it was a matter of simple subtraction to find out how many 2x4s we could fit on the other side of the frame. As luck would have it, we didn’t have to trim the thick- ness on any of the other three 2x4s used on the inactive door’s hinge side. Some- times you just catch breaks, or you plan things out. Aſter the inactive door was installed, we were leſt with a small square section to fill. This square section would be the anchor point for the half door’s top flush bolt. For security purposes, we had to anchor this into the header of the ex- isting frame (as well into the 2x4s adja- cent to it) so new holes would be created in the existing frame. This goes back to extending the main door’s height. Our frame within a frame could have featured a header across the entire width of the opening, but that would have required more screws holes in the existing frame. We didn’t want that because, aſter all, the three screws mounted into a portion of the header for the small square section is better than many screws along its entire length. It’s less work to repair them and less damage to the original wood. We covered the bracket with a piece of plywood and called it a night (Figure 10). Ugly? Absolutely. Life safety com- pliant, ADA compliant and secure? Ab- solutely. At last, the admissions office was reliably secure again, and the doors were delivered to the antique restora- tion company. Back at Last Unfortunately, when working with sub- contractors, you’re at their mercy in terms of time and quality. We were originally quoted two weeks, which turned into just over two months. Beggars can’t be choos- ers, or so they say. I also wasn’t complete- ly delighted with their final product’s ap- pearance, but I will give them credit for the integrity of the repair; it was solid. Nevertheless, we were already under a time crunch due to their delay, and the doors had to be reinstalled. We removed our temporary solution and reinstalled the doors. Figures 11 and 12 show the final re- sult. Note the surface bolt’s absence. An ex- act replacement was located for the original flush bolt prep and, even better, it was an antique. Again, I wasn’t thrilled with the appearance, but the admissions office staff was. Perhaps they’re fans of the “distressed” look, or perhaps they were just happy to get their doors back. In the end, what- ever pleases the customer is what matters, right? Tyler J. Thomas, CFDI, CIL, CRL is an institutional lock- smith in Atlanta, GA. SAVE THE DATE! July 31-August 7, 2016 Don’t miss this value-filled event: • Convenient class schedule to maximize your education • Classes and Security Expo in one location • Fifteen minutes from the Orlando airport • Nonstop flights to Orlando from 76 U.S. locations Want more information? Call (800) 532-2562 x240 or email [email protected]. SEE YOU IN ORLANDO! WWW.ALOA.ORG JANUARY 2016 KEYNOTES 37
