- Thread starter Martin Hocking
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Martin Hocking
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Top marks sir.
It’s a bit obvious but…
Seems a shame not to go with howlin wolf but I’m going for maximum thread relatability!
Martin Hocking
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Right then boys and girls…
I went a little quiet on this thread, I’ve had a quick flick back through to remind myself where we were.
So the quote came in from the door company at an eye watering 1800 quid installed for a basic grey upvc half glazed door. Yikes! Giving them the benefit of the doubt I guess this is a good example of a quote from a company who are too busy to do the job.
Anyway I tried to get in touch with a company in Norwich who make windows and doors, after using an online tool on their website for building a composite door. Unfortunately I never heard anything back from them. I probably should have tried ringing them but the idea of trying to explain what I wanted over the phone seemed a bit ridiculous. If I had time to go and visit these firms in the week I would have stood more of a chance.
Anyway cutting a long story short I ended up ordering a composite one online from a company called justdoors. It turns out that the timber core doors they sell are made by the solidor company mentioned earlier in the thread and are delivered direct from them. If only they let you order directly from them I’m sure we’d both be better off, but at about half the 1800 quid quote for a posher product I didn't feel too ripped off. 3 weeks later it turned up…
I’d like to point out the fact that I asked for advice from the forum and basically disregarded most of it isn’t lost on me and I mean no disrespect to anyone who’s offered advice but I just needed to get on and buy a door and this seemed like the simplest way for me. Thank you!
I went a little quiet on this thread, I’ve had a quick flick back through to remind myself where we were.
So the quote came in from the door company at an eye watering 1800 quid installed for a basic grey upvc half glazed door. Yikes! Giving them the benefit of the doubt I guess this is a good example of a quote from a company who are too busy to do the job.
Anyway I tried to get in touch with a company in Norwich who make windows and doors, after using an online tool on their website for building a composite door. Unfortunately I never heard anything back from them. I probably should have tried ringing them but the idea of trying to explain what I wanted over the phone seemed a bit ridiculous. If I had time to go and visit these firms in the week I would have stood more of a chance.
Anyway cutting a long story short I ended up ordering a composite one online from a company called justdoors. It turns out that the timber core doors they sell are made by the solidor company mentioned earlier in the thread and are delivered direct from them. If only they let you order directly from them I’m sure we’d both be better off, but at about half the 1800 quid quote for a posher product I didn't feel too ripped off. 3 weeks later it turned up…
I’d like to point out the fact that I asked for advice from the forum and basically disregarded most of it isn’t lost on me and I mean no disrespect to anyone who’s offered advice but I just needed to get on and buy a door and this seemed like the simplest way for me. Thank you!
Martin Hocking
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Right so I got on with fitting the thing this weekend…
First removing the old door and frame…
Simple tools first, which quickly gave way to more serious measures…
Thanks to feline assistance (and the recip saw) the door and inner frame were swept aside.
Then I drank a cup of tea…
Outer frame next, held in place by horrible long flat head screws from days of yore. I’m sure you can use a cordless for them but I never find that works very well, this is what I used instead.
Actually very fitting king dick ratchet which is what I’d feel like if I fluff the door fitting, and Halfords extension which is the car park I’d be sleeping in if I fluffed the door fitting!
Bang and the door is gone!
Next up the metal bar bits in the floor.
I did think about keeping the back one and fitting the door flush up to it but it wasn’t very straight so that plan was scrapped and very much grindings took place…
Four discs later and the bars are flush enough to the floor.
First removing the old door and frame…
Simple tools first, which quickly gave way to more serious measures…
Thanks to feline assistance (and the recip saw) the door and inner frame were swept aside.
Then I drank a cup of tea…
Outer frame next, held in place by horrible long flat head screws from days of yore. I’m sure you can use a cordless for them but I never find that works very well, this is what I used instead.
Actually very fitting king dick ratchet which is what I’d feel like if I fluff the door fitting, and Halfords extension which is the car park I’d be sleeping in if I fluffed the door fitting!
Bang and the door is gone!
Next up the metal bar bits in the floor.
I did think about keeping the back one and fitting the door flush up to it but it wasn’t very straight so that plan was scrapped and very much grindings took place…
Four discs later and the bars are flush enough to the floor.
Martin Hocking
Member
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- Norfolk
Fitting the door itself was a little more frantic as I didn’t start the job til just before lunchtime so I was in a bit of hurry.
