Fix French Doors Gap

Why do i need an astragal for my french doors.

Fix french doors gap.

Because one or both of the french doors are moving many traditional weatherstripping solutions just don t apply. Turn the upper hinge adjustment screw to even out the gap. An astragal is a vertical strip which attaches to the inactive door panel locking it in place. Endura kerfed double bulb door bottom.

You can learn more about astragal systems in our blog. Nail it to one of the doors using small wood nails so that it overlaps the other door by about one half inch covering the gap. This adjustment works well if you have a gap between the french doors or the latch mechanism doesn t connect. Door sweeps reinforce the seal between the bottom of the door and the door jamb meaning you get extra protection from dirt bugs moisture and wind.

Over time french doors will start to loosen in their frame and hang crooked making it difficult to open or close. Do this on both doors. It s not uncommon for a gap or crack to exist where the two doors come together. Place nails about every 5 inches.

An astragal is an essential piece of hardware for your french doors. The problem seems to be the astragal in these older french doors. The hinges should be flush with the jamb and move freely. If you ve made your adjustments to the hinges and you still feel a draft coming inside you may need to add new weatherstripping on the inactive door to seal it.

That s the extra piece attached to the stationary door where the 2 doors meet in the middle it allows for the stationary door to bolt into the frame top and bottom and also has a lip to stop the moving door and cover the gap between the doors. Paint the entire french door set including the insulated molding for a professional finished look. Luckily leveling your doors is as easy as tightening or loosening your hinges until the doors are back in place. And the stop and the strike plate should be correctly aligned so the door s latch easily clicks into the hole in the strike plate when the door closes.

How to fix uneven french doors. Cover the nail heads with wood putty and sand them smooth. Inspect the gap at the edge of the door and the. To get that satisfying thunk when a door closes rather than rattles squeaks or scrapes there must be an even gap between the door and the jamb all around.

A gap between the bottom of the front door and the threshold is easily fixed with a door sweep.