Door modifications

[stuartpaul]

We have a pair of 15 pane internal glazed double doors.

The intent is to change these to a single pane in each door. They appear to be a non standard size in that they are outside the stated trim allowances (1966 x 673 from a 1981 x 686 door with only 6 mm from each edge) plus we'll need to take a few more mil off the bottom to allow for a new threshold. I know it's close but I don't want to push my luck too far!

Anyone know if it's possible to remove the glazing bars from the existing doors and replace with a single pane without having the door collapse under the weight at a later stage? This would be the best option but with the weight of 6 mm toughened glass be excessive? The difference between 15 panes of 4 mm and one pane of 6 mm is probably significant.

 

[dzj]

It would probably be OK. You might need to add an extra hinge or two.
The thing with single panes is that it shouldn't lay on the whole bottom rail, but only on
a small pad near the hinge side stile (it rests on a few other points also, but the fellow cutting and installing the glass
will know this no doubt)

 

[Doug71]

I think you should be fine. Does it need to be 6mm toughened glass, I would think 4mm should be okay but someone more informed may tell you different. Some of the modern 15 light doors are just one big pane with glazing bars stuck on to make them look like small panes anyway.

You can quite often take more off door edges then they recommend (will probably void the guarantee though) as long as the door is solid or laminated timber, you just lose the nice edging lath. If it is a chipboard core you should stick with the recommendations though.

Doug

 

[RobinBHM]

I think I would just go with new doors, buy pattern 10 doors made in solid timber and they will handle the amount you want to trim.

You could try removing the glazing bars from your existing doors and see if they come out cleanly and if they dont then plan B.

Dont forget you will need new beading if you re use the doors.

4mm is fine for regs that size, 6mm only if you want it more solid or bevelled.

 

[stuartpaul]

Thank you for the responses.

I have now found some pattern 10's with larger trim allowances and this is probably what I'll go for. Get help thinking if I did modify these that I'd be continually waiting for one of them to fail.

Interested to learn that 4 mm glazing would be acceptable at that low level, - live and learn!

 

[lurker]

I'd just bung in a new door

You talk of thresholds and appear to be raising the one on the floor. Having elderly relatives I now realise these raised ones (for insulation ) are the work of the devil.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Thank you for the responses.
....

Interested to learn that 4 mm glazing would be acceptable at that low level, - live and learn!

.....

I think that the critical thing from a building regs point of view is that it's toughened (i.e. heat-treated "safety" glass) - with a visible maker's mark on each pane to make it explicit that it is safety glass - that will not form lethal shards when it breaks. I have heard horror stories about children running into glazed doors with ordinary glass in them (a lot of houses built in the 60's and 70's often have dangerous glazed doors/panels).

Cheers, W2S