Front door thickness

[zunetunes]

I'm wanting to replace the modern-(ish) wooden front door with a reclaimed door in keeping with the age of the house (Victorian). The current frame (not Victorian) takes a 40mm door (approx 1 and 9/16ths inches). I've seen several doors that I like but which are thicker. (43mm, 45mm and 48mm) My question is, realistically how much thicker than 40mm can I realistically go?
I'm on a tight budget so replacing the frame or getting a joiner in to rout a bit out are not options. I guess I could build the frame out a bit but obviously too much will give problems with the fittings.
Any thoughts?

 

[Jon Maine]

Yes, build the frame out with planting on if needed, use longer screws for the latch keep so a good fixing into the original frame is achieved. Just pick your hinges carefully so the fixings are into the original although if you laminate a section onto the original frame using a good glue wood to wood that should pose no major problems as many of the glues are stronger than wood itself.

 

[zunetunes]

Thanks for that. I thought that would be ok, but thought that i'd get the benefit of someone elses wisdom before ploughing on in

 

[Penners]

Are the door stops (sometimes called butts) moulded into the frame, or are they planted on? The latter is more normal.

If this is the case, then you should be able to prise them off the frame with a chisel. If they're thinnish in section they might break in the process, but shouldn't cost much to replace with new.

Once you've got them off, you can hang your thicker door normally (ie: without packing under the hinges), then plant on the new butts to suit its thickness.

 

[zunetunes]

Sadly they're moulded

 

[Moo]

The current frame (not Victorian)

Would it be too much of a job to replace the frame as well as the door?

 

[Cloudscape]

There's no dainty way to deal with this. You really could do with a 45mm (1.75in) exterior door, so something's got to give. Consider adding to the frame (but the door might project strangely, in relation to the door architrave). Consider hacking (technical term for saw, chisel, filler, sandpaper, and paint approach) the butts off and planting new ones (the door will sit as it should within the frame). I did this once, to reverse the side an internal door was hung. It's a 'bodge', but it worked.

 

[zunetunes]

have bought the door -48mm. Will let youknow how it goes.

 

[Jon Maine]

Please do that