Expert: Nazim Nice - 1/14/2010

Question
Hi, I first want to thatnk you for doing this, I really appreciate you folks volunteering your time to answer so many questions:)   Ok, I have inherited my grandmothers house (built in 1935) a long time ago my grandfather enclosed the front porch, which (half due to termites) I now want to open again, however that means the "front" door will be gone leaving sliding glass doors. Can I just take the sliding doors off and put double or french doors in? If not, what do u recomend? The house is 1/2 block from the beach(in Florida) so the doors would have to withstand salt air & hurricanes. Thank you again for ur time, Leah

Answer
Hi Leah,

I don't immediately see why you could not replace the sliding glass doors with french doors to serve as a new front door. Being from Seattle, I'm not too familiar with Florida design, or your local codes, but I have noticed that many of your front doors swing out instead of in. I presume this is better in a hurricane, but you may want to check on this before purchasing the doors.  Also, you'll want to find out what the rough opening is for the new door, since the sliding door and frame will need to be completely removed, and a new french door with frame will be installed. It will of course be easier if you get a new door that will fit within the existing framing.  To do this, you may need to remove the door, measure, then order a new door.  While you are waiting for the door, either reinstall the old door or put up some temporary plywood. Check with a knowledgeable local door supplier for other codes and requirements, especially type of glass to use if it needs to be hurricane resistant.  On a design note, if you have multiple french doors, but only one is the real front door, you may want to establish some hierarchy so that visitors know which is the front door.  This may be as simple as a doorbell to the side of the front door, or a door mat, or some other signifier of which door is the right one to knock at.

Good Luck!

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
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