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exterior outswing door exposure

popawheelie | Posted in Construction Techniques on January 8, 2008 12:36pm

I’m installing a few doors that swing out and was concerned bout exposure at the top of the door. I’m going to seal them real well and they are fiberglass foam therma-tru doors.

My question is… Has anyone ever seen or done a little cap/hood over the top of the door. I’m thinking I could use sheet metal that goes under the casing and comes out about an 1 1/4″ to give the top of the door some protection. At the ends I could put a bend so it would return to the side.

It would be a neat little home made detail.

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  1. User avater
    Sphere | Jan 08, 2008 02:53am | #1

    I like a detail called a...a .....a ,,,PORCH Yeah thats it. A porch will save a LOT of headaches.

    Awning maybe if nothing else.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    "Success is not spontaneous combustion, you have to set yourself on Fire"

    1. User avater
      popawheelie | Jan 08, 2008 04:14am | #5

      I might do an awning. It would have to look nice though because the kitchen window looks right on the two doors.

  2. rlrefalo | Jan 08, 2008 03:09am | #2

       Like Sphere said , porch, porch, porch. If it's my choice I will never put an entry without some protection above. Some door companies won't warranty their doors unless they have protection. Don't forget that even with composite doors there is a wood frame just waiting to rot.

  3. JHOLE | Jan 08, 2008 03:40am | #3

    That's the least you could do.

    Don't want to start some kind of a rant, but I am no fan of Therma-tru outswing doors. There is a thread here in the last three months +- that covered some of the issues. Don't expect the doors to cover any of the inherent issues that will/may arise.

    All of those important issues were missed in engineering. You are on your own to make it work.

    Talk to the marketting guys because the engineers were out the day they concieved that Idea.

    Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

    1. User avater
      popawheelie | Jan 08, 2008 04:10am | #4

      I bought the doors for $ 10 each off Craigslist. That's why I have them. I'm going to comlpetely encapsulate them with high quality paint. If they have problems I'll replace them. I'll go by the metal place and get some aluminum. I'll take pics of it if it comes out nice. Just for kicks.

      1. JHOLE | Jan 08, 2008 06:02am | #7

        I'm cool with that.

        I had a project in the past where I was soooo under impressed with those units that showed up to the jobsite that I won't do it again without eyes wide open.

        Watch the tops.

        And really watch the bottoms.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

  4. User avater
    laumonster4 | Jan 08, 2008 05:49am | #6

    Try this ...... Before you set your pre-hung....pull back the paper at the sides and head . Slide peel and stick bituthane up the sides , peel and stick it,(to the sheerplywood , or king studs. )by tearing only half the paper off ( long ways ) let the paper back . Staple, where needed, Now, across the head last. Making sure to overlap the sides. Now , after waterproofing the sill and laying down your sealant of choice, and hopefully you already confirmed your RO.(Remember those doors are shorter overall being outswing) Set the unit from the INSIDE. as you push into the RO the bituthane will conform to the jamb. Set the unit, Peel the paper off the remaining bituthane and lay tightly to jamb sides,and to the flat surface where the exterior trim will nail . Trim with razor knife at reveal point of trim. Essentially covering a half an inch of jamb, Make sure it it completely sealed . Don't worry about stapling if you are going to install trim right away, the trim will hold it tight.  Now if you want , You can install a head flashing ( pull any head staples out you may have installed first) Lay the paper down over top of it. I have had good luck with this system, But those doors love to leak!!! Make sure you install those little Q-lon style flat pads at the lower corners. They used to come with the unit in a little zip-lock bag...And oh, yeah ......A porch wouldn't hurt.

    1. User avater
      popawheelie | Jan 08, 2008 07:36am | #8

      I have some ice and water shield I can use. I'm going to see if I can build some small awnings over the doors. The roof on top is currogated galvanized steel so it would be the material of choice. I'll have to figure out a frame to support the steel.

      1. User avater
        laumonster4 | Jan 09, 2008 05:37am | #9

        OBVIOUSLY WATCH ANY PENETRATIONS IN THE WALL TO SUPPORT YOUR CORRUGATED STEEL.

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