[treeboss]

I need some help with a Rental Property I am trying to maintain. The glass-paned French doors leading to the patio have gone from hard to close to full-body slam in just 5 months. Prior to the current Owners, I am told there was "substantial foundation repair work done" however, given the condition of the bulk of this place, it was lipstick on a pig.

These are wooden French doors with full glass panes. The top of the door that opens, on the non-hinge side, has dropped about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in 5 months. The Owners will not occupy for 3 more years and are basically just trying to keep everything working until they can sell up North and put the money into fixing this one up.

I know I could reset the hinges and raise the door that way but, I am wondering if I should also drill and set some screws into the header to raise the center of the door frame, as well, to try and keep things more stable.

Anyone have any suggestions that doesn't require replacing the door or major demo (ie; MONEY)???

 

[genecarp]

"please complete your profile, and continue to the intro page and tell us a little about yourself and your professional experience, thankyou and welcome to ct", gmod

 

[mikeswoods]

You're going to have to post a picture of this if you can.

While you're at it bring a level -check sill and head for level--check both sides for plumb.

Could be as simple as sucking the top hinge back into position with a couple of long screws(into the framing)

If it's sway backed like on old horse--you may need to pull the door out,correct the flooring ,and reinstall it.---MIKE---

 

[treeboss]

Response to Genecarp, is it?

I beg your pardon for not wanting to post a great deal of information about myself in order to get a little help from a group of professionals. I have been working in the Construction Industry for over 15 years, in New England, Florida and Maryland, and have found myself in Texas, taking care of a property that is "The House that Jack Built".

If you cannot post a reply to a valid question, I can appreciate that but, after building projects in the $36 Million range and over a hundred homes in Florida, I am unused to "jury rigging" things, or fixing rather than re-building and was hoping one of you out there could help save these poor people some money before they get here and find the retirement home of their dreams has crumbled under the weight of time and no home inspections during the build.

Sorry if I offended

 

[The Coastal Craftsman]

If you cannot post a reply to a valid question, I can appreciate that but, after building projects in the $36 Million range and over a hundred homes in Florida, I am unused to "jury rigging" things

Maybe your better of in the DIY forum :thumbsup:

 

[PA woodbutcher]

I beg your pardon for not wanting to post a great deal of information about myself in order to get a little help from a group of professionals. I have been working in the Construction Industry for over 15 years, in New England, Florida and Maryland, and have found myself in Texas, taking care of a property that is "The House that Jack Built".

If you cannot post a reply to a valid question, I can appreciate that but, after building projects in the $36 Million range and over a hundred homes in Florida, I am unused to "jury rigging" things, or fixing rather than re-building and was hoping one of you out there could help save these poor people some money before they get here and find the retirement home of their dreams has crumbled under the weight of time and no home inspections during the build.

Sorry if I offended

Treeboss, Your right this is a forum for professionals and we would like to keep it that way. Gene is a moderator here on the forum and that is part of his job...Trying to keep the riff-raff out:laughing:. Not really riff-raff, but home owners that are quite willing to get in over their heads. You would be amazed at how many come to the forum and are actualy looking for pricing, fearing that they are being charged too much, or using the price that they get here to beat a legitimate contractor over the head with.

There is also a DIY forum http://www.diychatroom.com/ that may or may not suit your needs.

This is how we make our living. Most of us have payed a price for the knowledge that have. For someone to come on here and ask me for advice on something that they should be paying someone else to do is actually quite rude. When my truck needs fixed I take it to a garage. When my back aches I go to the doctor, when someone needs a cabinet set, roof redone, they call me. Thats what makes our economy work.

Asking you to fill out an introduction wasn't rude, it was actually asking you to be polite.:thumbsup:

 

[ClemS]

i think before you start re-hinging and drilling you need to assess the situation a little better.

find the problem - come up with a solution, sort of thing. based on what you've mentioned so far, the operating door "dropped" some over some time. does that mean it rubs on the threshold? is the reveal between the two doors equal top to bottom? is the reveal at the jamb equal?
why do you want to add screws to the head of the jamb? is it bowed?

 

[loneframer]

The glass-paned French doors leading to the patio have gone from hard to close to full-body slam in just 5 months. Prior to the current Owners, I am told there was "substantial foundation repair work done" however, given the condition of the bulk of this place, it was lipstick on a pig.

These are wooden French doors with full glass panes. The top of the door that opens, on the non-hinge side, has dropped about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in 5 months. The Owners will not occupy for 3 more years and are basically just trying to keep everything working until they can sell up North and put the money into fixing this one up.

I know I could reset the hinges and raise the door that way but, I am wondering if I should also drill and set some screws into the header to raise the center of the door frame, as well, to try and keep things more stable.

Anyone have any suggestions that doesn't require replacing the door or major demo (ie; MONEY)???

