Door Anatomy
When we visit with customers requesting a door quote, we often find they are totally amazed at the choices available on any given exterior door. It would be impossible to bring all the possible door samples into our showroom. The space required would certainly be immense. This is the situation with door anatomy.
At America’s Best Choice Siding and Windows, we bring a book of our best door line options to the customer’s home and make some suggestions about styles and accessories to get them started. People often have trouble making up their minds because of the vast number of styles that go into a modern energy-efficient door.
The Door Slab
Firstly, door anatomy begins with a slab. Whether it is an interior or exterior door, a door begins with a blank slab of material – wood, fiberglass, steel. Options are added to the slab, such as different styles of glass, hinges and other hardware including lock options. Before the slab is added to a built-out frame, other style options can be added to the door. Accessory features for a wood door, such as a dentil shelf, can be hewn into the door adding an upscale look to the door front.
Various Styles of Glass
If the customer decides on an exterior door with glass, not only are there many types of glass, but there are different choices of the amount of glass. In the door industry, glass in a door is called a “lite”. Customers can choose ¼ lite, ½ lite, ¾ lite or full lite.
Among the many choices of glass, customers can choose from clear, decorative, low E (energy-efficient) and privacy glass. Sometimes it is hard to choose from the many different decorative styles as well as styles of privacy glass. As an example, privacy options include rain glass, frosted glass, tinted glass, satin etch glass and so on.
Locks and Hinges
Hinges, in particular, are very important to the overall durability and operation of the door swing. Positioning the door properly is very important in making the door as secure in the frame as possible. This helps prevent air leakage and keeps the security features of the door operating efficiently.
Locks come with several features. Choosing the right lock for your door adds important protection. Cylindrical, mortise and multi-point lock options are available. The traditional lock many people know is the standard cylindrical which is set into stile of the door on the side. For added security, a mortise lock is set into the door recess. For the best security, a multi-point lock contains three locking points set into the edge of the door.
Weather Proofing
Each exterior door contains weather proofing when the customer receives it. Nothing else is needed to prevent air and moisture preparation. An exterior door will arrive with weather stripping and a sweep at the bottom. These two items are great and essential at preventing not only air but moisture penetration.
Weatherstrip is applied to the top and both sides of the door edges. The sweep at the bottom edge of the door works in conjunction with the weatherstrip to provide extra protection where the bottom of the door meets the sill plate.
The Door Sill
Door sills are available in fixed and adjustable sills. Adjustable sills are actually just what the name says. A tight seal at the bottom of the door can be secured by adjusting a cap on the sill that moves the sill up and down to snug up to the bottom of the door. Made of aluminum with wood such as oak or hardwood bases, sills will not rot or warp.
The Door Jamb
The jamb is also known as the door frame. It is comprised of three pieces of wood, one on each side and one at the top called the head jamb. A jamb that is used in a door unit that has sidelites is called a mullpost. This secures the door frame together with the sidelites.
Sidelites and Transoms
Choices for door units include sidelites on one or both sides of the door. The glass used in the sidelites can match the door glass if desired. Vented sidelites for air circulation are also available. This type of sidelite comes with a locking mechanism for safety.
Transoms are lites installed in the door unit at the top of the door. Just like sidelites, this is one of the many options customers have in designing their beautiful front door. Very popular transoms include elliptical shapes and circle top styles as well as the standard rectangle above the door.
Door Trim
Lastly, customers may want to choose exterior trim for their entry door. Brickmould or flat PVC casing types of trim around the top and sides can be installed on the door unit. Trim adds a traditional finished look that customers love.
The outstanding profile of brickmould is a great look to finish the door installation. The same material as the door frame can also be used for the brickmould. The brickmould appearance is like the type of traditional trim inside a house around doors and windows and on baseboards.
What Door to Choose
Here is the situation a lot of people run into – what options, materials and design do I want on the front of my house. So many choices. Rest assured that America’s Best Choice will help you decide on what is right for your home.
We recommend fiberglass entry doors as being the most long-lasting durable doors. They offer the best weather protection and enhanced security features. Fiberglass can be purchased already stained or painted or purchased primed ready for you to paint or stain. Wood look or smooth doors are another option to think about when designing your special place where you hang your hat.
