Using interior door for covered balcony entrance?
#1
03-12-12, 11:35 AM
Using interior door for covered balcony entrance?
I have a large covered, screened-in balcony with a narrow (24") entrance from my kitchen. I would like to switch out the standard paneled door for one with glass to let in light. My question is: can I use a French door that is painted? I was specifically looking at a cheap pine door from Home Depot. My biggest concern is that the door will not seal properly. Should I go for it?
#2
03-12-12, 02:11 PM
Welcome to the forums!
It won't have the R value that an exterior door does because the wood isn't quite as thick and the glass is single pane...... but it should do ok providing you seal all 6 edges of the door with either oil base primer or polyurethane. Installing weather stripping to fit should alleviate any draft concerns.
It won't have the R value that an exterior door does because the wood isn't quite as thick and the glass is single pane...... but it should do ok providing you seal all 6 edges of the door with either oil base primer or polyurethane. Installing weather stripping to fit should alleviate any draft concerns.
#3
03-12-12, 03:05 PM
Another concern mentioned is the bottom...how will you seal for wind? You will need to install a threshold of sorts and possibly trim the bottom of the door at a slight angle so it will ride up and over the rubber in the threshold.
#4
03-12-12, 04:02 PM
Wow, you guys are awesome! Thanks for your helpful responses. The door area is fairly well protected from wind by the structure itself and surrounding buildings. The current door seems like my other interior doors (I live in a 100+ year old home, so everything is solid--and all the windows are single pane...) and there is no threshold, just a pretty ugly seam where my kitchen ends and the porch begins. Building a threshold or disguising the transition in some manner was in the master plan (I'm also recovering the carpeted porch with vinyl tile), so it's a good thing you pointed that out now.
#5
03-12-12, 04:28 PM
Group Moderator
I certainly wouldn't do it. You can order a 24" full view exterior prehung door (comes with the exterior trim, jamb, hinges, weatherstrip, sloped sill, adjustable threshold and it- and the glass- will be insulated) so that is what I would do. It probably won't be in stock but you can order it.
#6
03-12-12, 05:14 PM
I agree with ordering the entire door. I was under the impression the french door was already on hand and was being salvaged for this use. By all means, if you are going to buy a door, do as XSleeper said and get one "opening" ready.
