Shimming a door bottom

Moriartii · 05-03-2011, 03:37 PM

I have an off topic question and with the myriad of knowledge on this board I thought I would ask.

I have a nice wood and glass front door that the vinyl door sweep bottom needs to be replaced. It is one of those types that has the kerfs in the sweep that sets into the door bottom. The issue is, when the builder installed the door they opened it knocking it out of square so I had to plan the bottom of the door.

Herein lies my problem, I need to remove a final 64th of an inch to thickness the door bottom and then cut new kerfs with my router to inset my new door sweep. Question I have though is I need to add a "shim" of material to account for the out of square of the door. I am thinking of using HDPE which meets all the requirements of being outside/weather and the ability to be machined.

Any thoughts?

Cheers
K

Russell James · 05-03-2011, 03:57 PM

I put one of them pricey $2.75 stick on sweeps from Walmart on mine. That and my dog likes to lay in the doorway, pretty much stops the drafts.

Or the fancier way - resquare the door, plane the bottom square, new sweep, maybe raise the threshold up...

05-03-2011, 03:37 PM	#1
Moriartii Drives: 11 IOM 2SS/RS M6 w/Hurst Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 1,269	Shimming a door bottom I have an off topic question and with the myriad of knowledge on this board I thought I would ask. I have a nice wood and glass front door that the vinyl door sweep bottom needs to be replaced. It is one of those types that has the kerfs in the sweep that sets into the door bottom. The issue is, when the builder installed the door they opened it knocking it out of square so I had to plan the bottom of the door. Herein lies my problem, I need to remove a final 64th of an inch to thickness the door bottom and then cut new kerfs with my router to inset my new door sweep. Question I have though is I need to add a "shim" of material to account for the out of square of the door. I am thinking of using HDPE which meets all the requirements of being outside/weather and the ability to be machined. Any thoughts? Cheers K

05-03-2011, 03:57 PM	#2
Russell James Drives: '15 SS 1LE, '69 Z28 drag car Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Mich Posts: 4,482	I put one of them pricey $2.75 stick on sweeps from Walmart on mine. That and my dog likes to lay in the doorway, pretty much stops the drafts. Or the fancier way - resquare the door, plane the bottom square, new sweep, maybe raise the threshold up...