I’ve become very adept at making solid-wood doors, raised panel and flush panel, some of them quite large. Now I’m moving up to making entry doors.
I am about build an entry door for a threshold between a kitchen and a pantry. The pantry is insulated but unheated, so in the winter it gets cold, but not sub-zero freezing. I’ve got my design down, but I have a technical question.
Is there a good reason why entry doors are 1 3/8″ thick? Is there a problem making a door 1 1/2″ thick that I am not aware of?
This is my first door, which I will be building for my own home, but I have a couple of clients who want me to do one or two for them right after.
Any general notes on building entry doors would be greatly appreciated.
Edited 8/12/2004 4:46 pm ET by Matthew Schenker
Replies
Entry doors should be 7/4" thick. Passage doors are generally 1-3/8" although many (myself included) make them 7/4. Those are the sizes that door cutter sets come in, but you can make a door any thickness if you mix and match cutters, make > 1 pass, etc.
Search for entry doors on this site. I've posted a number of fairly long posts.
Typically it is interior doors which are 1 3/8" thick, and exterior doors are 1 3/4". The only reason to not hew to the standard is that if you get a long way away, hardware like locksets may not fit. They all have some adjustment range, so you don't have to be right on. You might want to acquire the hardware before you build the door.
Jamie,
I guess the door I'm building is a kind of "interior/exterior" door. It is not going directly to the outside, bur rather to a pantry which is insulated but not heated.
Maybe I can split the difference and do a 1 1/2"-thick door for this application?
I wouldn't split the difference because then no hardware would fit. I'd make it 1-3/8" thick and use interior hardware. You aren't going to need entry (weatherproof and lockable) hardware.
Wayne,
Good point. All right then... 1 3/8" it is!
Time to start building!
I-3/4" AND three hinges Don't add the wood door stops too close to the door surface on top and hinge side( Allowing for paint/ swelling and clearance.
Before hanging wood doors, allow the doors to reach and assume room temperature for a few days (preferably lain flat on the floor across several 'Stickers')
If you paint the doors, paint the tops, bottoms and both sides and edges at the same time. Three hinges are a must (especially when subject to heat or moisture differential.) Steinmetz.
Thanks for your reply. I'll be building the door over the next week, and I'll keep your statements in mind!
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