Need to build French Doors
#1
11-04-06, 09:45 PM
Need to build French Doors
I need to make a set of french doors. Pretty small though. The opening is only 33 inches wide, so each door will be 16.5 each.
Im thinking Id have strips of about 4 inches around, and then an 8.5 inch wide glass in the middle.
Im was thinking of using sanded plywood. The doors will be painted and they are for a balcony (8 feet up) - so they wont be scrutinized for detail. Does plywood make sense? I figured 2 pieces of 1/2 inch glued together so a full one inch thick piece wouldnt bend much.
Any thoughts or advice?
Im thinking Id have strips of about 4 inches around, and then an 8.5 inch wide glass in the middle.
Im was thinking of using sanded plywood. The doors will be painted and they are for a balcony (8 feet up) - so they wont be scrutinized for detail. Does plywood make sense? I figured 2 pieces of 1/2 inch glued together so a full one inch thick piece wouldnt bend much.
Any thoughts or advice?
#2
11-05-06, 12:30 AM
French Doors
Interior doors are usually 1-3/8" thick, and exterior doors are normally 1-3/4" thick or greater. It's possible for you to make them only 1" thick as you mentioned but it's not ideal. You didn't mention if this door is interior or exterior. If it's exterior, I'd strongly advise against it because it will eventually fall apart. The door would delaminate, and the rough end grains would soak up moisture. You'd have a hard time getting routine butt hinges to hold as well.
You didn't mention if the doors will have glass. Assuming they will, how are you going to put glass in a 2-ply plywood door only 1" thick? I'd recommend a door 1-3/8", 1-1/2", or 1-3/4" thick, not made of plywood, but made of solid stock, with a rabbet cut into it to receive glass and a glazing stop. The glass needs to be tempered because it's for a door. The only way I can envision plywood is if it is a fake door for a prop or for a decoration.
Incidently, if the doors are for interior use you won't necessarily need an astragal because the doors could join together and be held in place by ball catches. However if they are for exterior use you WILL need an astragal between the doors, which will take up approx an additional 1/2" in width. The use of an astragal will require the doors to be slightly narrower than your suggested 16-1/2".
You didn't mention if the doors will have glass. Assuming they will, how are you going to put glass in a 2-ply plywood door only 1" thick? I'd recommend a door 1-3/8", 1-1/2", or 1-3/4" thick, not made of plywood, but made of solid stock, with a rabbet cut into it to receive glass and a glazing stop. The glass needs to be tempered because it's for a door. The only way I can envision plywood is if it is a fake door for a prop or for a decoration.
Incidently, if the doors are for interior use you won't necessarily need an astragal because the doors could join together and be held in place by ball catches. However if they are for exterior use you WILL need an astragal between the doors, which will take up approx an additional 1/2" in width. The use of an astragal will require the doors to be slightly narrower than your suggested 16-1/2".
#3
11-05-06, 07:21 PM
I thought I mentioned glass - but looks like I forgot.
I do plan to have glass. The doors, slightly less than 16 inches. The "frame" would be about 4 inch, leaving about 8 inches of glass.
It is an interior door. I had an extension built on my cape. The extension is two stories - cathedral ceiling. There was a window on the 2nd floor in the side of the house where I put the extension, so instead of closing it, Ive opened that window up to the floor and but a rail there. Now I need doors.
I was thinking plywood so that I woudnt run into any warping issues (and its cheap). And, instead of worring about "proper" joining technique i could do two layers, overlapping each corner differently so the joints are staggered.
But, I could use solid stock - clear pine? Im going to paint and want to be as economic as possible.
I do plan to have glass. The doors, slightly less than 16 inches. The "frame" would be about 4 inch, leaving about 8 inches of glass.
It is an interior door. I had an extension built on my cape. The extension is two stories - cathedral ceiling. There was a window on the 2nd floor in the side of the house where I put the extension, so instead of closing it, Ive opened that window up to the floor and but a rail there. Now I need doors.
I was thinking plywood so that I woudnt run into any warping issues (and its cheap). And, instead of worring about "proper" joining technique i could do two layers, overlapping each corner differently so the joints are staggered.
But, I could use solid stock - clear pine? Im going to paint and want to be as economic as possible.