Anyone with common knowledge of door installation would be able to look at the given circumstances and know if it is something that can be rectified with a handfull of screws and some tricks of the trade. In my opinion, relocating the hinges will not allow you to achieve your desired goal. It sounds as if the installer didn't shim behind the hinges properly, nor effectively fasten the jambs to the framing. Both of which can be easily taken care of without removing trim.
In any case, if the foundation was worked on, it's possible that the doorframe was racked out of square, or the door sill may have been disturbed, causing binding at the threshold. If this is the case, more radical steps may need to be taken.

 

[ClemS]

Treeboss, Your right this is a forum for professionals and we would like to keep it that way. Gene is a moderator here on the forum and that is part of his job...Trying to keep the riff-raff out:laughing:. Not really riff-raff, but home owners that are quite willing to get in over their heads. You would be amazed at how many come to the forum and are actualy looking for pricing, fearing that they are being charged too much, or using the price that they get here to beat a legitimate contractor over the head with.

There is also a DIY forum http://www.diychatroom.com/ that may or may not suit your needs.

This is how we make our living. Most of us have payed a price for the knowledge that have. For someone to come on here and ask me for advice on something that they should be paying someone else to do is actually quite rude. When my truck needs fixed I take it to a garage. When my back aches I go to the doctor, when someone needs a cabinet set, roof redone, they call me. Thats what makes our economy work.

Asking you to fill out an introduction wasn't rude, it was actually asking you to be polite.:thumbsup:

no free advice?

this is a public forum.
ANYONE can register and read through the whole thing, contractor or not.
many contractors are less qualified than the people they're working for to do the work.
what gives?
:thumbsup:

 

[ClemS]

Anyone with common knowledge of door installation would be able to look at the given circumstances and know if it is something that can be rectified with a handfull of screws and some tricks of the trade. In my opinion, relocating the hinges will not allow you to achieve your desired goal. It sounds as if the installer didn't shim behind the hinges properly, nor effectively fasten the jambs to the framing. Both of which can be easily taken care of without removing trim.
In any case, if the foundation was worked on, it's possible that the doorframe was racked out of square, or the door sill may have been disturbed, causing binding at the threshold. If this is the case, more radical steps may need to be taken.

pack your bags we're shipping you off to texas.

 

[HomeElements]

Thats what I was wondering, I thought it was just me but I am not even sure where the door is draging. He said raise the door, but also mentioned some dropping? At this point it would be hard to give very good advice. Is it a pre-hung unit?

 

[loneframer]

pack your bags we're shipping you off to texas.

Hahaha, you East Coasters ain't gettin' rid of me that easily.:no:

 

[ClemS]

Hahaha, you East Coasters ain't gettin' rid of me that easily.:no:

they should strip you of your moderator status. you're being coherent and helpful!!!:blink:

 

[PA woodbutcher]

no free advice?

this is a public forum.
ANYONE can register and read through the whole thing, contractor or not.
many contractors are less qualified than the people they're working for to do the work.
what gives?
:thumbsup:

Did I bust you chops??? What gives? Sick of the pissing matches going on here all the time. In the past 2 days I've read where people are going to kick each others asses over the internet....Maybe I'll come back in a couple of months

 

[ClemS]

Did I bust you chops??? What gives? Sick of the pissing matches going on here all the time. In the past 2 days I've read where people are going to kick each others asses over the internet....Maybe I'll come back in a couple of months

i missed that one who was it do i know them?

 

[TulsaRemodeler]

I need some help with a Rental Property I am trying to maintain. The glass-paned French doors leading to the patio have gone from hard to close to full-body slam in just 5 months. Prior to the current Owners, I am told there was "substantial foundation repair work done" however, given the condition of the bulk of this place, it was lipstick on a pig.

These are wooden French doors with full glass panes. The top of the door that opens, on the non-hinge side, has dropped about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in 5 months. The Owners will not occupy for 3 more years and are basically just trying to keep everything working until they can sell up North and put the money into fixing this one up.

I know I could reset the hinges and raise the door that way but, I am wondering if I should also drill and set some screws into the header to raise the center of the door frame, as well, to try and keep things more stable.

Anyone have any suggestions that doesn't require replacing the door or major demo (ie; MONEY)???

If doorhanging is too hard for you to handle... then you need to be one of the ones that go under in this economic climate, sorry. Strong survive, weak dont, sucks but thats the way it is.

 

[ClemS]

If doorhanging is too hard for you to handle... then you need to be one of the ones that go under in this economic climate, sorry. Strong survive, weak dont, sucks but thats the way it is.

that's the spirit!

we're all going under bud, your doorhanging SkIlLZz aren't going to save ya :thumbsup:

 

[TulsaRemodeler]

that's the spirit!

we're all going under bud, your doorhanging SkIlLZz aren't going to save ya :thumbsup:

I have many skilz, I'm going under last :jester:

 

[ClemS]

I have many skilz, I'm going under last :jester:

if you get there first, you get the best seats. always been that way, join the army of incompetence before it's too late!:thumbsup:

 

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