A Square Deal (*Rectangular)

Old Door

One locale of terrible, was the back door to the house. It didn't fit the frame properly, so you could see the outside through massive gaps; there was only a deadbolt to open and close it by; and whoever painted the thing originally chose to paint a good portion of the window, rather than tape off and make it look like they cared.

New Door

We found this to be unacceptable - not to mention a pain when heating and cooling.

Katie and my mom were sent to Home Depot to scour the racks for the "perfect door." They came back with a photo of a door. Clearly a picture wouldn't keep elements out, but it was late and Katie had just come back from a longer than scheduled work trip. The next day was Fathers Day, Katie and I hosted brunch on the porch with my parents, hers, and her brother, Matt, came with his wife. After touring the many wings of the house, and eating some tasty baked goods, the men went back to Home Depot to acquire the door in the photo. After flashing Papa 'Sano's military ID and some credit info, we came home with a beautiful Jen Weld door, to literally fill the gap. (Special thanks to the parents for this house warming gift!)

The door has a massive window in it, and between panes of glass are venetian blinds! With the slide of a little handle, you can raise, lower, and shade the view into the back yard. Natural light is one of my favorite lights, so Katie clearly made a great choice.

With appropriations for both deadbolt and door knob, the door was exactly what the freshened kitchen needed to complete the look and keep us safe. (Aside from a nice rug in front of the sink, and some new faucets...) It brings kitchen modifications to closure for the time being.

Installation started Monday when no one else was around, mom had left on Sunday afternoon, and Katie and I were still sleeping at our apartment. Katie was off to work, and I stopped at the house for my morning coffee on my way to the last of two work-days at school. What I found was my head contractor and a wide open back of the house!

No Door

The door was off the hinges, and the frame was almost completely removed from the house. This guy was like lightening, I poured some coffee, counted my plan for the day, and left dad to his passions. While my classroom was finished being packed, he cleared the opening, measured a few times, and prepped the frame.

I stopped in for lunch, to find he was waiting for me to help test fit the new door! It didn't fit - but it only missed by fractions of an inch. Before I headed back to work, we pulled out the bottom door plate and in my absence he lowered it a third of an inch, and framed the door properly. By the time my principal told us to leave, the second fitting was ready.

Lowering the base just a hair.

Just prior to placing the door, we threw the level up against the door frame. The top and bottom were dead on level. The sides were squarely plumb with the gravitation pull of the earth! Solid and square, not bad for a mass produced house from 1950!

We hoisted the door a second time, and wove through the tools and doors to the back yard. The door was set down, it did a pirouette, removed the shipping materials, and gently lifted the beast into the open frame. It fit perfectly!

Following the basics of the directions with the door, we hung the frame, and shimmed the door so that it opened, closed, and chopped vegetables smoothly. The project had taken the better part of a day, but the outcome was dramatic. Finishing the door with moulding and a new set of door knobs (double key deadbolts don't come packaged with key match door knobs, WHY?) and the door looks flawless.

Hardest Worker Ever!

Now we just need a coat of paint.