Choosing a French Door Threshold Replacement
Thresholds fill in gaps at the bottoms of doors and provide protection against water, draughts, and insects throughout the year. A threshold that is lower is more secure for pushchairs, wheelchairs and prams and connects indoor and outdoor spaces more effectively.
It is important to know the different options when advising customers on the French door threshold options.
Weathered
The threshold of an external door is an essential feature of any door system. It provides protection from the elements and a seamless transition between outdoor and indoor space. However, it is important to find the right balance between safety and fashion when selecting the threshold for an exterior door system. In addition to being necessary to keep the home dry thresholds also play an important role in ensuring the safety of the user. They help prevent tripping and also limit access to those who have mobility issues. There are many threshold options and customers can pick the one that is suitable for their home.
A threshold that is weathered provides excellent weather protection for exterior doors. It also creates a solid barrier that blocks out water, wind, and draughts. This type of threshold is recessed/sunk in the floor with a rise of 14mm. This reduces tripping hazards and creates a solid seal against the weather. Weathered thresholds are recommended for all exterior doors because they provide higher levels of weatherproofing compared to unweathered alternatives. The higher elevation of weathered thresholds can cause them to be unsuitable for certain users, particularly those using wheelchairs or pushchairs/prams.
Unweathered thresholds are typically smaller in height, and many just a few millimetres off the ground, which means they are less likely to present any risk of tripping. They also offer a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors, allowing the two to be connected in a manner that is both accessible and open. They might not provide the same levels of weatherproofing as a weathered option however they are a great choice for homeowners who wish to enhance their home's appearance without sacrificing functionality or security.
If your French doors have an unweathered threshold or planning to replace the threshold, a new one is a DIY project that can help to smooth out the uneven gaps at the bottom of doors and also protect against water ingress and drafts. It is possible to install a new threshold to an existing sill, but the threshold you have previously used will need to be removed first. To remove like this , place a flat bar (aka pry bar) between it and the subsill, and carefully pull up the middle section. If the ends of your threshold are secured to the subsill, you can use a hammer to pull them off of the jambs. After the threshold is removed, clean off any remaining mortar and sand the area to a smooth finish. Before reinstalling the threshold it's recommended to squirt expanding foam sealant underneath it to keep it in place and plug any air gaps.