Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | Aug 21, 2006 03:44pm | #1

   cecil,

   The reason for the wider bottom rails is the same as why the papa is the head of the house...TRADITION!....TRADITION!! If I were a rich man, yada deeedle, deedle dum...

   Seriously,  I can think of a couple reasons.  Back in the day, when doors weren't glued together, but through-tenoned and wedged or pinned, a wide rail gave more area for tenon shoulders, and thus assurance against racking or sagging.  Also, visually, if the rails are all the same width, the bottom one will look narrower than the others-same reason as we graduate the width of drawers in a chest.  Finally, the wider the rail, the less noticeable will be any taper required to fit the door to the opening.

   Regards,

   Ray Pine

1. 
   cecil | Aug 21, 2006 04:07pm | #2

   Thank you so much

1. 
   KeithNewton | Aug 22, 2006 06:41am | #3

   When doors get hung, the height is often determined by various floor heights and finishes, so the bottom gets cut to fit the finish floor, plus clearance for a rug, and a higher threshold to give clearance for the rug.Since there are a lot of variables, If it was planned to match the header rail, yet ended up getting cut an inch or two shorter, it would look horrible if it ends up less than the styles, or rails. Plus it would be weaker than a wide bottom rail.

2. 
   ring | Aug 22, 2006 11:34am | #4

   Everything that was already said plus the fact that doors often get kicked at the bottom...

   DR 

1. 
   cecil | Aug 26, 2006 04:14pm | #6

   Thank you  I think I don't have any doubt left about why bottom rail are wider.

3. 
   Steinmetz | Aug 23, 2006 03:31am | #5

   Bottom rails are made wider in height for a number of reasons

   1:Additional strength due to extra tenons

   2:Higher placement of bottom hinges (typically 5" from door top to top of upper hinge. 10" from door bottom to to top of lower hinge.)

   Center line between the two hinges defines the location of the
   BOTTOM of center hinge.)

   3:room for kick plate . (Kickplate's lower edge even with door bottom ) (No margin)

   4:room for cutting for saddle /sill/door mat/ carpet etc.

   5: appearance ( more pleasing to the eye.) (not like the mass produced stamped out 'one size fit's all' reversible left or right lockset bored in center of door/ hinges reversible with added filler blank. Made for ready made wood jambs made of finger jointed paint grade scraps of wood.

   Rant by Steinmetz.

1. 
   cecil | Aug 26, 2006 04:15pm | #7

   Thank you,  this is a very detailed answer and now I know why they are wider. Will not ask this any more

4. 
   wdrite | Aug 27, 2006 03:46pm | #8

   The wide rail at the bottom of a panel door serves two purposes.  First it adds a lot of strength to the door and second, it helps to balance the door visually.

5. 
   Ricks503 | Aug 28, 2006 04:53pm | #9

   I had always thought it was because the bottom is where you get the most abuse with people kicking the door open...

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
1. 
   cecil | Sep 03, 2006 10:34pm | #10

   Thank you so much, I agree with you and I have also learned from a few people at the Forum  that the bottom rail of the door is so wide to provide resistance to the sagging caused by stressing forces like gravity and people abuse and weight also.

    

   Thanks again

   Cecil