Thursday, September 18, 2014

A couple of days of doors

I finished up my week working for some awesome running friends--Michael and Chrissy Whitten. They selected a ThermaTru Classic Craft Rustic Oak door--a two panel plank design with a cherry stain. This is ThermaTru's top-of-the-line door and will last them years and years. The main thing that fails on entry doors is the jamb. The Classic Craft line has composite jambs, and will never rot, split, or warp.

The old door--a fir craftsman style door already has a new home--and is scheduled to be installed for another of my running friends.

Chrissy had me reinstall the dragonfly door knocker, which doubles as a wreath hanger.

Installing entry doors is usually a fairly easy chore for me--but this threshold had been set in a heavy bed of adhesive, and I turned a B+ wood chisel into a D- one chipping all the hardened goo from the slab. I duplicated the glue-bed by emptying a whole tube of SolarSeal 900 and bedded the new threshold permanently onto the slab. Someday, someone may hate me for that--althoughI am sure this door will never be replaced.


I also trimmed off the bottoms of a dozen interior doors which were rubbing on the carpet. Again, this is an easy job--with the right tools. The crucial procedure is setting the doors onto the saw horses and always making sure you're cutting off the correct end of the door. Scoring the cut line with a box knife insures a clean cut and keeps the edge from splintering. A dozen cuts, and a half dozen trips up and down the stairs--and the job was done.

Thank you, Chrissy, for the cookies, company, and pictures.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

ThermaTru doors--the best solution

I am continually impressed with ThermaTru Doors. This is a company that has a wide array of quality door selections. They have a value Traditions steel door, a premium Profiles steel door, a Smooth-Star fiberglass door, a mid priced Fiber Classic in an oak or mahogany grain, and the Classic Craft series is as elegant of door as you'll find anywhere--available in oak, mahogany,  fir, rustic, and canvas grain.

ThermaTru's steel doors are miles better than the big box steel doors-on-the-shelf. Just stop by your ginormous home center and observe all the dents in their steel door displays. With ThermaTru, you have to get raunchy to put a dent in their doors.

There are thousands of glass/door combinations, and while you can spend a lot of time picking out the perfect door, it's easy to select a door that will look awesome on your home.

Why pick a fiberglass door over a steel or wood door? This comparison chart from the ThermaTru website explains it well.

Wood Doors vs. Steel Doors vs. Fiberglass Doors

Even after 25 years, fiberglass remains the most advanced material for entryways — able to satisfy both today’s and tomorrow’s homeowners by giving them the look of wood doors and the strength of steel doors, without the compromises of either. In fact, fiberglass doors offer just what homeowners want* — the optimum combination of security, energy efficiency, performance and aesthetics. Therma-Tru not only pioneered the fiberglass door category but we continue to lead the industry.

Wood Doors

wood doors

Limitations

Cheap Steel Doors

steel doors

Limitations

Fiberglass Doors

fiberglass doors
Limitations
Expensive
Absorbs moisture
Can peel or bubble out
Can bow, warp or twist
Will fade
Not energy efficient
Requires regular maintenance

Advantages
Easily dented
Scratches can lead to rust
Paint chipping can be common
Conducts temperature; cold or hot to the touch




Advantages
None








Advantages
Beautiful wood grain
High end look
Scratches easily repaired
Warm feel and touch
Lower maintenance
No cracking or bowing
Less expensive
Energy efficient
Good insulating value
Secure
Lowest maintenance
Resists denting and scratching
Offers wood grain and smooth finish look
Won’t rot, deteriorate or rust
Energy efficient
Can be painted or stained
Won’t warp, bow or twist
Five times the insulation value of wood
Secure

ThermaTru.com has a build-your-door generator which lets you play with the different door grains and glass packages. Add in a transom and sidelights to see how it'll look. We would love to help you in selecting a door for your house--whether it be an elegant door with transoms or sidelights, a french door to replace that old sliding patio door, or just a simple single door. 

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Work stuff that's running-related

I have not been running much, but I have been around it. My super-great friends at RunnersWorld are moved into their new huge multi-faceted store, and I have helped build some of their displays. 
This has been fun--getting to hang out with friends and such. Plus--it's been some inside work on super cold days--BONUS!!


No, I did not move or create the signs. It involved wiring, and the extent of my electrical expertise is plugging an extension cord into a wall socket.


I do have some expertise in spending money at Lowe's and Home Depot though!!



These 2'x 8' shelves were a snap, but were heavy to move. We joked about them getting double-duty as coffins.

This was actually an unpopular post on Facebook. (There were a few peeps who were less than amused.)


Building the cash wrap was a huge challenge. I can't say I breezed through it. I actually have a bald spot from scratching  my head  and saying "hmmmmm."


The marble top had to be reused, as did the counter-top on the inside of the half round structure. I made the walls to fir the marble, before considering the curve of the counter-top. It was a tighter curve. (More head scratching here.) However, with some minor modifications and some good fortune, it all came together.


Weighing 10,000 lbs, this fixture will never move. In case of a tornado, this would be a good shelter.


Besides my poor skills with electrical wiring, my plumbing skills also suck. The most skillful feat of plumbing on my resume is remembering to put the seat down, and I only get a C- on that.. Kathy had this vision of displays made out of galvanized steel pipes. (Could that be called a "pipe dream"?) I think she could have built all of these pipe displays herself, but I was eager to lend a hand. I was confident I could fit these pipes together and guarantee they would not leak.


Kathy wasted no time in filling these racks up.


Notice the metal trim on the edge of the plywood. That is steel shelf tracking, and Kathy thought it would look good along the edge of the wood. It DOES look good. The girl has the knack.


Kathy, as well as Derk and Barbara have worked their hineys off getting the store put together, and it is awesome. This series of projects was a great challenge, and I loved every bit of it.