French Door With Windows in multi-family ??

Question

Hi - I just purchased an under/over duplex that was previously a duplex (years ago), used as single family last and we are turning it back to a duplex. The doors that were taking off are still available to turn it back into a duplex.

The are exterior doors on the side of house for both units. However entering in the front door will now be a common area. Tennant B would go up the steps to enter their apartment. Tennant A would go into a door to the right and enter their living room but the door we have for that one is a french style door with windows. I cannot find anything to say in Pennsylvania what the code is for this. However, I am wondering if we should put a solid door there for tenant privacy/security or would it be appropriate to use the french style doors, put locks on them & just blackout or frost the windows so tenant B cannot see into tenant A's apartment when entering the common foyer through the front door? Any thoughts on this?

Alan Asriants · Answer

I would put an entry door there. Solid wood or metal.

Scott Mac · Answer

A metal door with a non lockable knob and a good quality landlord deadbolt, with a peephole. They get only the key to the deadbolt, the knob has no key and they cannot lock themselves out--saving them calling you to let them back in to their locked out unit.

If the old frame is chewed up think about replacing the door and frame. If it's a tough area consider a metal frame to make it more kick resistant.

Paint, darker shades of red, dark blue, buff or white all look presentable, and look like apartment door colors. Black looks good too, but in a small foyer it might make it feel even smaller, and darker.

Have an "A" and a "B" prominently on the doors, so visitors are not knocking on the wrong door disturbing the other renter.

Might be a good time to upgrade the foyer flooring to non-slip and the overhead lighting if they need it.

Make the entry experience a good one for the renters. It's the first thing they see everyday when they get home and the first thing their friends see inside when they come over to visit.

Doors open into the apartments, and typically land against a wall when open. Have a wall protector in place inside to prevent plaster blowout by the door handle.

Renter should not need a chain due to having a peephole--tell them that before they carve a chunk out of the interior door frame for the chain.

Just my 2 cents.

A door frame that is chewed up -- can be fixed, but if you are replacing the door, cost out replacing the door and frame too.

French Door With Windows in multi-family ??

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