How to Make an Exterior Door Threshold | Ask This Old House

In this video, Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert shows how to close the gap caused by a new floor in an older home with a new threshold. SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse. Nathan Gilbert helps a homeowner deal with a gap at their front door caused by new hardwood flooring. After assessing the issue, Nathan explains that cutting the door and raising the threshold is the solution that the homeowner is looking for. Nathan shows the homeowner the red oak he plans to use, as well as how he’ll mill it to fit both the doorway and the hardwood floor. Estimated Time: 3 hours Cost: $75 Skill Level: Moderate Shopping list: Safety glasses [https://amzn.to/3p0T4G2] Ear protection [https://amzn.to/3iWQdtQ] N-95 mask [https://amzn.to/3DCnVg5] Desired type of lumber Wood sealant [https://amzn.to/3aOEo4J] Painter’s tape [https://amzn.to/3azg1b6] Construction adhesive [https://amzn.to/3iZK28j] Polyurethane adhesive [https://amzn.to/30exNOI] Doorstop [https://thd.co/3BHGnUe] Weatherstripping [https://thd.co/3FGVjUX] Tools: Tape measure [https://amzn.to/3lASSuY] Carpenter scribe tool [https://amzn.to/3iYrA05] Track saw [https://bit.ly/3FTisUi] Sliding compound miter saw [https://amzn.to/3oZ4aLR] Table saw [https://amzn.to/3v6K5UV] Jigsaw [https://amzn.to/3BHA4zK] Sandpaper [https://amzn.to/30nX2hL] Drill [https://amzn.to/3oZ66E7] Steps for retrofitting a threshold 1. Add ⅛-inch to the height of the threshold material, and set a pair of scribes to this measurement. Use the scribes to mark the door on each edge to create a cutline. 2. Remove the hinge pins from the hinges to remove the door from the jamb. Lay the door flat on a pair of sawhorses. 3. Using a circular saw, cut the door to the new length using the scribed marks as the cutline. Seal the bottom of the door to prevent the newly exposed grain from absorbing moisture. Rehang the door once it’s dry. 4. Mark the threshold material to length by holding it in place, butted up against the inside of the door casing on one end, and marking it at the casing on the other end. Cut it to length with a miter saw. 5. Find the width of the threshold by measuring from the leading edge of where it will sit to the depth of the door casing. Cut it to width on a table saw. 6. Ease the transition by beveling the top edges of the threshold. Tilt the table saw’s blade to 45 degrees, move the fence toward the blade slightly, and pass the threshold through to bevel one edge. Flip the threshold to bevel the other edge. 7. If necessary, cut a rabbet in the underside of the threshold with a table saw so that it may overlap the existing flooring. 8. Hold the threshold in place and use a pencil to mark the cuts for a perfect fit. Do this on both ends of the threshold and cut them out with a jigsaw. 9. Sand the threshold to make it smooth and apply a coat of sealer to prevent water damage. 10. Squeeze a small bead of construction adhesive onto the door sill where the threshold will sit. Predrill holes in the threshold 3 inches from either end and one in the middle. Nail the threshold in place. 11. Close the door to assess the gap under the door. Attach a door sweep to the front of the door with screws to close the gap for a tight seal. Where to find it? To bridge the awkward gap between the original threshold and the new flooring, Nathan cut to size a piece of ¾” oak stock lumber, which can be found at any home center. Looking for more step by step guidance on how to complete projects around the house? Join This Old House Insider to stream over 1,000 episodes commercial-free: https://bit.ly/2GPiYbH Plus, download our FREE app for full-episode streaming to your connected TV, phone or tablet: https://ift.tt/3jclZ3N About Ask This Old House TV: From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. Ask This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/AskTOHIG How to Make an Exterior Door Threshold | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/