Hi all,
We'd like to add a window to our existing exterior metal door. It seems simple enough; such doors at Home Depot or Lowes appear to have been cut and a window has been added. Our previous door had such a window so we know it's doable.
Anyhow, where can I purchase an insert widow to add to our door? We'd love it to be one with an internal mini-blind but that's not a requirement.
Thanks ahead!
Don
Counting the labor (unless you have the tools and skill set yourself), probably cheaper to buy a new door with the light (window) already in it. How old is your house? Can you determine the brand of the door, like from the hinges or data plate or threshold? If you call around, and maybe go to a real door supply house (vs. the Borg), you may get lucky and find one where all you have to do is swap the door panel and reuse the old frame. To buy the window seperately, you will probably have to order a replacement window through a door specialist, or maybe a glass company. Make sure it is tempered glass- a door slammed by wind or kids or whoever, generates a lot of G forces.
Now if you do want to do it yourself- don't try to do it on the hinges. Take it down, and cover the opening with wood or plastic. Put the door on sawhorses, and do your marking, measuring, and cutting there. If you have never done this before, recommend practicing with sheets of cardboard till you have an exact template of what the hole needs to look like. (No idea if the windows come with a layout sheet.) Measure 3 times before you drill and cut, and take care not to warp the door or leave ripply edges by cutting too fast and scorching the metal- it is suprisingly thin. When you put it together, make sure to use the provided gaskets and/or the right flavor of caulking. Local window company may be willing to do the install on a carried-in door, if you order the window through them.
aem sends....
Not sure where to get them, but we had exactly that done to our house in Toronto 15 years ago. Guy who installed it showed up with a zipgun, cut out the hole without removing the door, put in the insert and was gone in 15 minutes. It is a measure twice, cut one situation, but not as hard as some have made it out to be.
-jim seattlecurlerATcomcast.net
Jim,
That's exactly my take on the project. It's not that big a deal. I have the skills, tools and experiences over more decades than I'd like to admit : ). ("zipgun" = "Sawzall", right? : ) I just need some leads regarding where to find a window kit.
And yes I could replace the entire door but the original installation is a custom job -- not a simple prehung door.
Don
You need to know your door thickness. The kits that screw together work the best IMHO. Call around for a local supplier for door lites. Here is one on the internet that offers the internal blinds:
Just the type of info I'm looking for. The ODL line seems to fit our needs. The closest supplier is 82 miles north in Apache Junction AZ. But beggars can't be choosers : ) I've requested a catalog from ODL and will call the AZ supplier.
Thanks Dan,
Don
"zipgun" = "Sawzall", right?
"zipgun" = "Sawzall", wrong!
No. A zip gun is an air powered impact hammer, a mechanic's favorite for stubborn ball joints, cutting off mufflers, whatever. HTH
Joe
oops, aired on that one : )
Yeah, you really blew it.
on 9/14/2007 3:38 PM DonC said the following:
In the US, it's called an Air Chisel. In the US, a 'zip gun' is/was a hand made gun that was used by street gangs and robbers before hand guns were more readily available, Here we go again!!!
All of these are US based distributors that refer to air chisels as zip guns:
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