Brazilian Cherry vs Chinese Door - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Man Maid · 12-15-2007, 09:20 PM

I am installing 3/4 solid cherry in a house, about 600' of it. I am in the last room, the kitchen, and have a slight dilemma as I approach the back door. It's a steel door with a steel frame. No adjustable sill. I pulled back the casing and there isn't room under the header to raise the door. The job has turned out fantastic so far, just not sure what to do about the back door. There's only about 1/2" clearance now. Any ideas?

PrecisionFloors · 12-15-2007, 09:25 PM

Is it an area where you could maybe box the hardwood out around the door to create a "foyer" out of a different complimenting material?

Floordude · 12-15-2007, 09:30 PM

That needed to be addressed and planned for, way before now!!!

I'd have to actually see it to give you just enough info, to be real dangerous.

C.C.R. · 12-15-2007, 10:38 PM

Just wondering, how long have you been in the residential construction field not to mention floors? I've run into more than a handfull of guys that get laid off, quit, fired from their coperate job and think just because they can fix stuff around their own house they'll become a "handyman, contractor, painter, etc." So, what did you used to do before you started installing hardwood floors without checking the clearance on a STEEL DOOR?

Man Maid · 12-15-2007, 11:57 PM

Thanks, Precision. That's what I planned on, a ceramic entry. The customer wants hardwood all the way, But I don't know of a way to make it work.
The rest of you miserable bastards sure are quick to ridicule. First of all, I was a union carpenter. Second, I did plan for it. Just trying to make the customer happy, not do what's easier for me. The customer is the one who writes the checks, remember? I thought the reason we had this forum was to help each other out, not piss on each other!???

PrecisionFloors · 12-16-2007, 12:31 AM

Depending on your sub floor you could run Ditra and ceramic and it should still clear the door. I doubt you'd make it with cbu as an underlayment though. Even with 1/4" Hardie, once you thinset it, and thinset your tile you would be right at 1/2" maybe a hair more. Ditra will give you another 1/8" to 3/16" clearance.

leakygoose · 12-16-2007, 01:33 AM

Two things;No three , Heres a perfect time to replace that pc. of junk steel,sweaty old door and make more money . Put your sales hat on , every woman wants a rug in front of that door to protect her new floor. The other thing is to cut that dam thing , I've done it and works great . Use a full bottom sweep like the ones on expensive wood doors and a taller threshold ,the parts are out there, find them -sell it -make more money . And yes theres one more thing ,pull the door unit ,cut the header, reassemble . I like this sort of thing and have learned to look for it [the golden opportunity to make more money ] Good luck