New Front Entry Door - Is This Normal?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Hi everyone. I was so excited to get my new front entry door and sidelites. It is a steel door, custom painted, and replacing an old un-insulated door and single-pane sidelites. But I was surprised after the door was installed to see how much of the deadbolt and the latchbolt are visible. My old door did not show these at all. And I don't recall being able to see so clearly the deadbolt and latchbolt in other doors in homes I've lived in. The lips of the strike plates are also very visible. With that much space, am I getting a lot of air infiltration? Or is this amount of space normal?

Featured Answer

millworkman

9 years ago

The reason the latches and strikes are more pronounced is with steel or some textured fiberglass doors the edges are rounded and generally "skinned" with a wood edge giving a more open look. If you were to look at a wood door you would have a hard square edge without the rounding and the hardware parts would be less visible. But that being what it is, the install looks good from here.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

millworkman
9 years ago
What is the reveal on the hinge side? It looks very even which is a good thing and looks fairly normal from here but please take a couple of steps back and show us the entire unit.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
Here is a pic of the entire door. I am also unsure because the entry area is colder than I expected - it's about a 4 or 5-degree difference from the rest of the house, and outside it's not windy or super cold right now. Also they added wood trim around the door/sidelites that is wider than the trim of the previous door, and the installer said it was to cover up the rough area from the difference in space from the previous unit? (sorry, I didn't really understand him).
Related Discussions
putting new door knobs on entry doors
Q
Comments (1)
I think it depends on the thickness of the door whether a standard lock will fit. I would take one off and take it to a harware store and try to match it up.
...See More
New entry door, garage door, & color scheme. Welcoming suggestions!
Q
Comments (3)
Yes, replacing all windows but not the arched window. So you think it would be okay to do dark framed windows on the front of the house and white on the back?
...See More
front door Entrance style & Color for a new front door
Q
Comments (2)
I hope the walkway planned is at least 4’ wide. With a white house, I think you could really play with a front door color. You need a landscaping plan and the plants can echo the door color.
...See More
Order of instal for a new front door and redoing front entry interior
Q
Comments (1)
IMO you need to have a space weather tight befor doing flooring is that the question? I need to see the original doorway and the one you ar eplanning , how much work will be involved for instance. No it does not matter what season the door should be done properly no matter what seaon it is installed In Canada I like steel doors in a factory finish . I guess I would get the space ready for the new flooring but wait until the door is in before doing the flooring
...See More
PRO
Windows on Washington Ltd
9 years ago
Reveal looks a tiny bit tight on the middle hinge side but that is being nit picky to be honest.

Reveals look pretty good otherwise. As long as the weatherstripping is under compression and sealed, should be good.

Ask the installer about an adjustment if you would like to.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
OK, thanks so much. I wish I knew why it is still cold in the entryway. Anyway, they have to come back because the burglar guard strike plate is a brushed chrome finish, but the order was for polished brass (correct for the hinges and door knob and lock).

There are also chips in the paint which occurred during installation along the bottom of the frame and near the top hinge. I'll post a pic of one of them. That paint is from the factory - how would it get touched up? I don't have the paint.
PRO
HomeSealed Exteriors, LLC
9 years ago
Good advice above, as long as those reveals are consistent and you have a good seal (no visible light coming through) you look to be in good shape. On the touch up, ask the installation company. They should be able to come out and touch that up with the factory paint when they do the other hardware replacement.
User
Original Author
9 years ago
I have to take back my comment above about the touch-up. I just realized the company left 2 bottles of touch-up paint for me--one for the outside color and one for the inside color (the bottles are very small and were on the floor in the corner so I didn't see them).

HomeSealed - yes the reveals are consistent, and I must have a good seal, cause when I open the door there is sort of a "sucking" feeling before the door opens. And I mean that in a good way! :)