rotted under front door

[Unregistered]

I noticed the 1x8 under my front door was getting soft. I took off the piece of pine and noticed it was infested with carpenter ants. I got a exterminater in to spray and now i have to fix the damage. I dont think the sill was rotted very much i think it was the plywood on the sill. I have took out the damaged wood and am ready to install a new piece of pine. I noticed the pine was wet which is why it invited the ants. I plan on using a piece of alluminum under the pine to let out the water. My question is there any thing i can treat the wood with before i put the finish pine on it?

[Wgoodrich]

They have thresholds already formed, treated and with a rubber seal to seal under the door ready to sell at the lumber yards. These can come in metal or wood.

Be careful with that metal under the threashold. I would install a manufactured threashold that is sloped to shed water then caulk the cracks as normally done installing a rain shieild under the threashold if the threashold is even with the house not sticking out enough to shed the water naturally.

Good Luck

Wg

[gbeichho]

Along very similar lines. I'm about to replace my back door at my cottage, and I just removed the old door the other day to take a look. The old sill is rotten. The whole foundation was rotted until a couple of years ago when I replaced the sill plate and floor joists in the area. (see old posts in the archives).

I was reading on the replacement door, that I need to make sure my Sub-sill is very solid before I put the new door and frame in. Currently I need to do a bit of work to level the partial tile and subfloor under the current sill.

What material do you recommend for the sub-sill (the door comes with a full frame)? The same thing you mentionned above?

Thanks,

George