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Discussion Forum

French doors two sizes

rjgogo | Posted in General Discussion on December 7, 2003 09:40am

I would really like to install a set of french doors in a room I am building, problem is I would like one door to be 18 inches and the other to be 30. I have done a bit of searching for these but have not been able to locate a supplier. I see no reason this could not be done, if I did not suck at hanging doors I could do it myself. I just need an 18 and a 30 pre hung in a 48 inch opening, The wall is already framed and the sheetrock is going on Saturday. Any ideas on suppliers? Thanks, Rob.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    IMERC | Dec 07, 2003 10:04am | #1

    Is your raw opening an actual 48"?

    I take it this new construction?

     

    Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

    1. rjgogo | Dec 07, 2003 10:08am | #2

      rough is 50.5 inches give or take, It will fit a 48 finish size door.

      Also need to note this needs to be a 7 foot door, not 80 inch.

      Edited 12/7/2003 2:10:00 AM ET by rjgogo

      1. User avater
        IMERC | Dec 07, 2003 10:17am | #3

        The solution is to hang a 18 and a 30 yourself and use a /kd jamb.

        Plan "B" is to find a good door shop in your area and have them make it up for you.

        You can always mke the RO smaller.

        BTW... Interior or exterior wall? Load bearing? 

        Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....

      2. PhillGiles | Dec 07, 2003 07:35pm | #5

        I was right in the boat with you until we got to the 84" tall door RJ. This is a custom job all the way, find a small door shop in your area and they will make up a jamb (or know someone who will) to go along with the doors. If you're worried about it, they probably know someone who'll install it for you..

        Phill Giles

        The Unionville Woodwright

        Unionville, Ontario

  2. MojoMan | Dec 07, 2003 05:54pm | #4

    To echo what IMERC said, find a millwork shop. They should be able to set one up easily. It seems unlikely that you'll find one like this off-the-shelf, it will have to be custom. That does not necessarily mean expensive. Check your local lumber yards - real ones - not home centers. Find one with a door shop. The place I use can make interior or exterior (Peachtree) doors of any standard height, width or jamb thickness, and some not-so-standard ones too.

    Al Mollitor, Sharon MA

  3. wrick2003 | Dec 07, 2003 09:19pm | #6

         Just curious, what is your motivation in 18"& 30"? Why not 24" & 24"?

         rg

    1. Piffin | Dec 08, 2003 02:19am | #8

      I'm curious too.

      I'd hazard a guess that he wants to be able to only have to open one door to pass through most of the time. Or maybe a cabinet and tight space on a hallway floor plan requires it for openning and travel.

      A seven foot door is not hard to get but the asymetrical sizing will make it all a special order. I know Morgan can do it.

      Excellence is its own reward!

      1. gdavis62 | Dec 08, 2003 02:56am | #9

        When I was in the door biz, our international sales guy brought a potential client through once, whom I believe was from Singapore.  The guy discussed with us all his door product needs, and showed us some brochures from local companies selling entrance packages.  It was very common in this guy's country to have an asymmetrical arrangement as described above, but at the main entry of the home.  A wide, maybe 36-incher, flanked by a hinged "sidelite" door panel, both of which when opened, made a wide entry.  We didn't ask the reason. 

        1. User avater
          BillHartmann | Dec 08, 2003 03:22am | #10

          I think that I have seen that arrange in some of the common US comapanies catalogs. Can't say where.

          And it does make for easy movement of items when needed.

        2. Piffin | Dec 08, 2003 03:28am | #11

          Hmmm...

          I built a house for a guy who had spent twenty years in Nipon. He requested such a door for his walk out celar shop. He could walk in the 36" and handle materials or drive the riding mower with both open.

          Excellence is its own reward!

      2. rjgogo | Dec 08, 2003 06:52am | #13

        "Or maybe a cabinet and tight space on a hallway floor plan requires it for openning and travel. "

        You guessed it, I have a shotgun style city house, on the first floor the bedrooms are all on the left side of the house and from the front to the back the living room, dinning room, bathroom then kitchen are on the right. I have done some extensive renovations on what used to be an apartment on the second floor so I don't need the bedroom next to the kitchen as a permenent one anymore but would like the ability to use it as a spare room for guests. So off goes the 36 inch door and on goes a 48inch opening to open that room and let it flow in with the kitchen. Need the doors there though so the pull out couch can serve as a bedroom if the need arises, and the doors will give it privacy.

