I am replacing a 3/0 entry door plus a single 18″ sidelight. I would like to go with a fiberglass door from Therma tru and pair it with an 18″ sidelight from Simpson. No one makes a fiberglass 18″ sidelight, except maybe Jeld-wen/IWP, but I don’t like the look of their doors and I have heard they are really expensive.
If I go with continuous sill, I can get the Therma tru door hung with an empty 18″ sidelight opening and then get the sidelight slab and install it in the opening on-site. There are door shops that would install the sidelight too, but I would like to make sure the edges are primed first.
Has anyone installed something like this? Is this advisable? Would I be better off getting the Therma tru door hung as a single unit and having a boxed sidelight frame made to match?
I live in Massachusetts, any comments on who does the best job hanging these doors?
I am considering getting the sidelight slab with the Simpson water barrier, performance series options. This is an Medium density overlay that they put on the exterior and they have composite in the bottoms of the stiles like frame saver jambs. Anyone familiar with this? Is it worth the added cost?
thanks,
Jim
Replies
Jim
Framesaver jambs are worth it.
The continuous sill in my opinion would be the way to go.
Hinge the door if you can possibly help it , on the non sidelight side. This way you can take your long hinge screws into framing-rather than try to not poke a hole through the sidelight frame................
If you take care with the install, you should be able to do as good a job putting that sidelight in the frame in a workmanlike manner that the door prep guys do.
Assemble it b/4 you set it if you can. If you're doing the install yourself, you can certainly put it together after the jamb is set.
Best of luck.
Jim
Absolutely agree with Calvin.
Framesavers is the way to go with the continuous sill.
Have created many a custom configuration I could not find preassebled.
The Simson product is a good one have had lots of success with it.
Good luck!