How can I patch the exposed cinder block at my back door?
August 10, 2010 3:22 PM Subscribe
RenoFilter: So I've had a external door cut and installed in a cinder-block wall. How the heck should I finish / patch up the exposed cinder-blocks? Concrete? Siding? Pictures inside.
When we moved in a couple years ago we cut a door into a cinder-block addition that the previous owners had made. I'd like to finish the job, but I don't know what the best way of doing it would be.
Here's what I'm dealing with: The Scene, Where the Addition Meets an Ugly Shed, The Shed, the Addition and the House,The Door, The Angle Iron Support at the Top, The Threshold, The Side, and some measurements.
I'm mostly a D.I.Y. type of guy but I've never worked with concrete. How do I begin to patch the threshold, the sides of the doors, and the top / angle iron so that it keeps the weather from doing any damage, without it looking completely hideous?
I'm also interested in non-D.I.Y. options. Any cool new siding I could have installed? I got a stucco quote last year, but it seemed way expensive.
When we moved in a couple years ago we cut a door into a cinder-block addition that the previous owners had made. I'd like to finish the job, but I don't know what the best way of doing it would be.
Here's what I'm dealing with: The Scene, Where the Addition Meets an Ugly Shed, The Shed, the Addition and the House,The Door, The Angle Iron Support at the Top, The Threshold, The Side, and some measurements.
I'm mostly a D.I.Y. type of guy but I've never worked with concrete. How do I begin to patch the threshold, the sides of the doors, and the top / angle iron so that it keeps the weather from doing any damage, without it looking completely hideous?
I'm also interested in non-D.I.Y. options. Any cool new siding I could have installed? I got a stucco quote last year, but it seemed way expensive.
Best answer: I drew a picture of what I would do.
Extend your doorjambs out to the face of the stucco with wood and then attach another piece of wood on the flat to cover the remaining gap (you'll need a hammer drill and masonary anchors for this part). You could wrap the whole thing with aluminum flashing if you want, or just paint the wood. Feel free to fancy it up with some trim bits or fancy scrollwork (like so, and note the flashing at the top of their door)
The tricky part (as I have labeled it) is making sure that you get a good seal across the top trim piece. Ideally there would be flashing behind the stucco and out overtop of the trim, but since you don't have that option you will want to caulk the area well. Since you are fairly close to the edge of the roof there likely isn't going to be a ton of water hitting that area, but you want to seal it wall just in case. Try to cut a bit of a bevel on the top of the trim so that water won't sit there.
For the threshold, you can pick up aluminum threshold extenders that will bring your threshold out over the blocks. I was in a similar situation at my place and I just used pressure treated wood. I think that would look fine for you as well, as it would basically be like another step at the top of your stairs. Eventually when you build yourself a nice little deck you can bring it all up to that level. :)
Install the threshold extension first so you can fit the jamb extensions tight. I'm sure you'll want to make sure that the blocks are sealed well so as to avoid having them fill up with water - you could even bend a piece of flashing to fit overtop of the bricks before you place the threshold extension.
posted by davey_darling at 6:47 PM on August 10, 2010
Extend your doorjambs out to the face of the stucco with wood and then attach another piece of wood on the flat to cover the remaining gap (you'll need a hammer drill and masonary anchors for this part). You could wrap the whole thing with aluminum flashing if you want, or just paint the wood. Feel free to fancy it up with some trim bits or fancy scrollwork (like so, and note the flashing at the top of their door)
The tricky part (as I have labeled it) is making sure that you get a good seal across the top trim piece. Ideally there would be flashing behind the stucco and out overtop of the trim, but since you don't have that option you will want to caulk the area well. Since you are fairly close to the edge of the roof there likely isn't going to be a ton of water hitting that area, but you want to seal it wall just in case. Try to cut a bit of a bevel on the top of the trim so that water won't sit there.
For the threshold, you can pick up aluminum threshold extenders that will bring your threshold out over the blocks. I was in a similar situation at my place and I just used pressure treated wood. I think that would look fine for you as well, as it would basically be like another step at the top of your stairs. Eventually when you build yourself a nice little deck you can bring it all up to that level. :)
Install the threshold extension first so you can fit the jamb extensions tight. I'm sure you'll want to make sure that the blocks are sealed well so as to avoid having them fill up with water - you could even bend a piece of flashing to fit overtop of the bricks before you place the threshold extension.
posted by davey_darling at 6:47 PM on August 10, 2010
Response by poster: Hmmm... for some reason brick veneer never occurred to us. Great suggestion.
I think I might do a combo of both ideas. I want to get this done this week, since, as d_d suggested, I am planning to build a deck two weeks from now. Thanks d_d, for the helpful instructions and things to look out for. I'm going to hold off on best answering right now, in case anyone else has anything to contribute.
posted by consummate dilettante at 6:34 AM on August 11, 2010
I think I might do a combo of both ideas. I want to get this done this week, since, as d_d suggested, I am planning to build a deck two weeks from now. Thanks d_d, for the helpful instructions and things to look out for. I'm going to hold off on best answering right now, in case anyone else has anything to contribute.
posted by consummate dilettante at 6:34 AM on August 11, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lobstah at 3:41 PM on August 10, 2010