Replacing an Apartment Entrance Door.
I want to replace the entrance door of my coop apartment ( the door that leads into the common hallway ). I have the blessing of the coop board and can pretty much choose whatever style I want within reason. My current door is an old ugly metal security door very much like what you…
I want to replace the entrance door of my coop apartment ( the door that leads into the common hallway ).
I have the blessing of the coop board and can pretty much choose whatever style I want within reason. My current door is an old ugly metal security door very much like what you would find in a dorm room. I want to replace it with a nice solid dark wood door. Security is important but what I am really looking for is something that will muffle sound from the hallway. Does anyone have any recommendations for an installer in brooklyn or Manhattan?. I would most likely want to keep the original door frame.
Hi, Coop King. Would you mind giving the name of your tub reglazing contractor? Thanks.
Yeah, I don’t think they come in wood. But I have seen one with thin plywood over it that was stained. Thinking if you could get something that looked good, maybe by adding molding, to mimic a wood door with panels.
Personally, I wouldn’t think it was worth it. Once I understood my door protected me from fire, unlike those of some neighbors who had thin old wood panel door (like our inside doors – not sure if it was an original apartment door, or an inside door repurposed), I was thankful for it, and didn’t think about changing it. When the coop had our hallway painted, we had the outside of the fire doors painted same color as the stairway base molding, and the inside was painted off-white, like the hallway it entered into.
I would think a fire door would muffle sound better than many wood doors, depending on the thickness of the wood door. Also, I think they are likely more secure than many wood doors (also depending on the thickness of the wood.)
Original apartment doors were not always so thick or secure. I was in an apartment building of a friend the other night (an old one), and it looked like the original doors were still there, and that they had upper half panels of glass with chicken wire embedded, which was now painted, but you could still see the outline of the chicken wire. (Maybe the wire was over the glass, since you could see the imprint; or maybe it was just frosted glass that was in a chicken wire pattern.)
Multiple dwellings require a 1 1/2 hour fire rated door. These come with a metal tag affixed on the edge. You can go with a matching Kalamein (wood covered with metal) door used in buildings constructed prior to about 1950 or hollow core which have a flush finish. Per code these must also have a peephole, be self closing and have a bell or chime unless you have a low voltage hard wired buzzer. Only buildings constructed prior to 1901 (new law tenement law) have wood doors. These are typically found in walk up tenements, brownstones and row houses of the era. I don’t think fire rated wood doors exist. Good luck.
Even if you don’t let inspectors in, you want to survive a fire. I’m betting if you have a fire door that it is required. This is one instance where old and original is not better… a fire door could save your life. See if someone _can clad one in wood for you. I wanted a nicer wood door for my place until I read about fire doors being required…then I was glad I had one … not all my neighbors in coop did.
Francesco @ 347-924-7182
Actually, I have the same question, because we will need to replace our door soon, too. There must be a source for the typical pre-war apartment door, because they are everywhere.
meaning that most likely it needs to be a 1 1/2 hour fire rated door.
Just make sure it meets the Building and Fire Code standards. The Coop Board may not have thought of this, but the first time there is a fire/building inspection, you’ll find out about it. The city is strapped for cash and fining anybody for anything they think they can get away with.
uwieContracting 516-852-1352