sleepy hollow
04-06-2005, 05:35 AM
I am finishing my basement and want to replace my current doors. I have a walk out basement with 5' wide by 80" high double steel doors. Both doors swing in. They open to a stairwell that is about 5 feet below grade.
This is the northeast side of the house and is heavily shaded by woods that come right up to the house. So, there is little sunlight and lots of opportunity for mold and wood rot. Even the 20-yr old painted steel doors have extensive rust pitting on them (cosmetic only). Mold grows happily on the concrete and siding. We bleach this area about once per year and it looks great for about 60 days.
I will be replacing the doors and would appreciate any advice/suggestions. HD has a Masonite fiberglass door that I can get for about $800 or I can spend $1800 for Andersen aluminum clad pine.
I installed a pair of Loewen French outswing doors on either side of my FR fireplace about 3 years ago and thay are very nice. Cost about the same as the Andersen and I think they are superior in many ways.
Anyway, this is the basement, and it opens to my (soon to exist) workshop. I want full glass as the backdrop is very pleasant and private. I also need both doors operable to allow for moving large objects in and out. But I don't ever want to worry about maintenance issues due to high moisture/humidity on that side of the house. I also do not want to spend a fortune. Hoping to keep it around $1K or so. But, money is not a problem if the right solution costs more.
Thoughts, please? If I go with fiberglass, should I opt for smooth or rough texture? I was thinking smooth would be best for reducing surface area for mold, though I think the rough would look better - more like wood.
thanks
This is the northeast side of the house and is heavily shaded by woods that come right up to the house. So, there is little sunlight and lots of opportunity for mold and wood rot. Even the 20-yr old painted steel doors have extensive rust pitting on them (cosmetic only). Mold grows happily on the concrete and siding. We bleach this area about once per year and it looks great for about 60 days.
I will be replacing the doors and would appreciate any advice/suggestions. HD has a Masonite fiberglass door that I can get for about $800 or I can spend $1800 for Andersen aluminum clad pine.
I installed a pair of Loewen French outswing doors on either side of my FR fireplace about 3 years ago and thay are very nice. Cost about the same as the Andersen and I think they are superior in many ways.
Anyway, this is the basement, and it opens to my (soon to exist) workshop. I want full glass as the backdrop is very pleasant and private. I also need both doors operable to allow for moving large objects in and out. But I don't ever want to worry about maintenance issues due to high moisture/humidity on that side of the house. I also do not want to spend a fortune. Hoping to keep it around $1K or so. But, money is not a problem if the right solution costs more.
Thoughts, please? If I go with fiberglass, should I opt for smooth or rough texture? I was thinking smooth would be best for reducing surface area for mold, though I think the rough would look better - more like wood.
thanks