Thresholds are essential to fill in gaps that are uneven at the bottom of doors. They also offer all-season protection from water, draughts and bugs. A threshold that is lower is safer for wheelchairs, pushchairs/prams and connects indoor and outdoor spaces more seamlessly.
When advising your customers on their french door window replacement door threshold options it is essential to be aware of the various options available.
Weathered
The threshold of an outside door is an important feature of any door. It protects you from the elements as well as an effortless transition from indoor space to outdoor. When selecting the threshold for an external door system, it's important to strike a balance between safety and design. In addition to being essential to keep the home weatherproof, thresholds play an important role in ensuring the safety of the user by preventing tripping and also restricting access to people who have mobility issues or wheelchairs. There are many threshold options that allow customers to pick the one that's suitable for their home.
A threshold that is weathered provides excellent weather protection for doors that are outside. It also creates a solid barrier that keeps out rain as well as wind and draughts. This type threshold is set into the floor and has a 14mm rise. This helps reduce the risk of tripping and provides an effective seal against the weather. Weathered thresholds are recommended for all exterior doors because they provide higher levels of weatherproofing compared to unweathered alternatives. However, the greater height of thresholds that are weathered could make them unsuitable for some users, especially those using wheelchairs or pushchairs/prams.
Unweathered thresholds are usually lower in height, with some only a few millimetres above the ground, which means they are less likely to present any tripping risks. They can also provide a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors, allowing the two to be connected in a way that is both accessible and open. Although they aren't as weatherproof as a weathered option but are perfect for homeowners who wish to improve the aesthetics of their home without sacrificing security or practicality.
If you're planning to replace your french door locking mechanism replacement doors or they have an unweathered threshold, installing a new threshold can be a straightforward DIY project. It can help reduce the unevenness of the gaps at the bottom of the doors and protect against water ingress and drafts. The old threshold must be removed before the new one can be fitted to an existing sill. To remove the old sill, put a flat bar between it and the subsill. Carefully lift the middle section. If the edges of your threshold are nailed to the subsill and you want to remove them, use a hammer to pull them off of the jambs. Once the threshold has been removed, clean away any mortar left behind and sand the area until it has an even finish. It is recommended to squirt an expanding foam sealant under the threshold prior to reinstalling it. This will keep it in place, and fill any air gaps.