Doors and Windows - Finding a door to fit my needs
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Aiyona
01-03-04, 11:15 PM
I converting a family room into a bedroom. I have an opening that is 91-1/4" high and 57-1/2" wide. Initially I was going to install french doors but the guy in the door department informed me that french doors come standard as 60" wide by 80" high or 47"wide by 80" high. He then told me I needed to construct a frame. I know you guys have custom ordering is there a way that I can just order something to fit? Or should I give up the whole french door thing and ATTEMPT to install a sliding pocket door? Either way it looks like I need to invest in some power tools because all I have at the moment is a borrowed power drill :D. Thanks for the help.
lefty
01-04-04, 07:47 AM
We all had to start with SOMETHING as our tool collection, and it was probably borrowed.
First, you need to determine if this is a bearing wall or not. If it runs PARALLEL to the ceiling joists above it, it isn't. If it's PERPENDICULAR to those joists, you will treat it as a bearing wall.
I'm assuming that this opening is just sheetrocked right now, and that the dimensions you gave are the finished size of that opening. If so, the rough opening will be 1" wider and 1/2" taller (once you remove the 'rock, that's what you'll have.)
To get a set of 60" wide french doors in, you'll need to make the rough opening wider. (Probably 62", but you'll know exactly once you purchase the doors.) That will involve removing 2 of the existing studs from one side or the other. Choose which side you want to do that on. (Of course, you might want to leave the door CENTERED where it is, which means you'll be widening both sides -- your choice).
Next, you will installing a new header. Use a 4X6 for that, and it will be 3" longer than the width of the rough opening. There will be 2 studs at each end of the header (a king and a trimmer, and there will be cripples above the header. Once the framing is done, you'll replace any sheetrock that you had to remove to frame the new opening, then you'll install the french doors. Tape and texture the sheetrock, install the casings around the door, paint andcaulk, and you will be finished.
Do you want to tackle it??
First, you need to determine if this is a bearing wall or not. If it runs PARALLEL to the ceiling joists above it, it isn't. If it's PERPENDICULAR to those joists, you will treat it as a bearing wall.
I'm assuming that this opening is just sheetrocked right now, and that the dimensions you gave are the finished size of that opening. If so, the rough opening will be 1" wider and 1/2" taller (once you remove the 'rock, that's what you'll have.)
To get a set of 60" wide french doors in, you'll need to make the rough opening wider. (Probably 62", but you'll know exactly once you purchase the doors.) That will involve removing 2 of the existing studs from one side or the other. Choose which side you want to do that on. (Of course, you might want to leave the door CENTERED where it is, which means you'll be widening both sides -- your choice).
Next, you will installing a new header. Use a 4X6 for that, and it will be 3" longer than the width of the rough opening. There will be 2 studs at each end of the header (a king and a trimmer, and there will be cripples above the header. Once the framing is done, you'll replace any sheetrock that you had to remove to frame the new opening, then you'll install the french doors. Tape and texture the sheetrock, install the casings around the door, paint andcaulk, and you will be finished.
Do you want to tackle it??
Aiyona
01-04-04, 03:38 PM
Holy cannoli, I know a handyman I think I'll just hire him!
Thanks a lot for the help :eek:
Thanks a lot for the help :eek: