How to turn an interior door into an exterior front door?

Question

How can I turn a 15 glass pane unfinished pine interior door into a stained and weather proof exterior door? What products should I use? Anything I should be aware of? Thanks!

Thank you for the answers. We bought the door as a clearence sale and dont know much about it. I've emailed the maker to try and find out if it's solid or not. I think it is, Looks like a solid interior/exterior french door if I have the right one. It's a beautiful door and at 100 bucks a good bargin!

I think I've found the door we have and the description is: Woodgrain Millwork's French Door Collection offers a blend of light, form and the warmth of wood in our masterpiece selection of french doors. We have framed our flat, beveled or obscured glass within attractive wood frames to assure long-lasting beauty and elegant premium quality.
Woodgrain's true divided lite designs with fine beveled glass and solid wood dividers are accented with Woodgrain's flawless pine stiles and rails.
Our french doors are press glazed. They are crafted from solid engineered cores and a flawless veneer that provides a smooth, sanded surface for beautiful paint or stain finishing.

Does this help any with you answers?

Answer 1

The biggest problem is all exterior doors have to be solid core and most interrior doors are hollow! If you chose to use that door outside, stain it before you hang it, and seal it with a polyurithan.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Well the interior door is probably put together with glue that isn't weather proof.Also pine will swell and shrick with weather changes causing sticking . So any moisture and it may fall apart. Also allot the these have plexyglass sheets for glass. no r value or weather seal.
And these doors will be extremely easy to break into as they are usually thinner than extior doors. . As there is no reinforcment to them.
But if it under a roof , in the sun belt , I would paint the bottom and top edge to seal it then ploy it all over . I use marine grade sealers for out side . And cover with a storm door.

Answer 4

the door itself isn't particularly strong commonly french doors and other divided light doors that are made for the outdoors are reinforced for strength where as the one to which you are referring can be broken into fairly easily... another thing to consider is that the glass is single pane and wont insulate your house so you will loose heat in the winter and the same for ac in the summer... so unless you live somewhere that's fairly nice year round its something to consider... and other things to consider is that the wooden exterior doors are pressure treated for rot, mold and termites usually where as just paint or stain and varnish will not give you the same protection... if its about saving a few bucks with a door you have its not really worth it in the long run in what you will loose other wise... I highly suggest getting a replacement that is meant to be outdoors

Answer 5

Odd for an interior door unless it's a french door. I'll asume the framework is solid,,, or hope so. If not it may not hold up on the exterior face?

Treating the door is important, staining or painting with a quality exterior finish may help. Tung oil and appropriate sealer, Clear coating with marine varnish or polyeurethane may help,,,Seal all the 15 "lights" on both sides,,, ESPECIALLY seal all 4 edges. Seal under and over the hinges as well; add decent weather stripping to the frame, decent exterior grade hardware, and monitor the success, after the fact.

I think an additional thought, though the first one I should have mentioned, is determine if the door will change out with the current exterior door, and if it can be fitted to open in the same direction. Hopefully you won't have to alter the frame and jamb.

Steven Wolf

Answer 6

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Answer 7

interior doors are interior doors. I'll bet that interior door has no metal on it- the easist way for a layman to see if a door is ex or interior is to check if a side has metal on it (as opposed to wood or plastic for interior).
If you get a piece of sheet metal and some insulation you can industrially apply it to your interior door via a vacuum press and some crazy adhesive.
Basically- take it back and spend the extra $100 for your own security. Or you can check craigslist for a used door in your area to save some money.
Good luck with that.

Answer 8

If you`re trying to hang this "slab" in an existing jamb, check the thickness. It should be 1 3/4 thick for an exterior door. If it`s 1 3/8 I would pass on it.

Answer 9

turn interior door exterior front door

Answer 10

Quick Fix It is likely you do not need any new parts. Follow the directions below until you get to the note about the "Lever" (the threaded rod). Turn the adjuster out a few rotations and your door should open like new. Replacement I just replaced my 1994 Buick Regal exterior door handle (same one) with an aftermarket one for $47 I found online. I should have taken pictures, but it really was not hard to replace. Tools I used: Adjustable wrench (I'm sure you could use a socket wrench) T20 Torx screwdriver Philip and flathead screwdriver Open the car door, and using your adjustable wrench or socket wrench, remove the two black caps (screws?) with big rounded tops from the top of the door by turning them counter clockwise. Use your philips screwdriver to remove the screw from the bottom of the piece of door covering the handle apparatus. There is another screw inside that with a philips head that needs to be unscrewed that is keeping the door handle in place, just below the lock and toward the outer edge of the door. You are almost done removing the door handle, all that needs to be done is separating the exterior door handle from the interior parts. This is done in two places: 1) There is a metal piece with screw threads on the end, and a rounded part that is on the threads. This rounded part connects to the door handle through a hole, with a metal covering to keep it in place. We are going to call this the "Lever" from now on. Using the flat side of your screwdriver, gently lift and loosen the covering from the old door handle so you can remove the Lever from the hole. Note: If your door handle opens too easily, screw the round part down a little further on the threads, and if you can't open the door, the round part needs to come up a little on the threads. 2) Using your T20 Torx screwdriver, remove the screw just below and medial to the door lock. Remove the old door handle, taking care to separate the door lock from the handle without pulling on the wiring. PUTTING THE NEW PART ON 1) Slide the new part into the door so it fits just right. 2) Attach the top big black cap (screws to the top part of the door handle using your socket wrench or adjustable wrench. This will hold the handle in place better for the rest of the attachment. 3) Replace the philips head screw used to tighten the handle to the door. This is the one located just lateral and inferior to the door lock. 4) Put the key lock in its place, and replace the Torx screw to tighten it in place. 5) Use your flathead to lift up the tab on the part of the door handle where the Lever will go and slide it out a bit. Insert the round part of the lever into the hole, and tighten the covering, making sure the latch goes back into the hole you slid it out of. TEST THE DOOR. If it does not open when you pull on the handle, follow the part for removing the lever and adjust the round piece higher up. If it opens too easily, adjust it lower down. TEST THE DOOR. Repeat until you get it just right. Place the door handle cover in place, and screw the big black cap into place, followed by the philips screw that should be remaining at the bottom of the cover. Your door handle should be replaced and working great! I just did this to my door this morning, and fixed the passenger side door (which would only open when we yanked it really hard). Both open easily now!

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