I have 5 front doors in 5 separate rental units with the same issues. They are all heavy, all have a 2' x 3' glass window, and they all are pulled shut with the flow of wind that has accumulated force from the back door or windows of each unit. They all have new weatherstrip, rubber tube w/ metal strip fastened to frame. The slam is quite loud and usually unexpected. I do not want to add a 'hydraulic'? arm as these doors are historical pieces in a one-hundred year old Victorian style building located in the Telegraph Hill district of San Francisco, CA. I need some options that will blend well...and dampen the sound of the slam.

I have a small balcony area above my family room. The room is an extension, with cathdedral ceiling, on the gable end of a cape. I opened up to the floor what was previously a second floor window on that gable end, and it is now an interior doorway with a railing. It is 32.25 inches wide and I want to put small french doors instead of a regular door (figure it will look nicer). So, each door will be 16 inches wide. Im thinking of getting one piece of 1/2 inch plywood and cutting four inch wide strips, then gluing them so I end up with one inch thick, four inch wide strips. Then I would make the frame out of these one inch thick pieces. I would have glass, about eight inches wide, in the middle of each door. I kow I could use solid stock but I cant find anythng thicker than 3/4 inch at home depot and dont really want to run all over looking for a lumber yard - and paying much more - for the wood. A piece of plywood will only cost about 20 bucks. Im going to paint this anyway so Im not concerned about the edges - Ill just sand them well. Does this make sense? Is it a reasonable way to go? If so, for an interior door, what do I do where they meet? Do I do anything special or just leave a 1/8 gap so they dont hit.