Invent Design Make

Step 20 – Installing the Oak Frames

Now things are coming to a head.  To begin with we have to remove the cruddy old garage door which is a fantastic feeling.  This does, however, mean that really we want to get the new oak baby in, glazed and at least semi-secure by nightfall.  So an early morning start is in order.

Below: The frame is in, level, and it even fits quite well… A very pleasing moment.

A quick check of the sides – all plumb.

Now to drill the holes for the frame fixing bolts.  This was a three step operation and with several drills chucked up Dave and I work in rapidfire relay style. First, we drill a shallow 13mm diameter hole in the wood – 13mm is a shade bigger than the head of the frame anchor bolt, so it will be able to go below the level of the wood and then receive a camouflaging wooden plug. Second, we drill the rest of the way through the frame with an 8mm wood drill bit.  Lastly, we get the SDS hammer drill going to get into the brick.  The brick is very tough (probably engineering brick), but SDS power makes short work of it.

We have a total of 12 anchor point on the frame – three around each hinge, should do the job.

With the frame secured, it is time to put the doors in and get all those hinge screws in.  Looks good so far…

They open and close in an extremely pleasing manner – the way only a very heavy wide door, with good quality ball-bearing hinges do.  There is a slight bit of rubbing when fully closed that needs sorting, so we have a bit of ‘door-on-and-off’ fun again…

From the outside they blend in well with the rest of the house – nice!