advice on door installation in snow country

[look 171]

Escrow is closing soon on our cabin in the local mountains. All of the doors and windows will be replaced next spring. I have no experience building in snow, only in sunny socal. My question is, what's the best installation method or ways to waterproof a door? Housewrap, flashing, that's it? My big concern is when snow builds up at the lower door two feet high and it sits for a sometime. will it rot, seep through or under the threshold into the structure? What are some of the better methods of doing this for those of you who live in heavy snow areas? I also have 7 pairs of french doors to deal with on the deck. We love wood, but are afraid of the maintenance. I don't want to go up and work on the house, I want to enjoy it. I have seen vinyl doors and windows in places like Mammoth or Lake Tahoe. Alum. will not pass CA tile 24 energy code, so that's a no go. Any advice?

Jeff

[slodave]

Make sure it opens in....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by slodave

Make sure it opens in....

Hey smart ass. You again?

You want to come on by the job and take the Mahogany for your shifters?

[slodave]

How about next week?

[look 171]

Sure. I saved it for you. Let me know which day. We will be working nearby in the City of San Marino, 10 minutes away. The painter should still be there, but th e owner will be moving in after next week, so let try and get it soon before their big move.

[look 171]

No one this morning?

[flipper35]

Fiberglass doors look almost like wood but don't rot. Good insulators as well. The builders here recommend them. We have an insulated steel door and it does well but the door can feel cool in sub zero temps. Mom and dad have fiberglass and it never does.

[PetrolBlueSC]

Fiberglass with a good storm door. Fiberglass does what Bernt said and storm door keeps the snow away from the door and casing.

[LakeCleElum]

Metal or Fiberglass......Ideally, an overhang from the roof supported by posts to keep the snow away from the door.....

.The wooden exterior doors at my cabin in snow country last about 25 yrs and then came apart. Rain was blown onto them, but never snow....

[flipper35]

Wind will blow snow to exactly where you don't want it.

[john70t]

Ensure a good slope away from the entrance and walk drainage of course.

Also look into preventing the snow buildup there.
Wind whips around a square house which creates a vacuum/eddy where the snow is deposited.
Evergreen hedges(yews/arborvite) along the walk and blue spruces near the corners will reduce this. Evergreens for Privacy Screens

[look 171]

Ok, thanks guys. Keep them coming. I am looking for installation methods that are beyond standard construction or installation methods that may have benefit in heavy snow areas. There's so much to learn about living conditions like that coming from a place where we curl up like a little with 1/4" of rain.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Metal or Fiberglass......Ideally, an overhang from the roof supported by posts to keep the snow away from the door.....

.The wooden exterior doors at my cabin in snow country last about 25 yrs and then came apart. Rain was blown onto them, but never snow....

Were they typical fir doors painted? How often did you have to paint them to get 25 years out of them? That's pretty dang good.

[LakeCleElum]

The doors came with a stain and a varnish type finish. I haven't touched it since I build the place in 1987. I put a new skin on the front door and need to replace this rear door soon.

You can see the overhang that keeps snow from blowing in by the door:



Your main concern will be your plumbing? Some leave heat on, but that is expensive and if the power is out for a prolonged time, everything freezes up. When I built this cabin, I plumbed so there are no horizontal runs of copper. The hot water tank is below the main floor as is the the cold water pipe drain. When I leave, shut off the water and power, then open 2 valves to drain the water. Never broken a pipe......Get Temps below zero every free years.......

[look 171]

I am plumbing with PEX as it will expand a little to prevent blow ups. Any opinion on that? I really dislike it but I think there's the only advantages. Electrical is going too, so I am starting fresh.

[look 171]

Now, you got me thinking about covers for all doors.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by look 171

I am plumbing with PEX as it will expand a little to prevent blow ups. Any opinion on that? I really dislike it but I think there's the only advantages. Electrical is going too, so I am starting fresh.

I've never used pex but heard good things. Only negative I heard was from an insurance adjuster that had a few water damage claims where mice or rats had chewed thru it.

You'd still have to be concerned about expansion damaging facuets, toilet, traps, dishwasher, etc.....At least shut off the water do it doesn't run for a week or two if there is a failure?

[MikeSid]

I put about 95% copper in my house. I was having trouble sweating it in a dusty environment and running short of time, so I finished up with PEX and Sharkbite fittings figuring I would replace later. So far, no issues or complaints with the PEX (or the Sharkbites), but I too have heard from numerous folks that rats really like to chew on it. So take that anecdotal tibit for whatever it's worth.

[GWN7]

Originally Posted by PetrolBlueSC

Fiberglass with a good storm door. Fiberglass does what Bernt said and storm door keeps the snow away from the door and casing.

This...... but sub steel insulated for fiberglass.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

I've never used pex but heard good things. Only negative I heard was from an insurance adjuster that had a few water damage claims where mice or rats had chewed thru it.

You'd still have to be concerned about expansion damaging facuets, toilet, traps, dishwasher, etc.....At least shut off the water do it doesn't run for a week or two if there is a failure?

after thinking about it more, the system really need to have a way to expand as temp dips/ How about an expansion tank on both hot and cold side of the pips (pex or copper) to eliminate this problem? PEX will be a lot cheaper for me on this one. It has a few baths. I get to play plumber.