Our back door seems to be shorter than usual, with a height of 1943mm - whereas replacement doors seem to be all at least 1981mm tall. I'm sure that removing almost 4cm from the top rails would not be wise. On the other hand, the metal weather plate (I think that's what it's called) is quite deep and if we could replace it with a less deep one we probably get away without having to take too much off the height of the door.
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anyone know where you can get low profile weather plates - or whatever they are called?
You don't remove the waste from the top of the door to fit the patent waterbar, you take it from the bottom rail - and with a 9" (230mm) bottom rail, and a 11/2" (28mm) cut is not excessive.
To explain, and I presume that you have a standard panelled back door as opposed to a flush door:
Remove the old door and waterbar.
Fit the new door as normal - get a good, neat fit to the top and both edges (ignore the waterbar at this stage)
Cut out for and fit the hinges and hang the door and make sure the fit is as it should be.
Now measure and mark the height of the waterbar on the door from the top of the cill, remove the door and cut the bottom rail of the door as necessary, rehang the door, temporarily fit the waterbar and and try the door for fit.
Carry out and adjustments as needed, apply mastic where necessary and fix the waterbar int position.
Cut for, and fit the rest of the ironmongery.
Fit any glass.
You can buy and fit low profile patent weatherbars from either a good builders merchant, local ironmongers or you may even find them in the local d-i-y store.
This is a simplified version of events, but it should give you an idea of what's involved.
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