Hollow Metal Steel Doors

Portland Foursquare Church on Southeast Ankeny St. in 2006. The offices comprised of the older, original, though remodeled building.

Around back, off the gymnasium, a set of older solid-core exterior doors with many, many miles on them…sort of speak.

No doubt, the years of enthusiastic youth exiting the gym with vigor have caused the hinge screws to pull out of the wood doors. Through-bolts and after-market reinforcement hinges to help take some of the weight off those hinges has all run its course.

It’s time for a substantial upgrade to something that can take the abuse. We encouraged them to move away from the “vertical-rod” panic device (enlarge photo) which tend to be problematic and a real maintenance headache.

Looks like an older version of Pemko’s 177AV Latching Panic Exit Saddle Threshold. These things can often last forever, but we replaced it anyway, because with the elimination of the vertical-rod-panic devices, we didn’t need a “latching threshold.” Plus, a new threshold looks good with a set of new doors.

Once again, our plan here was to leave the original wood jamb intact. It really was in good shape and well anchored to the masonry wall.

The original closers were slated for retirement and to be replaced with LCN model 4041 parallel-arm-mounted hydraulic door closers. If you’re wondering what’s with our naming the brands and the model numbers…think “Key Words.”

In lieu of the vertical-rod panic devices we recommended the use of a removable steel center mull-post upon which the non-vertical-rod Von Duprin model 99 panics would latch.

If you need to move something large through the opening…like say “a piano,” the mull-post is quickly and easily removed and then replaced. If you enlarge the above photo, you may note the keypad locking device for exterior entry without a key.

If you want longevity, security and low-maintenance, there really is no other alternative that does the job as well.