Prior to dry-in of a building, constructing an outer frame within an external opening of the building by attaching a top piece to a top, attaching a first side piece to a first side, attaching a second side piece to a second side, and attaching a bottom piece to a bottom of the building opening. After constructing the outer frame within the external opening of the building, the method includes mounting glass to glass receiving surfaces of the top piece, the first side piece, the second side piece, and the bottom piece. After dry-in and interior wall finishing of the building, the method includes attaching a plurality of inner base caps to an interior of the outer frame. After dry-in and exterior wall finishing of the building, the method includes attaching a plurality of outer base caps to an exterior of the outer frame.

Disclosed is a sill assembly and sill that can be positioned continuously under doorways with swing doors, sidelites, and vertical door frame members such as vertical jambs, and mull posts, or the vertical members of sidelites. One variation of the sill assembly can be used for inswing doors while another can be used for outswing doors. The sill assembly includes a backstop and optionally can include end dams. These in combination with the structure of the sill assembly shed water away from the building structure and allow for the possibility of the sill assembly being installed without an additional sill pan or flashing. The sill assembly can optionally include one or more thermal breaks. The sill assembly can be structured so the thermal breaks of the door, sidelites, and vertical door frame members all align with the thermal breaks of the sill assembly.

The present disclosure provides a frame component for a window or door that employs composite materials in a manner that is sufficiently structurally strong yet resists degradation due to unfavorable environmental conditions. In at least one embodiment the present disclosure provides a mullion for a frame for an opening having a core assembly having a longitudinally extending core and at least one end block, a first surface of the end block abutting a first end of the longitudinally extending core to result in the core assembly having a radial surface extending radially about the core assembly; and a longitudinally extending outer sheath, the longitudinally extending outer sheath enveloping the radial surface of the core assembly, an inner surface of the longitudinally extending outer sheath bonded to the radial surface of the core assembly in a continuous manner.

A door assembly and a frame member for a door assembly. The door assembly may include at least one door panel and a door frame having a plurality of frame members including a header and a pair of side jambs. The invention may also be considered a frame member. The frame member may include a core; and a top piece adjoining the core to form a structural member. The core and the top piece may be a composite of cellulosic material and at least one other material. The top piece may be a two-piece top piece and may include hollow cavities. Also disclosed are door jamb frame members and mullion frame members.

An exemplary fitting for a mullion includes a first bracket, a second bracket nested with the first bracket, and a lock cylinder assembly selectively coupling the first bracket and the second bracket. The nested brackets include a set of interleaved walls, and openings in the walls cooperate to define a pocket in which the lock cylinder assembly is seated. The lock cylinder assembly includes an armature having a first position and second position. When in the first position, the armature prevents removal of the lock cylinder assembly from the pocket such that the lock cylinder assembly prevents separation of the brackets. With the armature in the second position, the lock cylinder assembly can be removed from the pocket, after which the brackets can be separated from one another.

A door assembly is shown and described herein. The door assembly may include at least one door panel and a door frame having a plurality of frame members including a header and a mullion. The invention may also be considered a frame member. The frame member may be a mullion and include a core; and a two-piece top piece adjoining the core to form a structural member. The door assembly may further include at least one adjacent panel. The inventions disclosed are also applicable to jambs and window structures. Also disclosed are methods and assemblies for a mullion door frame members.

According to some embodiments, a multi-panel door system includes a fixed panel and an active panel. Both panels are secured to the astragal of the door frame by securement members driven into and through hinges connected to the active panel, through the astragal, and into the fixed panel. The securement members are driven through a middle portion of the astragal stem in order to align the fixed and active panels in a recessed position with respect to the door frame. The fixed panel and the active panel are coplanar. Hinge support plates are placed between the hinges and the astragal and communicate forces transmitted through the securement members into deeper portions of the astragal.

A mullion assembly is provided for forming a window assembly, the window assembly comprising a first window frame and a second window frame coupled to a monolithic mullion core such that a distal portion of the first window frame is in contact with a proximal surface of the mullion core and a proximal portion of the second window frame is in contact with a distal surface of the mullion core. The mullion assembly further comprises a first and second female connector on a respective first and second side of the mullion core. A plurality of separate compartments is defined along a length of the mullion core vertically between the proximal and distal surfaces and laterally between the first and second female connectors. The mullion assembly further comprises first and second male connectors configured to engage the female connectors and seal the first and second sides of the mullion core.

Method and apparatus for an electrically powered hand tool which can be used to install a spline into the groove on a frame member of a screened-in porch or window screen wherein the tool uses a reciprocating roller to press the screen and spline into the groove of the frame member so that the screen can be secured to the frame member. The hand tool has a handle serving as a housing for an electric motor with a rotating output shaft connecting to a transmission for creating reciprocating motion of a drive shaft having a distal end supporting a rotatable wheel adapted to compress the spline in the groove containing a portion of the screen while the handle is moved along the spline in the groove by a user.