Converting drafty double door into a much warmer single door with glass block side lights.
This door cost $364 and the glass blocks were another $100 or so. The wood was around $100. Other materials maybe another $100. If you were to price out this door at Marvin it would be close to $5000. Here we came in at under $700 for components. Trickiest parts were setting the glass blocks in place uniformly, and finishing off the outside with the aluminum trim, weaving it in with the vinyl siding. That skill set takes quite a long time to acquire. Old drafty double door shown above $364 36x80 fiberglass entry door from Home Depot above Notch in house frame on top due to bow in header Lagged 2x8 treated lumber into slab foundation with lots of silicone between slab and threshold Lowes glass blocks Center the entry door and add a few horizontal 2x6 members to make it easier to finish Use 1/2\" plywood temporary panels on both side to help with keeping the glass blocks in alignment when you start positioning the blocks into place. A brick layer I am not. Left one glass block off the very bottom allowing for a raised panel look which will be seen in later images Doesn't look like much at this stage. Glass blocks on right side are all set in grout and the left side are shimmed into place waiting to be grouted Shim city https://preview.redd.it/60ootrcx10ke1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=629e129d8b10027978f3db81b636f9158450b292 Glass blocks finally in and ready to start trimming inside and outside I kept intact on preying door frame the brick-mold that came with door and will use some square edge pine to finish off the outside as will be seen later. Notice here how I mated the vinyl siding with the door frame. I used my aluminum brake to bend custom J-channel. I put the j-channel on before finishing off the exterior trim. Super important procedurally. Very tough to do the aluminum work after the trim is on. Storm before the calm. Getting those neat lines along the inside edges of the vinyl siding is not easy task. That is, I believe, the hardest part believe it or not. Laying glass block isn't my forte, bending aluminum is. Ready for trim Made some picture frame trim with snap I had around the shop Finished look || || |||| |||| Finished look painted in white. Door, glass block and associated parts came to less than $700 whereas a finished door like this bought assembled will cost up close to $5000. This is a fiberglass 36x80 door in the middle, prehung. Tight budget trim work on the inside keeping the final price down. This is the basement for heating system with no stairs going up to the first floor. submitted by /u/joejoecorr [link] [comments]
