
    http://locksearch.com/Special_DoorCloser.htm (surface mount)

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

    1. Elliemae | Mar 21, 2005 07:21am | #4

      I think these might work--if the concealed is really concealed.  We have pretty nice fir clad fiberglass doors.  So, we wouldn't want to cover up the wood on the inside.

      Planter boxes might help too--but we still need to slow down the door.  Thanks for the links.  I kept googling and froogling and never could find what I needed.

      Maybe a houseboy who could run from door to door.  He could share a room with the maid/personal chef/laundress/accountant/nanny/teacher--wait, that's me! :)

      EllieMae

       

    2. DanH | Mar 21, 2005 07:29am | #6

      The thing is, door closers are pretty useless against a strong wind. They don't really slow the door down on the outswing but just stop it real sudden like.

      1. User avater
        hammer1 | Mar 21, 2005 04:51pm | #7

        The better hydraulic closers are adjustable for opening and closing although their primary purpose is closing. I'm not talking about the tube closers on screen doors. Heavy winds are hard on out swing doors and not much will keep them from flying open. At least with a closer they won't bash against a stop and bounce. A youngster that doesn't close the door tight will have a back up. I have reservations about the concealed hinge units but I haven't installed any. I think you have three choices, a bumper, chains and closers. Maybe all three would be good insurance.Beat it to fit Paint it to match

        1. DanH | Mar 21, 2005 05:08pm | #8

          I've seen a strong wind straighten the chains into wire, before ripping the anchors out.

  4. gordzco | Mar 21, 2005 07:27am | #5

    Storm doors have a spring and chain mounted to the frame and door. Having zinc chains hanging off your doors might not be what you are looking for but I wonder if a door company could find something more decorative?

    I've got a 4 year old,

    hydraulic door closers?

  5. User avater
    GoldenWreckedAngle | Mar 21, 2005 08:15pm | #9

    Floor stops don't need to be a trip hazzard. We put floor stops for outswing doors within a foot of the wall. No one walks in that area so it minimizes the potential of someone tripping over them, and they stop and hold the doors just fine.

    If you could live with the way it would look from the outside, a couple of hydrolic cylinders from the back door of a mini-van could be attached from the base of the door to the wall to slow the rate of acceleration under wind pressure. Put them on the outside, down low, and the door will hide them, preserving your interior view.

    I bet this hardware, configured for residential doors instead of mini-vans, is probably available already but I didn't find anything in a quick search of my Sweets catalog.

    If you can't find it - make it.

     

    1. Elliemae | Mar 21, 2005 10:25pm | #10

      Well, the winds are calm now in many ways(husband took little ones away so I could get some desktop publishing done).

      I think a combination of these will probably work fine.  Number 1--use the slider on windy days.

      Sounds like a "golden" opportunity to make some money off of patents with a new invention.  Thanks!EllieMae

      1. User avater
        GoldenWreckedAngle | Mar 21, 2005 10:51pm | #11

        Oh, sorry - I missed the fact that we were dealing with TORNADO force winds. :-)>

        Forget the hydraulics. Get a harness, with a bungee cord, and attached it to the ceiling. 

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