entry door with 12 inch rough opening for transom

9 years ago

Our front door needs to be replaced. It has 2 twelve inch sidelights and a rather short transom with only 7 inches of exposed glass and a 12 inch rough opening for the transom. We are having trouble locating a replacement door that isn't a custom solid wood door that would cost an arm and a leg. We can't reframe the doorway opening with more height (in order to get a standard stock door) because we just don't have enough ceiling height. Any suggestions?

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Comments (6)

PRO
Interior Affairs -- Vickie Daeley
9 years ago
I would get rid of the sidelights and get a larger door..
eewal
Original Author
9 years ago
the door is currently standard width at 36 inches. A wider door would be custom (and too wide). A double door would mean redoing the steps to the door. A taller standard size door (8ft) would open 3 inches below the ceiling… if we could even get the framing to fit.
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delyanks
9 years ago
What is wrong with it? You should be able to replace each item without a problem. If nothing it wrong with the transom window then keep it. If it's just the door then just replace it. We ordered a Masonite which was reasonably priced and the sidelights and transom window was separate because our builder ordered every piece wrong. They just installed it and replaced each item with the right piece when they came in.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
9 years ago
You should be able to get a double door that would fit in the opening available when you remove the side lights and then just leave the transom alone. Something like these would work and no need to foo anything about thesteps for now.
bungalowmo
9 years ago
Try Architectural salvage shops. Often times, their doors are special sizes. Certainly not made to the size of a standard door today. You can also find full sets with sidelights & the surround as well.
PRO
Linda
9 years ago
Your entryway is very charming and I don't see an obvious reason for replacing the door...what is wrong with it that cannot be fixed?

Check out demolition sales, Craigslist, ReStore and other architectural salvage places for an older door if yours can't be fixed