[chigundo]

I have the original wood plank door that leads out the bilco/hatchway. It lets tons of air in the winter.. I tried sealing it up with some weatherstripping but that didn't help much. And based on the existing framing and it's distance from the concrete step, I'm not sure how to fit a pre-hung steel door down there.. or if it's better to try and just attach a non-pre-hung door ?

Any tips or sites with pictures on this kind of project? Surprisingly I haven't had any luck finding what I need for direction.

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[joecaption]

Simplest way would be to make a new door but this time use T X G boards, and add door stop moulding or at least 1 X 4's to the step side of the door jambs where you could attach some weather stripping.
A door that size and that heavy also should have had three hindges not two.

 

[oh'mike]

I installed a prehung exterior door in a short exit like that----

You need to have some patience--I cut the door---and the jambs and reinstalled the threshold---and added a new aluminum door bottom---

A few new boards were coped into the foundation---glued and screwed with Tapcons--

That was about 5 years back--I saw the door recently--owner said it is still nice and tight.

 

[chigundo]

Mike, I'm thinking that's the route to take.. did you cut the jamb WIDTH to tuck it in there? I was thinking that too.

Or I could add some 2x4's to build out a jamb that would fit a pre-hung.. it'll look weird but get the job done I think, no?

 

[chigundo]

Well, I still haven't done anything with this yet.. and now that' it's freezing out I'm motivated again. Just checking back to see if there's any other tips before I just put up some foam temporarily.

 

[oh'mike]

Step back and post a picture of the entire opening from the inside and the outside---then give us the height and width----

If a standard door could be cut down to fit,the job could be done ----