Making a Front Door heads the to do list
(All the Door design, build, details, videos etc. are POSTED HERE)
A new year and fresh resolve to get some jobs finished. I’ve bought the timber for making my sliding sash windows and got pressed in to another job.
Whilst I was getting a big order for timber together, the wife asked me about the front door I said I was going to make. So I added a few extra length to order and now I’ve got another job on the list.
Never mind, I’ll enjoy it when I’ve started. The trouble is starting, I’ve spent hours trying to get my head around Sketchup and only managed a visual representation.
Sketchup of Front Door
After spending ages creating this I literally went back to the drawing board. Within half an hour I had got all the proportions right and all the dimensions for the timber sections. Paper and pencil, a fantastic combination.
Link to the full details Timber Front Door design details. Includes- using the Golden Ratio to get the proportions right.
Hi Andy,
That door’s looking quite good. I have a couple of points you may want to consider…
What will you be making this from?
If it’s softwood, you may want to alter your dimensions depending on the sawn sizes – eg. 4″x2″ gives a finished size of 95mmx45mm for the stiles and muntins (that’s what most joinery firms do). It saves wasting extra wood… Then again, it can be beneficial to have that extra – in case the boards are badly bowed or you have dead knots on one edge.
Bottom rails would typically be between 170mm-195mm finished. Mid-rails slightly narrower; between 145mm-170mm.
You’ll also want to look at where you’ll be positioning the handle. I think 900mm is generally about right for most people (or was it 1m?) but, I’ve seen many doors where the handles are awkwardly low. Some people will centre these on the mid-rails and chop in to the mortise and tenon joint; others will design the door so they’re only cut in to the stile above.
Have you checked out the FENSA regs?
http://www.fensa.org.uk/
I look forward to seeing this one progress. Should be a good work out for your router!
Olly.
Hi Olly,
We’re on a similar hymn sheet with the dimensions.
Have a look here
I cut the stiles and muntins from 50 x 175, as I needed the off cuts for my windows. They ended up 105mm, bottom rail 175 and mid rail 140.
I’ll be fitting a rim latch (so not having to cut in to the mid rail mortise and tenon) mounted at the mid rail height. But as I can’t find these with 5 lever locks, I’ll fit a 5 lever deadlock in the stile below the joint.
Thanks for the FENSA link, as far as I can tell the if it’s less than 50% glazed I can ignore officialdom.
The router got it’s work out, see my head cam post on the blog, or it will be on the web site soon.
Cheers
Andy
Well it’s coming along nicely. The door is ready for painting now. There will be pause before it’s fully finished as the other half is going to working on the leaded glass.
That will give me a change to catch up on the coverage. So Far I’ve posted:
Timber Exterior Door Design
DIY External Door Design and Proportions
Door Tenon Theory and cutting
Door Mortise Marking and Cutting
Timber Door Fox Wedging mortise and tenon joints
Hi Andy
We’ve been following this journey of yours with great admiration. For someone who hasn’t done a project like this you’ve done an awesome job.
Well done mate and keep up the great work both on projects and videoing.
Marc
PS, Great website too!
Thanks Marc,
And Thanks for starting the thread Over at GET WOODWORKING. The folks there are really friendly and encouraging. I’ve learn’t a lot from talking to them and seeing their work. I hope my contributions give something back.
Cheers Andy
Hi Andy,
That was a very interesting demo. You have practical solutions to achieving great results with limited tools on a budget.
Thank You
David
Andy.
You do a great job with both the written work as well as the graphics on the computer to show the method of work. And the quality of your videos productions are great. I IY perslucky to do Woodworking and General Construction for a living for the past 35 years. But for the weekend DIY’er they should have no problem following your directions. I enjoy check out sites such as yours to see how others vary in their methods of work.. I try to keep a open mind and look for ways I might be able to improve my ways of doing the same job. Over the years new materials and tools have been developed. As well the consumers are better educated today. A lot of this is due to the easy access to information via the internet. To be competitive the contractors today need to keep ahead what is changing in our industry just to keep up with what are customers are looking for when thy seek us out.
Thanks for a great site,
Ed
Thanks Ed,
I realy appreciate your comments. It makes a big difference to know folks are finding the information clear and interesting. It gives me the motivation to keep going.
Cheers
Andy
Well, Well, Well, ……….
I’ve been searching for days, months for this info.
A goldmine at last!
Many Many thanks, Andy, for your time and effort in sharing you project in such a clear and varied way. (Head cams, videos and illustrations)
I was hesitating on making my own doors and windows for my Lean-Too, but now I will go right ahead.
Sketchup takes a while to get to grips but the tutorial videos help. Worth the time to get up and running on.
Gordon
Thanks Gordon,
Your “Lean Too”. I’d call it a Fantastic Timber Conservatory. Stunning work.
Your stained glass is an inspiration as well!
Hope your door works out well
Andy
Andy, your written instructions and drawings are excellent and the videos better the ‘New Yankee Workshop’. I am nearly 65, just retired and hoping to take up some woodwork. What I have seen here only drives me on to get going – many thanks for your inspiration.
paul
Thanks Paul, Good luck with your new hobby, I’m sure you’ll find it relaxing, enjoyable and productive.
Andy
Love your work.
Don’t know what’s more impressive though, your woodwork or your video work.
Great to watch.
Cheers
Hope it meets them all important U values!
Gregg
Greg,
Are you telling me that replacement doors have to meet Building Regs?
I don’t think so in this case, it’s a replacement door, less than 50% Glazed.
Let me know if there’s more to it than I think.
Cheers
Andy
Thank You!