Doors and Windows - What size door to install

I have a door opening into my bsmt which is roughly 37" wide. The material is cinder block. My question is "Can I install a 34" wide steel door and just attach the jambs to the cinder block or do I NEED to frame it out with a 2x4 ?

I would like to make it as wide as possible.

Thanks
Joe

I think a 36" steel jamb may fit just fine....

Also, I will need to cut the height on the door.
Has anyone ever cut a steel door? If so, any tips.

Seemed like a straightforward question until I saw the part about cutting the door.

Rather than cutting a door down, why not get one fabricated and pre-hung to fit the opening. It will cost a bit more, but cutting a steel door will probably blow the manufacturers warranty.

Something to think about. :)

A standard 36" door with wood jambs needs 37 1/2" to 37 3/4" on the width, minimum. The normal rough opening width is 38" to allow some room in case the studs ( or cinder block in your case ) are not plumb. So, you're shy of what you need.

Either a custom door or go on down to the next standard size of 32 "


I like a 2x frame in block walls....makes it easier to mount the door....attaching wood jambs directly to cinder block isn't the easiest thing to do, but it is done.

I was thinking more along these lines for a jamb. You have a little more room to play with.

http://www.steelcraft.com/pc_frames_kerfed.asp

It wraps around the concrete block.

Yeah, that's a "commercial" metal jamb .....problem is, those install with a special clip not shown in that pic that fits inside the jamb and extends back on top a course of block as the block are laid....you use three or four clips per side about every other course.

They may make them for later installation ( don't know, never seen one, but really haven't looked either), but that one is definitely for new construction. And the opening for a 36" door with that jamb is 40" wide....the jamb adds 2" on each side.

I've installed several of these in existing applications and face screwed the jamb in the existing structure. I use the bottom angle bracket usually, but you CAN install this jamb by various means without using the clips. If you want the largest opening possible I beleive this is the way to go.