hi!
i have a basement ive recently remodeled, and have hung a solid wood door from home depot around a frame i made. i had to make everything custom b/c of the odd size, but now dont feel so secure and dont like the drafts that continually occur from lack of a storm door.

im looking for some creativity and need to know the largest opening i can leave. right now i have a 32" wide opening with a 1x12" on each side as framing. (not the most secure) i prefer to have a metal door with built in frame right against the concrete. (the total from slab to slab is about 34").

can anyone recommend a place to look or an installer/door supplier in the NYC area, or is it best to just go to home depot with my measurements, and cement the door in on my own?

thx!

 

It sounds to me like you need to remove the 1x12, and get a 32" prehung exterior door, with a brickmould. (a standard door which they would have at home depot, or anywhere else.) The minimum rough opening for it would be about 33 3/4 x 82. If it's in a cement opening, you'll have to anchor it with some tapcons, or perhaps predrill some 1/8" holes through the frame and into the cement and use fluted masonary nails.