Repairing side door in garage
#1
09-16-06, 03:15 PM
Repairing side door in garage
I have a side door in the garage that is supposedly fireproof, but nobody bothered painting it ever before. It rains very rarely in So. California but when it does, water tends to get under the door. I was going to prime and finish the door in place but then noticed that gap between the door and the jamb is a lot grater at the top of the door then at the bottom and there is practically no gap (door is almost scraping the floor) between the bottom of the door and surface of the garage floor.
So I am probably going to end up taking the door off and trimming it a little at the bottom, priming it and painting, then reinstalling it back on new hinges. Since I never seem to be able to do thing just a 100%, I was thinking may be I should trim more like an inch or two off the bottom and replace that part with some kind of a vinyl 2X4 or something else that would not rut. Then I was going to install a vinyl shield ~ 1.5’ high on the outside of the door to prevent moisture from destroying the door. Am I dreaming something wild here or is there any code violations if I do it.
Thanks,
So I am probably going to end up taking the door off and trimming it a little at the bottom, priming it and painting, then reinstalling it back on new hinges. Since I never seem to be able to do thing just a 100%, I was thinking may be I should trim more like an inch or two off the bottom and replace that part with some kind of a vinyl 2X4 or something else that would not rut. Then I was going to install a vinyl shield ~ 1.5’ high on the outside of the door to prevent moisture from destroying the door. Am I dreaming something wild here or is there any code violations if I do it.
Thanks,
#2
09-17-06, 05:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Newbie
I have a side door in the garage that is supposedly fireproof, but nobody bothered painting it ever before. It rains very rarely in So. California but when it does, water tends to get under the door. I was going to prime and finish the door in place but then noticed that gap between the door and the jamb is a lot grater at the top of the door then at the bottom and there is practically no gap (door is almost scraping the floor) between the bottom of the door and surface of the garage floor.
So I am probably going to end up taking the door off and trimming it a little at the bottom, priming it and painting, then reinstalling it back on new hinges. Since I never seem to be able to do thing just a 100%, I was thinking may be I should trim more like an inch or two off the bottom and replace that part with some kind of a vinyl 2X4 or something else that would not rut. Then I was going to install a vinyl shield ~ 1.5’ high on the outside of the door to prevent moisture from destroying the door. Am I dreaming something wild here or is there any code violations if I do it.
Thanks,
So I am probably going to end up taking the door off and trimming it a little at the bottom, priming it and painting, then reinstalling it back on new hinges. Since I never seem to be able to do thing just a 100%, I was thinking may be I should trim more like an inch or two off the bottom and replace that part with some kind of a vinyl 2X4 or something else that would not rut. Then I was going to install a vinyl shield ~ 1.5’ high on the outside of the door to prevent moisture from destroying the door. Am I dreaming something wild here or is there any code violations if I do it.
Thanks,
Be carefull how much you trim off the bottom. If you do cut that much off the door, you will cut off the wood part that protects the fireproofing inside the door. I suggest only going like 1/4" at most, because you don't know if the door has been trimed while initially being installed.
The reason you don't want to expose the fireproofing is that moisture will get inside, and will swell. I just replaced one the other day that the inside had swollen, and it had split, and warped almost 3" , causing the door to not close at all. (The lock was a full 1 1/2" away from the strike, and wouldn't latch.) I had never seen this happen before. Sad thing is, these doors are not cheap. This particular door had a 1 hour rating, at 250 degrees. It was a good door, and had to be replaced.
The idea of adding a sweep is good. All doors leading to outside should have one. It does help keep water from collecting underneath the door.
By the way, I lived in San Diego for almost 10 years. (Navy, Point Loma) I left there in 1995, for Key West, where I grew up. Alot of good pool players there. I know, I lost at least a tournament a week. LOL Had a bunch of fun there.
cuedude
