Home Improvement Today?

So I'm looking for a little advice on replacing our rear entry door, which is what we primarily use. It's old, ugly, poorly installed and drafty.

The main issue is the sill is below the finish floor, so they cut the door to clear it but there is obviously a huge gap. I put a sweep on as a stop gap but it's falling apart and I want to get it squared away before winter. Here's some pics. Outside looking at sill
Inside looking at bottom

1 3/8" gap between framing and casing

Top of casing tight to header

Full interior showing drywall cut tight to casing.


It appears to be a a standard 36"x80" door that they put in a 40"x 80.5" (from F.F. to header) rough opening. I could cut down a prehung solid wood door but they are expensive, as are custom size doors.

My general idea is:
Buy a 36"x80" prehung fiberglass door
Build up the sill framing to the correct height for the current floor
Fir out the studs to the correct 38" RO width
Notch/reframe header depending on what it is
Either custom cut the brick moulding to match current vinyl trim/siding or rework the vinyl itself.

Thoughts/comments/concerns?

 

Got the light installed in the hall bath, went to install the fan and realized that the vent fans come in different sizes, the one I bought was 7.25x7 and the one installed was 9.25x9.25.
I abandoned that project because we have an appraisal inspector coming on Wednesday and didn’t want to be elbows deep in that.
The upside is I can get fans that will fit locally, the downside is they are double the cost.

My parents came back from a trip and stopped by to help us work and say Hi, I was telling my dad how we were going to move the water heater into the corner of the laundry room but would be running the pipes exposed because we don’t have the time or energy to rip out the drywall and make it look good.
20 minutes later I hear a saw kick on and walk into the laundry room to see this.


So I guess all the plumbing is being hidden.

I also got the hall bath trimmed out today as well as the GFI and light switches replaced, all that’s left is connecting the sink drain, caulking the trim and tub, replacing the shower head, and painting the bottom of the door (I had to trim it to clear the threshold with the increased height of the tile), before we start on the decorative items like shower curtain, TP holder, towel holder, and hand towel holder.

 

My mind is blown. I’ve had this happen to me twice in two different houses in the past few years. I just mounted it off center and I think I’m the only person who actually notices. The mirrors were big in both cases so it was hard to tell. Will keep this in mind for the future. Didn’t even know that existed.

 

Switch it to an outswing door

 

It's funny because I had almost written that off as too obvious of a solution.

It would certainly work, the main concern I have with that style of door is snow drifting and being unable to open. But it is a covered area and there are alternative doors to get out if that happens.

 

Wow. 2,493 new posts since I was last here. Im gonna be honest, im not reading all of them.

Today (and tomorrow) I finally finished our kitchenette in the down stairs. Toe kick trim is all that remains and I’ll need the compressor thing for that.

I did most everything but the granite installation. Very happy with how it came out!

 

Finally closing on the sale of our current house tomorrow, was in there today taking care of a few small requests.

Here’s an interesting one: they complained that the condensation drain for the HVAC system was dripping into the drain. Both heat and air had been turned off since the beginning of the month since we weren’t there and it wasn’t cold enough to justify running it. These idiots turned it on during their walkthrough and complained it was leaking and wanted me to drop the $$$ to have someone come out on a weekend to look at it. It’s doing what is supposed to do, if it had been the secondary one in the garage I’d be a lot worried at that point.

 

Nice job

 

Looks good!

 

https://www.finehomebuilding.com/2013/05/06/z-articulating-cap-sill
or this, they also have seals that you can put in on the bottom of the door, depends how big the gap is.

 

Starting the residing and new window project on the house. I knew I was in for some work, but holy hell this is shitty. Windows have no caulk around the flanges, or flashing of any kind. No tyvek or tar paper at least. The brick wainscoting wasn’t flashed and is has about a inch gap between the house. Any recommendation on fixing it? Figured I’d have to dump some mortar down in the crack or use expanding foam on it and properly flash it. Gunna be a busy week.

 

Worst thing about house projects. Quick cover it up and pretend you never started!

 

I don’t think I’d foam behind the brick lol it might wind up on the ground after the foam expands plus some air moving around in there might help keep everything dried out
I’d leave it an open cavity and make sure there are some weep holes at the bottom then flash it in at the top with a combination of metal, housewrap, some kind of peel stick membrane, siding and some silicone

 

I'd check the studs down low behind the bricks and sheathing(from inside) for dry rot. That corner doesn't look good but I've seen worse. Need some flashing on top. If wind is hard on that side I'd cut a kirf in the brick and caulk a 3/8" drop lip in the flashing, it's difficult to get a good lasting seal on such a short overlap. Overlap the flashing starting at the prevailing downwind end with upwind pieces in succession.

 

This part of the house is a converted carport from the previous owner. We gutted the inside when we bought it 3 years ago and the studs and sheathing were ok from what I remember. New drywall shows no sign of water damage from the windows or the from the brick. Thanks for the tip.

 

how attached are you to the brick? Personally based on how shitty everything else was done I'd just tear it down and side to the ground to ensure the house is properly sealed.

 

There is supposed to be a gap , your bigger problem is the rotting plywood sheeting

 

Had framing, rough electrical, mech and rough plumbing inspection today. Inspector was in and out in under a minute

Love the quality control here

 

Been busy the past two days. Wound up replacing what I could of the plywood, mortared and metal flashed that rotting section. Turns out the siding supplier sent me all 3/4” j channel and no 1/2”. Need the smaller stuff for the board and Batton that’s going on the front of the house. Nice unexpected 2 hour trip to exchange 20 pieces tomorrow.

 

Also mitred corners on the window J-Channel is a real pain in the ass.