Large Sapele Doors

[Doug71]

Just after an opinion/reassurance on a job I am doing.

A customer has asked me to make a pair of external sapele doors and frame. The outside measurements of frame are about 91" high x 77" wide (hope we all okay with imperial, nice round numbers), this will mean each door will be about 87" high x 36" wide, doors will be double glazed, full glass (pattern 10). Was thinking 5" x 2.5" stiles & top rail with 10" bottom rail.

Do you think this sounds okay, just need a bit of reassurance as they are so tall?

Is it worth putting 4 hinges on each door?

Thanks in advance,

Doug

 

[RobinBHM]

2210 x 914 in new money!

prob ok if 58mm thick doors.

4 hinges per door definitely

sections sizes sound about right. Double tenon at bottom

probably worth putting silicone on back of rebate before putting in glass as when set it will help the glass act as a structural element reducing dropping.

I would want to use a multipoint lock -sash lock wouldnt pressurize the weatherseal on doors that size

 

[Doug71]

Hi Robin, hoped you would chip in Just using a rebated sash lock to match other existing doors, both doors will have bolts on back at top and bottom to match others. Using aquamac 21 in flat of frame rebate so doors won't need to compress back to it. Doors will never really be used so thinking of some kind of wedge underneath that they can rest on? I
Will have a macclex type cill at bottom.

Thanks, Doug

 

[RobinBHM]

I'm not sure I would worry about the doors dropping, with an Exitex Macclex cill if the door drops it will only bind on the rubber. I would however test the doors in the frame and shoot the doors so they are only just touching the bottom rubber. I find the dimensions given make the door bind, so we always make a larger gap

If you are using a rebated sash lock, then you will definitely need shoot bolts on slave and master doors. Note that may cause a problem if the doors are open in as the doors will be flush to frame on top and bottom, unless you can add on a packer at top on and bottom for the keep.

Using aquamac as a wiper seal will reduce force needed for sealing although all of the pressure is where the 2 stiles meet and using aquamac 21 in that position is best used as a compression seal rather than a wiper.

My experience is that big full height glass doors are less of a problem than big doors with a mid rail. I think that the mortice hole mid way up a stile can introduce a bow sometimes that was not present in the PAR timber.