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I have been having trouble installing exterior French Doors lately. Seem to be doing a lot of them and they all sag and fit like…well, poorly. I have tried a couple of approaches: I have just slammed it in when we’re installing doors and windows, then tune it in later on. I don’t really like this approach, as it conflicts with my sense of order and it’s harder to install siding and tune the door later when the drywall is in place. My other method has been to tune in the door right away. I use 3″ screws through the hinges and also behind the weatherstripping. I shim the jamb, but I usually don’t nail the shims too much in case they turn out to be inappropriate. The problem is is that the door seems to be completely out of whack by the time we’re finishing the house and installing interior trim etc. I wonder how others out there hang these heavy, but beautiful, doors.
I think the screws are the way to go–I’ve seen some guys just use 3 1/2″ galv. casing nails and that was it. I don’t think that cuts it. Anyway, I’d appreciate some help…
I wonder, too, if humidity and temperature are causing some of my problems. (It seems like we’re always building in the winter, all year round here in British columbia!)
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......if your framing isn't right, or your framing is able to move.. or it is shrinking and twisting...you don't stand a chance...get your opening right to begin with and then work it level, plumb, square, MARGINS, and the nice thing about screws is youcan always take them out...
*Big, heavy doors? How many shims are you using? Three shims per side won't cut it. Sometimes more is...better.
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Thanks for the tips, guys. The problem though, is not keeping the jamb straight, or an opening that is wrong. The problem seems to be the door sagging on the hinges. I don't know if I should put long screws in the door-side of the hinge, too?
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.....sounds like Rich is on the right track...those jambs are only 3/4...if you don't use enough shims they can bend just like spaggetti (sic?).. so what looks like a door SAG is just the jamb deflecting...check it out...it doesn't happen with light hollow cores...but when you get into heavy doors it'll get ya every time
*Romeo,You gotta set the jamb straight and tight. Lots of shims and screws behind the hinges. Sometimes we mortise the bottom hinge a little shallow. It seems to help. Also, you can't hang them with two hinges. Three on a 6' 8" and four up to 8'. Over 8' needs five.Good luck,Ed. Williams
*I agree on everything you see above. Make it a good tite fit, screws in ALL hinges into the trimmers and secure the jambs as well. If you are buying prehung check all the hinges for correct depth and as Ed said the bottom shollow or shimed helps hold it up when swung out. On frames where we know we have a heavy door coming in we even screww the trimmers to the kings, only takes a second or two longer and if nothing else it is piece of mind for me. ( I am accused of overkill at times)
*The Andersen units have three adjustable hinges which wiil need to be balanced. I had the customer rep come over to inspect the door because it was out of whack after a couple of years. He took out his allen key and lifted the door into spot by simply playing with the hinges. They are high tech hinges but they can save replacing the door in the future.
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Hey fellas!
Seems like the concensus is lots of screws--everywhere!! I guess that I should just do more when I install these doors... We're about to go to a job with three exterior double french doors that I installed about 8-10 weeks ago.. It will be interesting to see how they look--when I installed them I thought i was doing way too much...
does anyone out there know about being an apprentice in Italy? Just occurred to me that that might be fun..
*Romeo, I own a custom door store and a professional remodeling co.Therefore I have been forced to learn very quickly the ins and outs of door installations. So far all the advice you have received is pointing you in the right direction. You must take the time required to align the door or doors in the jamb. You don't want to rush because it will always come back to get you! We use a three inch # 10 brass screw in each hinge through to the rough framing. Upgrading your hinges may also be appropriate in some cases. Some hinges are very cheap steel and will twist early on. A # 8 or #10 screw in the door itself sometimes is usefull.In general the most important thing is to allow yourself the time to do a thurough installation.
*I have a feeling that the hinge twist is what is happening. I take care to make the door fit the first time, but then, within about six weeks, in spite of my legion of 3-in screws, the doors don't fit. Maybe I need to encourage my supplier to upgrade those hinges. Maybe I have to buy them myself...
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I have been having trouble installing exterior French Doors lately. Seem to be doing a lot of them and they all sag and fit like...well, poorly. I have tried a couple of approaches: I have just slammed it in when we're installing doors and windows, then tune it in later on. I don't really like this approach, as it conflicts with my sense of order and it's harder to install siding and tune the door later when the drywall is in place. My other method has been to tune in the door right away. I use 3" screws through the hinges and also behind the weatherstripping. I shim the jamb, but I usually don't nail the shims too much in case they turn out to be inappropriate. The problem is is that the door seems to be completely out of whack by the time we're finishing the house and installing interior trim etc. I wonder how others out there hang these heavy, but beautiful, doors.
I think the screws are the way to go--I've seen some guys just use 3 1/2" galv. casing nails and that was it. I don't think that cuts it. Anyway, I'd appreciate some help...
I wonder, too, if humidity and temperature are causing some of my problems. (It seems like we're always building in the winter, all year round here in British columbia!)
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Romeo, RE: Apprenticeship in Italy.
Some years ago I hit it off with a couple of materials distributors at a trade show. They invited me to tour their shop in Naples and then stay on for as long as I dared. This would have involved working full time with a variety of specialty work crews. (I don't speak Italian, but I do have two arms and ten fingers so I don't think there would've been too much of a language barrier. Har har)
Their offer was very tempting, but I didn't do it. My suggestion to you is that you contact like-minded folks through trade shows or the 'net. If you use the 'net be very specific so you don't waste too much time chasing deadend leads.