Exterior door bottom seals

I have a shed with a 72 inch door opening and I have two 36 inch steel clad doors hung on it, but only one gets used very often. I am trying to figure out which would be the best way to seal the bottoms of these doors. I currently have a 72 inch aluminum threshold with the vinyl insert, but it hasn't worked very well. Seems like the thin steel at the bottom of the door likes to catch on the vinyl that sticks up when I close the door.

Is there a better system I should be using for this installation? Would the door sweep that mounts to the bottom of the door be better? It needs to seal well as it is subject to hard and driven rain during the winter. Even with the system I currently have I still get a little water into the shed.

Thanks...Randy

 

I think your best bet would be to install an all aluminum door sill with an adjustable threshold, like this:



Image credit: http://www.diytrade.com

You would probably need to move the doors up in order to have 3/8" to 1/2" of clearance between the doors and the top of the adjustable threshold. You would then need to have a door bottom weatherstrip installed on the bottom edge of the door to fill that 3/8" gap. There are many styles of these- some fit into kerfs cut in the bottom of the door, others screw on. Adjustable thresholds are quite handy.

Another option might be a door bottom w/ rain drip cap like this:



Image credit: http://www.diytrade.com

That item could be installed on the door then be pushed down to meet the cement... it won't provide the perfect seal because you don't want it too tight or it will rip and wear out the weatherstrip- also there will be a gap between the doors.

Or instead of pushing it down to the cement where it would wear, you could install a solid aluminum threshold and door bottom like this:



Image credit: M-D Building Products, Inc.

 

I really like the adjustable threshold idea, but I cannot find one in a 72" length. The link you gave sounds like that place is just for distributors, or something. They don't actually sell them.

I'll keep looking.

Thanks for the help...Randy

 

The purpose of the link was not to suggest a commercial link, it was only to give credit for the illustration.

Any lumberyard can special order you the parts you need, provided you find someone that is service oriented. You tell them what you need, they order it for you- simple as that.

If you want to find it and order it yourself, just Google it. There are numerous suppliers you could contact online.

To narrow a Google search use the + and quotations, such as:

+"adjustable threshold" +"door sill"

which will only return pages that have both those exact phrases.

 

I think I will have to try the lumber yard and order it, per your first suggestion as I have already thoroughly searched using google and did not come up with anything except the 36" size, and the patenet information on the adjustable invention. I found none at the 72" size, and I don't want to install two separate pieces due to water ingress concerns.

But I sincerely thank you for your help, as I believe it has me headed in the right direction. At least now I know exactly what I need.

 

Don't expect to find it for sale online... but you can find plenty of door hardware companies online or ... plenty of sources that are dealers for Masonite doors or Therma-Tru doors, Pease doors, Milgard doors, Peachtree doors, etc, and any of them could get you what you need.

You can locate them via Google and then either call their service Department 800 number, or email them your request. Some are willing to sell commercially, others only want to go thru dealers and won't mess with nickel and dime stuff.

Any store that sells doors could order you an adjustable threshold via their millwork dept. They probably won't have it in stock but can special order it. Keep in mind that your doors still will need some sort of weatherstrip (#5, below) on the bottom of it in order to seal against the adjustable threshold.



Image source: Milgard.com

You might find a few more sources online if you search google's "images only" pages, using "adjustable threshold" as your search item.

 

Well, my wife's cousin is a contractor and I was thinking of asking him to see if he could order me one through the company he uses for his doors, now that I know what I need.

I don't think the rubber strip that goes on the bottom of the door will be a problem. I've seen lots of those locally as well as on line so I shouldn't have a problem getting that piece.(famous last words)

Thanks again...Randy

 

I'm just thinking of a couple of things to check before ordering the threshold.

1) Do your doors swing in or out?
2) Do you have the proper clearance under the door?
3) If you're concerned with driving rain you need a tight seal.

 

Sorry for taking so long replying back.

I finally found a place on line, thanks to your tips, xsleeper, and ordered and received the adjustable threshold. It was more than I wanted to spend, but I think it will be worth it. I don't want anymore water getting in and possibly causing dry rot on the plywood floor.

The doors do swing in, and the threshold is an inswing sill. I also ordered the bottom seals for each door. They appear to be good ones and I think they will seal well, especially now that I can adjust the threshold to meet the seal properly, and they have a drip cap. Looks like I am going to have to trim the bottoms of the doors to make it work, but that won't be a problem.

Thanks for all the help...Randy

 

Cutting the bottom of steel doors is not a good idea unless it has a wood insert at the bottom.

 

These do. Plus, the bottom seal is an aluminum "U" channel that should give some added strength and protection.

 

Thanks for the feedback, Randy! Its nice to see a plan coming together! Hope it works out just as you envisioned.