Cheap Plastic Internal Doors & an Acoustic Seal

[InMyHO]

I have those doors that look like paneled doors but where the surface is made of plastic - common in modern houses. I would like to route or cut a groove to mount an acoustic seal - just a thin piece of flexible rubber.

The door is made from a wooden outer frame and then covered with what seems to be molded, panel-look hardboard on the front and back so all edges are just the wooden frame while the front and back faces are hardboard. Does anyone know whether there is typically enough wood depth in these frames for routing a groove to mount door seal rubber? I need a slot something around 3mm wide and 6mm deep.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

If you look at the top of the door i.e. from above, you'll be able to see the thickness of the frame in terms of vertical thickness. Assuming the door's not had a significant amount taken off already, you should be okay routing out a channel of that size around the outer edge.

 

[InMyHO]

Ah, thank you. The battens they used to make the frame seem to be about 22.5mm. So, you think I should be OK sinking a 6mm deep slot into that?

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Ah, thank you. The battens they used to make the frame seem to be about 22.5mm. So, you think I should be OK sinking a 6mm deep slot into that?

Are you routing around the outer edges of the door i.e. the actual top, bottom and where the hinges go? If yes then you should be fine assuming you still have 22.5mm to play with all round. Do not go any deeper than 6mm though and keep closer to 5mm if you can.

 

[InMyHO]

Yes, so the seal is around the door's edge; on the same plane as the hinges, the lock and so on. The seal then gets squashed between the door and the door frame.