The door from the garage into the back yard, not used especially often, is a
builder's special which after several decades has "seen better days", as they
say. And the framing around it was hit by termites quite severely - I think I
nuked them but the frame is heavily damaged.

After digesting everything I could read on the internet, I think I'd like to
put a steel door there, but not the typical dents-easily 26 gauge guy; I'd
rather pay a few bucks more for a 20 gauge unit.

But I'm having trouble locating a source here in Southern California. I read
a well-written recommendation for the products by a company called Precision,
but they don't seem to have a presence out here.

Can anyone suggest a means of getting a decent non-ornate heavy steel pre-hung
door around here, or brands that I might consider? This has been a
surprisingly futile search target.

Art

On Oct 10, 3:55?pm, (Arthur Shapiro) wrote:
The door from the garage into the back yard, not used especially often, is a
builder's special which after several decades has "seen better days", as they
say. And the framing around it was hit by termites quite severely - I think I
nuked them but the frame is heavily damaged.

After digesting everything I could read on the internet, I think I'd like to
put a steel door there, but not the typical dents-easily 26 gauge guy; I'd
rather pay a few bucks more for a 20 gauge unit.

But I'm having trouble locating a source here in Southern California. I read
a well-written recommendation for the products by a company called Precision,
but they don't seem to have a presence out here.

Can anyone suggest a means of getting a decent non-ornate heavy steel pre-hung
door around here, or brands that I might consider? This has been a
surprisingly futile search target.

Art

have you tried home depot, ask for fire door, heavily built to
withstand near anything, although my regular steel front door is
plenty heavy. they can be ordered with no windows etc, and are
affordable

"Arthur Shapiro" wrote in message
...
The door from the garage into the back yard, not used especially often, is
a
builder's special which after several decades has "seen better days", as
they
say. And the framing around it was hit by termites quite severely - I
think I
nuked them but the frame is heavily damaged.

After digesting everything I could read on the internet, I think I'd like
to
put a steel door there, but not the typical dents-easily 26 gauge guy; I'd
rather pay a few bucks more for a 20 gauge unit.

But I'm having trouble locating a source here in Southern California. I
read
a well-written recommendation for the products by a company called
Precision,
but they don't seem to have a presence out here.

Can anyone suggest a means of getting a decent non-ornate heavy steel
pre-hung
door around here, or brands that I might consider? This has been a
surprisingly futile search target.

Art

Many retail stores have doors just like that for their behind-the-building
delivery entrances. When you called around to some builder's supply
companies to inquire about such doors, what did you find out?

In article , "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:

Many retail stores have doors just like that for their behind-the-building
delivery entrances. When you called around to some builder's supply
companies to inquire about such doors, what did you find out?

No calls yet - only internet scrutiny and this posted enquiry.

I hadn't elaborated, but hope to find a door with a smallish window in the
upper third to give some light into the garage. (Was I using the wrong term
when I called it a "utility door"?) Most behind-the-building guys seem to be
solid/windowless.

Art

Arthur Shapiro wrote:
In article , "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:

Many retail stores have doors just like that for their behind-the-building
delivery entrances. When you called around to some builder's supply
companies to inquire about such doors, what did you find out?

No calls yet - only internet scrutiny and this posted enquiry.

I hadn't elaborated, but hope to find a door with a smallish window in the
upper third to give some light into the garage. (Was I using the wrong term
when I called it a "utility door"?) Most behind-the-building guys seem to be
solid/windowless.

Any building supply will have them in stock. It's simply a metal entry
door. In any metro area, they're also bound to be a zillion places that
manufacture them locally as well -- in fact, the building suppliers
probably buy them from a local rather than national.

You can get them w/ whatever you want for 'lites'. If it's a standard
2x4 framing wall and a standard opening, should be able to get one
simply walking in and carrying out.

Yellow pages are your friend...

--

Arthur Shapiro wrote:
The door from the garage into the back yard, not used especially often, is a
builder's special which after several decades has "seen better days", as they
say. And the framing around it was hit by termites quite severely - I think I
nuked them but the frame is heavily damaged.

