Composite Doorway Sills
Doorway Kick Panels
Introduction:
Below most exterior doorways there is a kick
panel (door sill) installed to support the bottom of the door frame and
provide a finish to the bottom of the doorway. The door sill material is ¾ inch in
thickness and extends the length of the doorway. The width is usually 6
inches that extends to the door stoop or deck.
Flashing is installed
behind the kick panel to protect the material underneath from water
damage. Usually the door sill or kick panel is cut from pine or pressure treated
wood. Pressure treated wood is better than plain pine wood because it is
resistant to moisture. Regular pine wood will deteriorate in about ten years
where pressure treated pine will withstand the moisture for at least
twenty years.
Pressure treated
pine is being replaced by composite lumber which is much better than
pine or pressure treated wood. Composite lumber is totally resistant to moisture and
will last for decades. Composite lumber is primarily made from
recycled wood products and plastics. The manufacturing of composite
lumber is one of the prime uses for recycled plastic containers and
waste wood products. A resin is used to bind the material together. It
is used to produce many different building products such as decking,
door and window frames, exterior siding and, moldings. Composite lumber
does not include toxins that are used in pressure treated wood. The
composition is usually a 50/50 mixture of waste wood products and
plastics. The density of composite lumber is higher than regular lumber but
is also more flexible.
Eventually the kick panels beneath your
doorways will require replacing. I recommend that you use composite
doorway sills
rather than pine or pressure treated wood. To replace your sills
simply remove the old material and install the composite sill material which can
be obtained from most home supply centers. It comes in various
thicknesses and lengths. It can be cut using a standard skill saw
with a fine tooth blade. It is easy to work with and unlike regular
wood it will last for decades.
Related articles:
Composite Siding
Composite Wood Decking
Vinyl and
Fiber-Cement Siding
