Edge5d ago

Hey, #DIY folks, have a question for you about a #door down to a basement.

This door is insulated and framed as if it were an outside door, as previously the basement wasn't conditioned. Now it is.

The sill framing is a real trip risk now, as we go up and down those stairs a lot more than previously, and you have to step over it, and down to the first stair. Usually when carrying something.

I'm wondering what can be done about this? Reframe the whole opening, and install a different door, and somehow fix the sill/wood floor?

Use a sawzall and just cut it out and see what happens?

Something else? Ideas appreciated.

Show threadAI6YR Ben5d ago
@czarbucks So, having put in a few doors and also a whole new double hung door on the front of the house, since you aren't concerned about air flow everything can be removed (gently). The problem you'll have is the transition between your hardwood floor and the door and how you want to hide it (or not). The bottom of the door, once your door is hung, has no structural purpose, as long as the sides of your door are properly secured... If it were me, I'd use a hacksaw and cut down to the level of your wood floor and to separate it from the sides (in case it goes under the sides). But it's possible you could just pry the whole bottom board off gently after unscrewing it from the floor. If it's nailed though, you'll have to crowbar it.
Show threadEdge

@ai6yr

Thanks, Ben, that's what I was thinking, too. I just hope that the finished wood floor would line up height-wise with the current white-painted stair nose if I remove everything else.

The door is a good 1" above the level of the finished floor.

No idea what I would do to transition yet, although we have added oak stair treads/stair nose to the garage steps.

Appreciate the pointers.

Now that I've started thinking about this, it bugs me every time I step over it. 😄

Mar 4 at 10:13pmWeb
Show threadJer 🚲5d ago

@czarbucks

You just need to replace it with other nits. Like, are all of your light switches the same distance from the room's door?

@ai6yr

Show threadBrian Davis5d ago
@jerzone @czarbucks @ai6yr I'm going to hate you for pointing that out.
Show threadJer 🚲5d ago

@intrepidhero
😬
My wife's office has the worst light switch offset and each time I use it there's the thought it should be fixed. I point it out and she says, "huh, never noticed". [insert itchy, twitchy emoji]

@czarbucks @ai6yr

Show threadHippy Steve5d ago

@czarbucks @ai6yr

They make low profile thresholds for the transition. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-5-in-x-1-2-in-Wood-Interior-Threshold-WAT500/204737255

And if you wind up with an air gap, you can get a door sweep that attaches to the door to close the gap and seal it. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-2-in-x-36-in-White-Premium-and-Reinforced-Rubber-Door-Sweep-Weatherstrip-A79WHA/100070485

Show threadEdge5d ago

@exador23 @ai6yr

Interesting, too, thanks. I need to look at those.

I had thougth about the bug sweep if the gap really is a big deal.