Sill Pan History

[johnny watt]

That's the type of sill I was describing in the second post. I don't think it's a good product. Is that sill one piece or have they put three pieces together to make the door assembly?

I am not sure how many pieces the sill is made of. What specifically is it that makes it a bad product in your opinion? I am guessing it is bad because the best seal is on the inside of the door. I am attaching pictures of the front door in my home. It is 25 years old and never leaks. It faces approximately north and gets the weather most days of the year. It is under a 4' porch with 8' ceiling.

[JohnCR]

Johnny, In Calif. the standard aluminum sill for "run of the mill" doors had a solid sloped bottom piece with a sweep attached to the door with slotted screw holes for adjustment. It had an integral drip cap.

When I came to Colorado and saw the sills we are talking about my first reaction was that it was a leaker. The adjustable piece moves up and down in a tray that cannot be sealed. If water gets in there it cannot get out but eventually leak at the sides. That's my opinion, but I know they are all over the country. I also don't like the way it looks.

My preference is as Dick described earlier, a sloped oak piece set flush to the finish floor. In your case it would go the whole width of the door assembly. A metal threshold goes over the gap at the door and provides for the weatherstripping, interlock or sweep of some kind. And a drip cap. It can also be done with stone or similar. I think a pan is important, although with a lot of water I think it can get overwhelmed.

John