Ext French Door Jamb Width

zipicus

How can you tell if you are going to need a 4 9/16" jamb or a 4 1/8" on a exterior wall, or are all exterior jambs never no less than 4 9/16"? Exterior is stucco in my case.

D.Foster

Well here in the NE we frame our ext. walls with 2x6. but if you are unsure and have noway of measuring the existing jamb for some reason, it is easier to add e-jambs than to rip the jamb to a smaller width. So go with the smaller 41/8 jamb. Can you measure the wall thickness?3 1/2 " wall 1/2 '' ply& 1/2'' drywall?? I'm not sure i have seen 4 1/8 though.

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tcleve4911

I would tend to go with the wider jamb widths. The inside of the jamb needs to be at least flush with the interior wall plane or you can't open the "French doors" all the way back to the walls. Just my experience...........

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Bodger

Inswing, or outswing?
Outswing and stucco, make sure the hinge leaf width is wide enough to allow for the hinge knuckle to be at or slightly beyond the stucco, or the door will hit and won't open 180 degrees.
If you do that and can't get back flush to the drywall on the interior, extend the jamb, or order it oversized if possible. Or if there is to be no case molding on the door, return the drywall back into the jamb and bead that edge.

If it's stucco and inswing, return the stucco into the jamb on the outside, if that detail is acceptable, and bring the jamb flush to the drywall on the inside.

I've always had trouble with jambs being exactly the right size. An out of plumb wall can screw you.
They make those long jamb extension screws
(McFeeley's.com) and if it's paint grade jambs, you're in business. I've even scribed and ripped the jambs to accommodate anomalies.

Good luck.

D.Foster

If the jamb ext. isnt too long and you have enough room i've used pocket screws too to attach them. I would like to try those screws from mcfeelys though, saw them a while back

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olyteddy

I don't believe I've heard of 4 1/8" either. One of the properties I worked at had 5 1/4" (2X4 wall; 5/8" drywall inside; 5/8" drywall firestop outside and 1/2" plywood outside) jambs and the lumberyard we had a contract with only stocked 4 9/16" or 6 9/16". Most of the time I'd get the 6 9/16" pull the brickmolding off and rip them down.