Interior door clearance
#1
07-14-05, 03:41 PM
Interior door clearance
What is the standard gap for the bottom of a interior door?
My house is only a couple of years old and has a heatpump. With the doors
closed their is no circulation because we used a thicker pad under the carpet into the bedrooms and there is no gap when the door is closed. I would also like to place a throw rug down on the carpet and still be able to open the door.
My house is only a couple of years old and has a heatpump. With the doors
closed their is no circulation because we used a thicker pad under the carpet into the bedrooms and there is no gap when the door is closed. I would also like to place a throw rug down on the carpet and still be able to open the door.
#2
07-14-05, 04:56 PM
Group Moderator
Doors normally have a gap from 3/4" to 1 3/8" when measuring from the bottom of the door jamb to the bottom of the door. This measurement usually depends on the manufacturer, and there is really no "standard" that I'm aware of.
If the trimmers know there will be thick carpet and pad installed, they usually shim the jamb up from the floor rather than cut all the doors off later. Inevitably, though, some doors will need to be trimmed, as is the case in your situation.
Generally, people want their doors as tight to the floor as possible without dragging on the carpet. This is because they don't care for the noise transfer that occurs due to large gaps beneath doors. Then you get people that are paranoid about mice, like my mom.
I'd say that you should trim it 1/4" above your rug, so that it doesn't snag. I've never heard of people wanting to use the gap below their door as a cold air return. Most newer homes are built with cold air returns in every major room of the house. If you have none, and you feel like you need to get some air exchange, make the gap as big as you want. Just keep in mind the noise factor.
If the trimmers know there will be thick carpet and pad installed, they usually shim the jamb up from the floor rather than cut all the doors off later. Inevitably, though, some doors will need to be trimmed, as is the case in your situation.
Generally, people want their doors as tight to the floor as possible without dragging on the carpet. This is because they don't care for the noise transfer that occurs due to large gaps beneath doors. Then you get people that are paranoid about mice, like my mom.
I'd say that you should trim it 1/4" above your rug, so that it doesn't snag. I've never heard of people wanting to use the gap below their door as a cold air return. Most newer homes are built with cold air returns in every major room of the house. If you have none, and you feel like you need to get some air exchange, make the gap as big as you want. Just keep in mind the noise factor.
#4
07-14-05, 05:55 PM
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While not an HVAC expert (yet, lol), return air will find its way thru a door bottom. This partial return may or may not be significant depending on how draft tight your house is.
In better build homes, there are air returns in each bedroom. On lower cost homes there are not, instead there are just a few large returns (hallway and living room) and air flow is affected when the bedroom doors are closed.
The most extreme example of air flow is in the bathroom with an exhaust vent. It will either suck air from the supply ducts or the door bottom.
In better build homes, there are air returns in each bedroom. On lower cost homes there are not, instead there are just a few large returns (hallway and living room) and air flow is affected when the bedroom doors are closed.
The most extreme example of air flow is in the bathroom with an exhaust vent. It will either suck air from the supply ducts or the door bottom.