I squidged loads of silicone down on the floor and then plopped the door on top. Once I got the door in the hole okay, I carefully opened the door with my other half making sure it didn’t topple over and set my toe jack up, which has become an indispensable ally in all manner of diy tasks…
Now full disclosure I didn’t read the install instructions from solidor so I set about sorting the lock side of the frame first instead of the recommended hinge side. My theory being that if you get that up straight and plumb then the door will hold the other side straight and you just carefully adjust its position with the toe jack.
Anyway having got the first side in place, I set about drilling and screwing. This is where I hit the snag that’s always lurking in any job. My 6mm sds drill bit wasn’t long enough for the concrete screws I bought (I didn’t want to use them but I couldn’t find sheathed ones that seemed right for fitting the frame).
After having a little cry I came up with this solution.
Sorry I took a picture later on.
All seemed to go quite well after solving that and after lots of swearing and muttering, I squidged a load of foam round the frame and called it a day there as it had got dark.
Next morning I got to work trimming up the mess I made the day before.
Then all that was left to do was to fit the trims. I went with 19mm quadrant trim, only difficulty with that was that I had to cut a pair of mitres for the top piece.
Thankfully for reasons I can’t explain I have a little mitre jig.
So with those fitted we’re pretty much done. I need to order some anthracite silicone to run a bead down the trim with and tidy up the inside but we have a door that doesn’t leak and isn’t draughty. That’ll do me!
I squidged loads of silicone down on the floor and then plopped the door on top. Once I got the door in the hole okay, I carefully opened the door with my other half making sure it didn’t topple over and set my toe jack up, which has become an indispensable ally in all manner of diy tasks…
Now full disclosure I didn’t read the install instructions from solidor so I set about sorting the lock side of the frame first instead of the recommended hinge side. My theory being that if you get that up straight and plumb then the door will hold the other side straight and you just carefully adjust its position with the toe jack.
Anyway having got the first side in place, I set about drilling and screwing. This is where I hit the snag that’s always lurking in any job. My 6mm sds drill bit wasn’t long enough for the concrete screws I bought (I didn’t want to use them but I couldn’t find sheathed ones that seemed right for fitting the frame).
After having a little cry I came up with this solution.
Sorry I took a picture later on.
All seemed to go quite well after solving that and after lots of swearing and muttering, I squidged a load of foam round the frame and called it a day there as it had got dark.
Next morning I got to work trimming up the mess I made the day before.
Then all that was left to do was to fit the trims. I went with 19mm quadrant trim, only difficulty with that was that I had to cut a pair of mitres for the top piece.
Thankfully for reasons I can’t explain I have a little mitre jig.
So with those fitted we’re pretty much done. I need to order some anthracite silicone to run a bead down the trim with and tidy up the inside but we have a door that doesn’t leak and isn’t draughty. That’ll do me!
selectedgrub
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Looks good.
Take a bit of aiming to get his head through that one.
Take a bit of aiming to get his head through that one.
Martin Hocking
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The insides white, I could say it was foresight and we wanted to keep it bright inside but I should just tell the truth and say it was so I didn’t put the door in the wrong way round!
Crap photo only from inside…
brewdexta
The biggest tool in the box
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I was a bit reticent to open this thread due to the title, but that's just my dirty mind! 
We had an attempted break in about 15 years ago, we bought a Rockdoor with the mesh inside etc. I fitted it, still going strong although I need to adjust it a bit when the weather gets better. Its a stable door which made it a bit of a fiddle to fit, but worth it in summer.
We had an attempted break in about 15 years ago, we bought a Rockdoor with the mesh inside etc. I fitted it, still going strong although I need to adjust it a bit when the weather gets better. Its a stable door which made it a bit of a fiddle to fit, but worth it in summer.
Ali
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Martin Hocking
Member
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- 458
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- Norfolk
Martin Hocking
Member
- Messages
- 458
- Location
- Norfolk
Thanks bri! I think it’s safe to say my career as a hand model is over!Great job Martin and made more impressive by the pic of a good old dirty grafting hand...love all that me
Martin Hocking
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Thanks smallfry I basically just followed your instructions so thanks for the help.
pedrobedro
Man at Matalan
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You don't have a spy hole in between the two windows 
Nice job there, I had two white doors and a large window fitted last year at £2,500 I wasn't going to do it myself.
Nice job there, I had two white doors and a large window fitted last year at £2,500 I wasn't going to do it myself. 