After digesting everything I could read on the internet, I think I'd like to
put a steel door there, but not the typical dents-easily 26 gauge guy; I'd
rather pay a few bucks more for a 20 gauge unit.

But I'm having trouble locating a source here in Southern California. I read
a well-written recommendation for the products by a company called Precision,
but they don't seem to have a presence out here.

Can anyone suggest a means of getting a decent non-ornate heavy steel pre-hung
door around here, or brands that I might consider? This has been a
surprisingly futile search target.

Art
Big-box store is unlikely to carry them, since few DIYs want
commercial-style utility doors. Rather than mess with their annoying
special-order process, try a 'real' lumberyard or supply house that
caters to the trade. A door with thicker-gauge metal will also likely
come with a metal frame, designed to be set into a masonry wall. If you
want a regular wood frame and brickmold so you can switch it yourself,
you will likely have to go with a premium residential brand.

You are definitely right about switching the entire assembly, though.
The side door to my garage is in similar sad shape, and has been on my
to-do list since I bought this place. I wanna wait till I can add an
eyebrow canopy above it, and a concrete or paver splash block in front
of it, before I switch it, though. As exposed to weather and rain splash
as the location is, it would just trash out the new door in short order.
For the time being, I just keep it blocked off.

aem sends...

Check in the yellow pages for your local area, you should be able to locate
a manufacturer/wholesaler/building materials supplier who can supply such a
door. I think calling it a utility door is your problem, most are actually
fire doors or at least made by companies that make fire doors. A call to
them will tell you if they have such a beast, or who carries such a product,
most likely an industrial building materials supplier. Possibly you could
obtain their web site if they have one to select a particular door to fit
your needs.

"Arthur Shapiro" wrote in message
...
The door from the garage into the back yard, not used especially often, is
a
builder's special which after several decades has "seen better days", as
they
say. And the framing around it was hit by termites quite severely - I
think I
nuked them but the frame is heavily damaged.

After digesting everything I could read on the internet, I think I'd like
to
put a steel door there, but not the typical dents-easily 26 gauge guy; I'd
rather pay a few bucks more for a 20 gauge unit.

But I'm having trouble locating a source here in Southern California. I
read
a well-written recommendation for the products by a company called
Precision,
but they don't seem to have a presence out here.

Can anyone suggest a means of getting a decent non-ornate heavy steel
pre-hung
door around here, or brands that I might consider? This has been a
surprisingly futile search target.

Art

You probably won't find what you are after at the box stores or a
lumber yard.

some of the brand names you seek a

Ceco http://www.cecodoor.com/
Republic http://www.republicdoor.com/states/ca.htm
Steelcraft http://www.steelcraft.com/

Look in your yellow pages under commercial hardware.

Steel door runs about $250 and the jambs about $100, set of hinges
(1 1/2 pair) about $30, hardware of your choosing - mortise or
cylinder, make sure the door is prepped for what you need.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Arthur Shapiro" wrote in message
...
The door from the garage into the back yard, not used especially
often, is a
builder's special which after several decades has "seen better
days", as they
say. And the framing around it was hit by termites quite
severely - I think I
nuked them but the frame is heavily damaged.

After digesting everything I could read on the internet, I think
I'd like to
put a steel door there, but not the typical dents-easily 26
gauge guy; I'd
rather pay a few bucks more for a 20 gauge unit.

But I'm having trouble locating a source here in Southern
California. I read
a well-written recommendation for the products by a company
called Precision,
but they don't seem to have a presence out here.

Can anyone suggest a means of getting a decent non-ornate heavy
steel pre-hung
door around here, or brands that I might consider? This has
been a
surprisingly futile search target.

Art

"Arthur Shapiro" wrote in message
...
In article , "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Many retail stores have doors just like that for their behind-the-building
delivery entrances. When you called around to some builder's supply
companies to inquire about such doors, what did you find out?

No calls yet - only internet scrutiny and this posted enquiry.


The internet (or internets, if you're an idiot and live in a White House)
is/are bull****, if you live in a busy place like Southern California or NYC
or Baltimore or Boston. People who need people are the luckiest people in
the world. Pick up the phone and talk to some people.