Exterior Door at grade – add concrete curb?
The exterior side door is cut into the foundation wall and sits at grade. You enter on a landing and go a few steps up to the kitchen or down to the basement. The existing sill sits on the concrete walkway/foundation and is wood but needs to be replaced.
I have a new outswing prehung door coming (to give more space when entering the landing), and I think the rough opening might be big enough vertically to add a small concrete curb below the new sill to get it slightly above grade.
I’ll get the precise measurement when I pull the old door and trim off, but let’s assume I can pour a 3/4 to 1.5inch high curb. Should I use concrete or mortar?
Bonding adhesive, scratch coat, then pour the curb? Can the concrete touch the existing wood floor of the landing? Or should I put some kind of buffer (pvc trim?)? Should I put vertical or horizontal rebar in the curb?
Should I add a sill pan between the concrete and the new sill?
Replies
just check if outswing is allowed, will opening the door outward (?- not sure that's a word) "knock" the person outside off the landing - other thought is if you're in snow country, you probably don't want to use an outswing since the 1st big snow storm may keep you from opening the door
I think you would be better off with either a treated wood board, or some backer board meant for under ceramic tile.
your application seems a little thin for any kind of cement.
will the new pre-hung door come with a threshold?
Yes, the door comes with a metal threshold. If there isn't room for a curb, would I just install the threshold directly on the concrete opening and caulk underneath? Or maybe put a 5/4 PT or PVC board underneath with a sill pan?
I'm not concerned about snow piling up - there's an overhang over the door, and there's an outswing screen door currently with no issues.
Either way.
Count yourself fortunate if there is no water seepage as is. My guess is the pre-hung will take up every bit of that opening. Seal the threshold inside and out with excellent quality caulk and call it good.