French Doors with a twist
#1
03-17-13, 06:18 AM
French Doors with a twist
I have a interior opening that is 71.5" X 80". I would like to re-purpose a set of exterior doors in the following configuration: They should lock in place and operate like normal French Doors but also be able to pivot in the middle of each door and slide to the side to provide the maximum opening with little space used inn either room. Possible?
#2
03-17-13, 08:12 AM
Welcome to the forums! Gotta get something to draw with. Hang on............OK, you want to hinge these doors to the outside like French doors, but pivot in the middle like bifold doors on a laundry room?? If the doors are true french type doors, they will be mostly glass, so cutting them vertically will be impossible. Next, your width in the opening (if this is a RO) is too small for a 6' framed door system to be installed and too wide for a 5' door system. Next problem would be how will you make the two bifolds rigid again to close properly? They won't be secure, nor will they latch properly if left to sway in the wind.
#3
03-17-13, 03:36 PM
Clarification
I have two 36" doors that were exterior doors and have the glass panels like French Doors. I want to install them to operate like normal French Doors in an interior setting. My dilemma there are occasions when having the doors wide open is desirable. but the door swing uses up too much real-estate. Best case wold be for the doors to pivot in the middle and slide to one side or the other. Basically, the doors would turn 90 degrees and slide to the jam protruding 18" into each room.
Thank you for your interest....
Thank you for your interest....
#4
03-17-13, 04:19 PM
Super Moderator
Interesting concept.....but I can't imagine any way it will ever happen. Any possible solution would likely require some sort of track on the floor which would be ugggglyyy...imo.
And the fact you would like them to operate normally most of the time...just makes this an impossible dream....imo.
To get anything close to what you want...you would need a high-end set of bifold doors. Yes, they make them...but they aren't cheap.
And the fact you would like them to operate normally most of the time...just makes this an impossible dream....imo.
To get anything close to what you want...you would need a high-end set of bifold doors. Yes, they make them...but they aren't cheap.
#5
03-17-13, 04:44 PM
Is this something like you are talking about? If so, how will you cut the glass of the french doors? A 15 lite door doesn't have mullions up the middle.
#6
03-17-13, 04:52 PM
Super Moderator
Larry...I think he wants more like this....
As shown...closed, normal operation...special operation. Bottom should have both doors on same side...but my editing is poor.
As shown...closed, normal operation...special operation. Bottom should have both doors on same side...but my editing is poor.
#8
03-17-13, 06:39 PM
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I guess you could cut a 1/2" square groove or slot in the top and bottom of the door with a router and then install a 7/16" pin in the top jamb (header) and one directly below in the floor.....with the ends of the pins being rounded. The groove or slot would extend from the center of the door out to just short of the hinge edge. You could spring load the top pin and have dimples in the door groove to hold the door in place and operate as per normal. Then you could open the doors 90 degrees and slide them into the opening and the pins would then drop into the center dimple.
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I guess you could cut a 1/2" square groove or slot in the top and bottom of the door with a router and then install a 7/16" pin in the top jamb (header) and one directly below in the floor.....with the ends of the pins being rounded. The groove or slot would extend from the center of the door out to just short of the hinge edge. You could spring load the top pin and have dimples in the door groove to hold the door in place and operate as per normal. Then you could open the doors 90 degrees and slide them into the opening and the pins would then drop into the center dimple.
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Last edited by Halton; 03-17-13 at 08:09 PM.
#9
03-18-13, 03:34 AM
Halton, I think the theory would work, but in practicality, I would fear wear on the wood of the top of the door would make it loose in time. NOW, if you can go back to your cubby hole and figure out how to manufacture a metal slide mechanism to place in the slot........
Just kiddin'. But I think something like that would work if made strong enough. Then, balancing the door between detents may be a problem...
Just kiddin'. But I think something like that would work if made strong enough. Then, balancing the door between detents may be a problem...
#11
03-18-13, 06:28 AM
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in practicality, I would fear wear on the wood of the top of the door would make it loose in time
This is not a front door to a coffee shop.....
..... so for occasional use as the OP stated I don't really foresee an issue. The load on the top pin would be mostly lateral against the end of the slot. I thought of using drawer slides.....but you would need one 36" long in order to achieve the desired action. It might be possible with some noodling if I were to have a bottom mount drawer slide in hand.....or even using small wheels on the ends of the pins of my original design that could simply be locked into place with a removable cross pin. I could see making this work.....and like most things you never know until you try.....
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