DIY Windows and Doors for Foamies ...

[Don L.]

Someone said Lexan a few posts back. GPW? I have been conjuring up an idea for a window with that.

I can do a sketch if needed but basically you make a frame, wood or plastic , to fit inside the foam wall cut out. Mount the lexan on the outside with a spring loaded hinge, something like this ; http://www.homeclick.com/products/sugat ... 8+55058939 , so the window wants to lift up by the action of the spring loaded hinge. On the inside of the frame put your screen on and a small chain or wire cord going through the frame to the lexan to let the window up or to pull it down. Maybe a loop on the end of the cord to secure it to some hooks or nails or something.

[GPW]

Cool idea Don !!! Saves that “stick” business ... I’d suspect we’d want Stainless steel hinges for the outside , our first plated hinges didn’t hold up very well .... Screws and bolts too ...

[ghcoe]

This is how I made my door frame. It would be easy to make window frames the same way. You could even use 1"x1" flashing to move the flange closer to the middle of the foam to allow for latching devices that would not protrude into the living area.

Door frame

DSCF3178 small.jpg (112.9 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

Door frame detail

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[GPW]

Another door/hatch idea...

[dancam]

Another door/hatch idea...

This is essentially the type of door I want to build. So why the rounded top corners? And what type of door latches do you guys use?

[GPW]

Dan , rounded corners look good (optional) .... we used a stainless door knob for the Door ... many latch possibilities ... ( shop around ) Most everything we use is adapted from some other usage ...

[KCStudly]

Rounded door corners allow you to have a rounded gasket flange, which in turn allows you to use a single piece of edge trim style (or even surface adhered) weather seal that can flow around a suitably large radius with no mitered joints. Just one butt joint to deal with at the lowest point.