Doors and Windows - Entry Door - Sidelites Question
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flintsilver7
11-16-05, 07:17 AM
I'm looking to replace my entry door, which is a standard 36" x 80" door. It's a plain steel door right now.
My question is about the sidelites - the house was built in 1987, and I suspect that the door and the sidelites (12", seems standard as far as I can tell) are all one piece. I'd like to replace the door, not the sidelites. I need to remove the storm door and check, but it certainly looks like the threshold underneath both the doors and sidelites is one continuous piece. New doors come with a threshold, so I couldn't really replace the door without replacing the sidelites as well.
Is it common for these things to be attached and in one piece? Especially considering the threshold?
My question is about the sidelites - the house was built in 1987, and I suspect that the door and the sidelites (12", seems standard as far as I can tell) are all one piece. I'd like to replace the door, not the sidelites. I need to remove the storm door and check, but it certainly looks like the threshold underneath both the doors and sidelites is one continuous piece. New doors come with a threshold, so I couldn't really replace the door without replacing the sidelites as well.
Is it common for these things to be attached and in one piece? Especially considering the threshold?
XSleeper
11-16-05, 04:38 PM
Almost all doors that have sidelites are sold as one unit because they are common mulled that way in the factory in which they were made. That's why the threshold is continuous. Because of this, you will not be able to replace the door only.
flintsilver7
11-17-05, 07:52 AM
Thanks, I was afraid of that. Is it possible to get a door and sidelites separately? The home improvement stores have mentioned that I could buy any door and simply order sidelites to attach with it, as they seem to be fairly standard in terms of size. Well, in any case, that brings up two more questions.
1) The transom and other things above the entry - these aren't part of the door/sidelite combo, are they? It wouldn't make any sense, since the moulding surrounding the entry on the inside is fairly straightforward in where it indicates the edges of the entry/sidelite unit. I can't tell from the outside, due to heavy paint, where the edges of the unit are.
2) This might be better suited to another forum, but there is a security system installed in my house. The front door is obviously wired to the system, but I cannot see where the wires are located. I don't think it was a builder install, since the homes in the neighborhood are not standard when it comes to this. The sliding doors have a sensor attached that trips the alarm, but the front door doesn't have any visible wires or sensors. Is there a common location for them?
1) The transom and other things above the entry - these aren't part of the door/sidelite combo, are they? It wouldn't make any sense, since the moulding surrounding the entry on the inside is fairly straightforward in where it indicates the edges of the entry/sidelite unit. I can't tell from the outside, due to heavy paint, where the edges of the unit are.
2) This might be better suited to another forum, but there is a security system installed in my house. The front door is obviously wired to the system, but I cannot see where the wires are located. I don't think it was a builder install, since the homes in the neighborhood are not standard when it comes to this. The sliding doors have a sensor attached that trips the alarm, but the front door doesn't have any visible wires or sensors. Is there a common location for them?
XSleeper
11-17-05, 11:19 AM
You can add any style sidelight to any door. They usually come premulled (connected together) just like your current door. Why you would want them seperate is beyond me. Having the threshold as one piece is the only sure way to keep the units lined up in a straight line, and a continuous threshold prevents leaks between the units.
It's impossible for me to tell if the transom is part of the door. If you take off the interior trim, it should be obvious where the door ends and the transom begins. Regarding the security system, the wires usually run inside the rough opening, and down through a hole in the top closing side of the door. A sensor is usually mounted to the door and it meets the sensor that is hard wired to the jamb. If there's no sensor there, you probably have no security there.
It's impossible for me to tell if the transom is part of the door. If you take off the interior trim, it should be obvious where the door ends and the transom begins. Regarding the security system, the wires usually run inside the rough opening, and down through a hole in the top closing side of the door. A sensor is usually mounted to the door and it meets the sensor that is hard wired to the jamb. If there's no sensor there, you probably have no security there.
flintsilver7
11-17-05, 11:34 AM
I don't really want them separate, but I was simply trying to find out if that option was available. I don't know if there would be any cost advantage to doing this, but if there was a huge price difference between having a basic door and two sidelights separate (and me attaching them) and having a single premanufactured unit, I would consider it. Of course, it would have to be significant to offset all the advantages you mentioned.
I haven't taken off the moulding yet, but I assume that it's a roughly 60" x 80" unit (rather than having the transom and arch extension on the outside). It's my first time looking at doors and while I doubt the transom and arch would be attached, I suppose it's possible and I wanted to check it out.
As far as the sensor goes, I haven't inspected the top and bottom of the door so I can't say for sure if there's a sensor there or not. I'll have to check that when I get home. Thanks for your help.
I haven't taken off the moulding yet, but I assume that it's a roughly 60" x 80" unit (rather than having the transom and arch extension on the outside). It's my first time looking at doors and while I doubt the transom and arch would be attached, I suppose it's possible and I wanted to check it out.
As far as the sensor goes, I haven't inspected the top and bottom of the door so I can't say for sure if there's a sensor there or not. I'll have to check that when I get home. Thanks for your help.
XSleeper
11-17-05, 11:49 AM
I see. Well, the main problem with getting them seperate will be the gaps in the threshold, and keeping the interior straight as an arrow where it meets your floor. You can certainly get them seperately if it turns out to be a big savings.
You see, usually a 37 1/2" wide door jamb will have a 36" wide threshold. Normally, the brickmould butts up to the threshold on the sides, and the door is ready for a storm door. If you get sidelights seperately, they will be configured in a similar way. Let's say your sidelight is 13 1/2" wide. Well the aluminum threshold under it will probably be only 12" wide. So if you put that sidelight up against the door, you'll have a 1 1/2" gap in the threshold where the two meet. You could get a long threshold extension, cut it to length, and snap it across the entire front of both units (provided the type of door you get even HAS this option), but that's not a very good solution because you're relying on the mullion (the vertical exterior trim that covers the seam between the door and the sidelight) to cover that 1 1/2" gap AND keep water out.
Having them premulled also makes the door a stronger unit. When you open and close the door (or it gets slammed) if the units are seperate, something could get out of whack if they haven't been mulled together (by you) in a secure manner. The tendency could be for the bottom to get out of line, which can make huge problems for keeping the door plumb and having it seal properly.
You see, usually a 37 1/2" wide door jamb will have a 36" wide threshold. Normally, the brickmould butts up to the threshold on the sides, and the door is ready for a storm door. If you get sidelights seperately, they will be configured in a similar way. Let's say your sidelight is 13 1/2" wide. Well the aluminum threshold under it will probably be only 12" wide. So if you put that sidelight up against the door, you'll have a 1 1/2" gap in the threshold where the two meet. You could get a long threshold extension, cut it to length, and snap it across the entire front of both units (provided the type of door you get even HAS this option), but that's not a very good solution because you're relying on the mullion (the vertical exterior trim that covers the seam between the door and the sidelight) to cover that 1 1/2" gap AND keep water out.
Having them premulled also makes the door a stronger unit. When you open and close the door (or it gets slammed) if the units are seperate, something could get out of whack if they haven't been mulled together (by you) in a secure manner. The tendency could be for the bottom to get out of line, which can make huge problems for keeping the door plumb and having it seal properly.