Threshold

The threshold is the piece that sits on the floor, right under the leaf, marking the step from outside to inside. It can be stone, marble, timber or a metal section, and on some doors it has a small upstand that the leaf closes against.

It closes the gap at the bottom, which is where air, rainwater, dust and, on the coast, sand get in. On front doors it is usually combined with a draught strip at the bottom of the leaf.

If the door starts rubbing on the threshold, it is not usually the threshold’s fault: the leaf has dropped or the hinges have given way. It is worth adjusting it before the rubbing puts strain on the lock. We explain it in door repair and adjustment.