        So after reading that novel, why 18 and 30. Looking at the door from the kitchen side, on the right will be an 18 inch deep cabinet and on the left is a 4foot wide hallway going back toward the front of the house. The doors can't open in the room for a couple of logistical reasons and will remain open most of the time. 18" open to the side of the cabinet and 30 open 180 degrees to the wall of the hallway, Both neatly out of the way most of the time.

        As to the other questions, Yes it is a load bearing wall. Why no pocket door you ask. No room on the right side as the fridge has been set back into the bedroom 12 inchs and there is no depth available on that side for a pocket door, The rough in has already been done and headered off properly for a 48" door in a load bearing wall. (as has the opening for the fridge).

        The reason I need 7 foot doors is all the doors on the first floor are 7 foot doors and I want to maintain the look and feel of the old house. ( I spent a lot of money and time on trim for the upstairs remodel, the old time 3 piece base baseboard and 3.5 inch wide solid oak door and window trim aint cheap even if you make the door trim yourself) So I would rather not skimp on a detail like the door height.

        Thanks for the suggestions. If it looks like I may have to go custom and if it gets really expensive I may look into the idea of two prehungs with a home made top jamb.

        However it does not seem that it is that far out in left field and I may be able to find someplace to get it. Mail order and Chicago located suggestions appreciated.

        Thanks again for all the input.

        1. gdavis62 | Dec 08, 2003 10:10pm | #14

          Ah, Chicagoland!  Midwest Jobbers will make that door for you.  Go and see them about it.  They are in St. Charles.

        2. gdavis62 | Dec 09, 2003 06:30am | #17

          Try this for size on Midwest Jobbers or the millwork source of your choice.  Get a quote for the door as you want it finished, unequal french-hung leaves in one double-size frame.  Get an alternate quote on two singles per Dadoo's specs, and compare the pricing.  If the two singles come in low enough under the double made your way, and the diff looks like more than the "sweat equity" you will put into it redoing the singles into your double, then go for it.  Good luck, and post us a pic when everything is done.

          1. rjgogo | Dec 09, 2003 09:24am | #18

             

            37416.32 in reply to 37416.31 

            I learned that Home Desperate sucks a while ago and I did not even consider going there for this. I don't buy my fixtures there (plumbing or electrical), or anything of real importance. I have a few options now and I am pretty confident I can get it done. My wife is pretty happy to know that it can happen. She is the designer and I am the help. Everything we have is built from pictures, after me feigning it can’t be done then finally saying well maybe. (weeds out some of the crazy ideas) If I give in too easy then who knows where it would go.

            Again, thanks for all the input, this house is a labor of love and I want to do it the right way, so it looks like it was built that way from the beginning.

            again, thanks for the input.

  4. andybuildz | Dec 07, 2003 09:41pm | #7

    Ain't that gonna look kinda weird? Or doesnt it matter?

    Why not use 2 18" doors and then use fixed panels for the remainder?

    Be in proportion (or not : ))

                         andy

    My life is my practice!

    http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

  5. daddoo | Dec 08, 2003 04:27am | #12

    Go to your supplier and order two doors prehung; the one size left hinge and the other size right hinge, which ever they are. When you get them, dismantle the jambs, cut one of latch-side jamb legs to the proper length for the jamb head, and re-assemble. Be sure you order the smaller, or passive door, with no borings. Then, that jamb leg will be clear, and you can put the door latch on the smaller door. All you may have to do to finish the job would be to reverse the bevel on the finish door, and install flush bolts. Easy fix.

    When all else fails, use duct tape!
    1. Piffin | Dec 09, 2003 03:22am | #15

      I like the way you think..

      Excellence is its own reward!

      1. daddoo | Dec 09, 2003 05:07am | #16

        Why pay someone else to do something you can easily screw up yourself?When all else fails, use duct tape!

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