Doors and Windows - Source of Oversize Pre-hung Entry Door?

I've got a 30+ year old wood front door that is beyond it's useful life. It faces west in Denver so it gets the worst of winter wind and summer heat. I'd like to replace it with a pre-hung fiberglass or possibly steel entry door. The problem: the door is 6'8" tall and 3'6" wide. All manufacturers I've checked so far (Stanley, Thermatru, Pella, etc.) don't seem to make pre-hung doors larger than 3'0" wide. Narrowing the entry is not an option, and custom-made is off my budget. I could go with wood again, with the same maintenance problems recurring. Does anyone know of a place I might get an oversized door?

Unfortunately a 42 inch wide door will have to be customed made. I have run into this problem several times. The other option I had was to increase the size of the opening and put in french doors, which was the most economical way to go because they were prehung.

I had Marvin make a custom for me on one job. A word to the wise, wear knee braces when you go because when they tell you the price, your knees will buckle. I got lucky on one job, I knew the wood shop teacher in the highschool and he made it a project for a few gifted students. All it cost me was the wood and donated a table saw and router table to the school, commercial grade. I had one door restored because it was three and one half inches thick. This was actually cheaper than the Marvin door.

The last option I wish you to consider is putting a side light to take up the six inches and then installing a standard 36 inch prehung door. You'll find that's the least expensive way to go.

Thanks!

I've already hit the floor a couple of times while researching custom-mades. The main problem with choosing a smaller door with a sidelight (other than already having a narrow entryway), is that the door already is topped by a 42" wide picture window. A sidelight would offset the door from the window, which wouldn't look good, to me.

I'm thinking of going with wood again (and some of the craftsman designs would look great with the house). Should I add extra coats of varnish or polyurethane to help it survive? (And I'll look into ways to protect it from the elements...one expensive design problem always leads to another! ;)

Alison
aka DIYobsessed

Hi, You have a 42" window above your door and you believe a 36" door would visualy unbalance the system. An idea would be to install a 36" in the center leaving 3" on each side, trim it out with some fancy moulding. With some thought you could end up with a classy look. Good Luck Woodbutcher

I actually like the three inches on both sides idea and going to a standard 36" door. If you decide to stay with wood, go with four hinges. Also seal and varnish the bottom of the door every time you do it. Most people overlook that when they are varnishing or painting doors.

Got my books out! Going to build my own house and looked at every door store in the area. Hope some of this might be useful to you.

Peachtree has 3'8" on certain models of their
Avanti line.

Therma Tru has fiberglass doors up to 3'8" also some with 8' height.

Good luck,,,,,also tired of banging furniture we buy into the narrow doors.

HELLO
I HAVE COVERED DOORS WITH COPPER THEY DO LOOK GOOD IF YOU LIKE THE LOOK AS IT AGES...GOOD LUCK

I *love* the look of copper (except it might get too hot in the western sun).

How does one cover a door with copper? I've never heard of that. Is it something I could do? Is it something I could afford?

Alison