Metal Commercial Doors

Eric K

A customer of mine asked me if it was feasible to rotate double metal doors/frame around to swing the opposite way. I don't have experince w/ these types of doors. I'll post pics and look for suggestions. How to remove and reinstall, ect...
Thanks

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mdshunk

You'd have to flip the whole unit around, buck and all. How this is accompished with your unit depends on whether this was a "rough buck" or a "butted frame". If you can see screws in the frame that attach it to the studs, you can take them out and the door unit will be free. If there's nothing you can see, this door was put in before the drywall went up. Reversing it will involve some drywall damage and subsequent repair. Some door bucks are actually set first, and the partition is actually built right into the inside throat profile of the door buck, making reversing it a real chore.

These pictures might help:
http://www.steeldoor.org/pdfs/A250_7.pdf

I see that these appear to be fire rated doors, and they have closers and panic hardware. The fire marshall might not be real excited about revering them if doing so would cause them to open in the wrong direction for egress travel.

locofoco

Good advice MD. Aren't some of these fire door jambs slushed or grouted too?

Eric K

Md,
There isn't any screws in the jamb anywhere. I figured that it was put in then drywalled to. Yes it is fire rated and the owner is checking with the fire marshell about the code on the doors. Thanks for the info.

RobertF

What about the two doors it will block once reversed?

__________________
-Robert F

mdshunk

Not quite sure how I ended up answering a door question, but I guess I do perform my trade at roughly the same time door bucks are going in. I've probably seen 6 or 8 mounting methods for what will appear to be the same type of door when all is said and done. I've only seen fully grouted door buck throats on 4 hour assemblies in fire towers. That's not to say that this might not be done in other geographical areas for other reasons. I'm sure not the expert on this... I just notice stuff.

magnum

One easy way to know if it is a knock down frame is to check the bottom of the frame. If there knock downs they should have a metal clip with screws attaching it to the metal track. the clip is hidden behind the vinyl/wooden base. It will also have a screw and the top at each corner. When turning the frame it will change the operating door to the other side.

747

I have definately seen those commerical steel doors grouted around. Actually i walk through several of them everday at the airport. The ones that are grouted around i have seen are the ones that are seated into cement block. I will have to start paying more attention to them meaning what is going on around the jams

Ps Cement block like foundations are made out of. The walls on both sides of door are that.

JustaFramer

I have set commercial doors in wood frame before. They went in after sheet rock. The frames were assembled with the legs locking into the header by swinging the legs from the center of the opening to the frame. Then adjusting for plumb with set screws on both legs while using a 2x spacer on the floor.

Now I can't tell what door set you have there but this is one style I have dealt with.

mdshunk

Those may be ordinary cement block type door bucks. The type of door bucks for cement blocks have three or 4 brick ties tack welded on the inside throat of the jamb, and they are keyed into corresponding mortar joints. The bucks (frames) aren't normally grouted full inside except for what mud drops down in there. Not to say that some guys might not fill them anyhow, particularly if they have a pan of mud going bad to get rid of.

Eric K

The frame around the doors is metal studs w/ 3 layers of 5/8" drywall. (fire proof wall) This info is from the owner of the building, I haven't gotten to bust through it to inspect for my self.

747

That pic looks like a highend rug store. Like persian rugs.

Eric K

Very high end oriential. 5k to 20k per rug i think. They're turning it into The Pittsburgh Design Center. Right now there's the rug company and we are upgrading the space for new designers and companies to move in and create sort of a "shopping mall" for interior designers to take they're clients shopping, like a 1 stop shop for all you high end needs. Its an old steel building that we've framed and drywalled sections and free standing walls for displays. There's a lotta cool stuff going on, lotsa custom stuff. Its making winter work fun!

747

I know exactly what you mean. They have one in the merchandise mart in chicago. A place where all the designers can see the latest of everything underone roof. Then they can order it. Everything from awesome cabinets to awesome tile to awesome countertops to awesome bathrooms.

Eric K

747,
Is that the 3 story center? I heard of something that was like a mall out there that they were trying to model after?

747

i'm not sure if that would be it or not. The merchandise mart isn't a mall. Its like A so many stories old complex at one time owned by the kennedy family as is the president kennedy family i don't no if they still own it. I'm not sure how many floors it has. Any contractor who comes to chicago should really check it out because it has so many different shops in it for interior stuff. Also a lot of office shops for office furniture. Its on ohio street. http://www.merchandisemart.com/mmart/