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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) related to Doors

Wood Front Door

Can Homeowners Purchase Wood Front Doors From Doors For Builders?

Doors for Builders has its doors open to the General Public and private individuals. We are happy to help our customers whether they are building a new home or renovating and turning their existing one into their dream house.

On our website doorsforbuiders.com you can click on the door model you are interested in and fill out our quote request form or you are welcome to give us a call at 847 981 9900 to help you decide if one our in-stock solid mahogany doors will be ideal for your project or if you would like to create your own unique custom front entry door.


How To Measure Front Door?

When first starting the search to replace your front door, it is always best to have a rough idea of the size you need to be focusing your search on, and if that size is a standard size or a custom unit.

We strongly recommend having a professional installer take the final measurements to ensure the proper fit of the unit.

When it comes to doors there are four different dimensions that are typically referred to:


Brick Opening/Masonry Opening  • 
Rough Opening  • 
Unit Size  • 
Door Slab Size

Brick Opening of the Front Door

The Brick Opening size of entry door is measured from the exterior side of the home from Brick to Brick.

This size the largest of the four and is the size that most people measure when changing an existing unit with a new unit.

The Brick Opening is typically about 2-1/2″ wider and 1-1/4” taller than the Unit Size. Example is 40″ x 82-3/4″.

Entry Door Brick Opening
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Rough Opening of the Front Door

The next size is the Rough Opening size of entry door which the 2nd largest dimension and typically widely talked about when referring to a new construction.

The Rough Opening is the space between the two wall studs the door unit will be attached to.

The Rough Opening is typically about 1-1/2” wider than the unit size and about a 1” taller.

The space that is left over will be used by the installer to shim and square the unit into place. Example 39” x 82-1/2”.

Entry Door Rough Opening
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Unit Size of the Front Door

The Unit size of entry door is the external dimension of the frame on which the door slab it attached.

We use the Rough Opening and the Brick Opening dimensions to find out the proper Unit Size for each home. Example 37-1/2” x 81-1/2”.

Entry Door Unit Size
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Door Slab Size

The unit size in turn, gives us the Door Slab size of entry door, which is the actual operating door. A typical frame is 1-1/2” wider than the nominal door slab size.

When talking about a door size most people refer to the nominal door slab size. Example 36” x 80”.

Entry Door Slab Size
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Taking some rough measurements to figure out what unit size your home might need is always a good idea when starting out your door purchasing experience.

When it comes to making the purchase of your new door, we strongly recommend that the installer who will be installing the unit, confirms your measurements to ensure a proper fit.

 


Do you offer Jamb Extension for your Front Doors?

We offer Jamb extension for our in-stock wood entry door to fit a 2″ x 6″ wall construction.

If you are building a home with a wall studs, 2″ x 6″ we do offer in-stock 2″ jamb extensions.

The jamb extensions will be applied by your fine carpenter to the exterior side of the frame to achieve the desired 6-9/16″ jamb size.

The jamb extensions we offer are manufactured from the same wood species as the door and they come pre-finished in the same stain color. This allows for the jamb extensions to look as part of the door design.

If you require a larger than the standard 4-9/16″ or 6-9/16″ jambs, we can custom make the custom jamb extension for you and have it pre-finished in our professional spray booth to match the color of the door unit.


What is Brick Moulding? Do I need it for Front Door?

Brick Moulding is the exterior wooden trim that is applied on the exterior of the door unit to cover the connection point between the door frame and the wall stud where the door unit is installed.

Do I need to have Brick Moulding?

Yes, most of the projects require exterior brick moulding even if they have siding and not a brick facade. Appling brick moulding gives a clean finished look for your front entrance and hides the connecting point between the door unit and the wall construction.


Pivot Doors

What makes Pivot Doors different?

A Pivot door differs from traditional doors in one crucial way. The hinge is offset from the frame of the door, which allows it to be bigger than a door with a traditional hinge. The Pivot hinge is set on the top and bottom of the frame using pins, and the door revolves around it. While the size of the opening is only as big as the distance between the hinge and the other side of the door, it has the appearance of being much larger due to the side of the door that is on the other side of the hinge. Also, Pivot doors fit into modern, contemporary, and transitional architectural styles because of their unique hinge system that separates itself from the pack. It contributes to the flow of sleek, modern homes.


What are double rabbeted jambs and how do they set our Pivot Doors apart?

Pivot doors have some inherent drawbacks due to the hinge system. They have less insulation because more space is needed around the frame for the door to operate smoothly. While most companies do not have a solution for this, we have a double rabbeted jamb system that decreases the airflow on the side of the frame. It allows the door to be closer to the side of the frame, reducing the gap.


Why is a multipoint lock important for a Pivot Door?

Multipoint locks are essentially a tool to increase security, increase insulation, and eliminate warping. While all of these are great benefits, the one that interests us most here is the reduced warping. Pivot doors are big and can have a good weight to them, so warping is a pressing concern. The multiple locking points make it so that the door is more anchored and less likely to warp. All of our Pivot doors are equipped with this locking system.


Aluminum Clad Doors

What is an Aluminum Shield?

No matter how high quality your wood door is, due to the nature of wood, it is susceptible to the elements. Our Aluminum Shield is the solution to this. The Aluminum Shield is a layer of aluminum that is placed in front of the wood veneer on the outside of the door (only on the exterior). It is incredibly weather-proof and maintenance-free.


Why Aluminum Shield and Not just a Wood Door?

High-quality wooden doors are elegant, beautiful, and resistant to the elements — so why choose Aluminum Shield? The aluminum shield does not just protect the door, it offers a new aesthetic that cannot be easily replicated. The aluminum outside is sleek and cool while the wooden inside is smooth and elegant. It’s a modern solution for a classic problem.


How Does The Aluminum Shield Work?

As the name suggests, the Aluminum Shield offers more protection than a traditional wood veneer. But a lot of considerations went into developing our Aluminum Shield Front Doors that separate it from typical aluminum cladding manufacturers. For example, our Aluminum Shield never actually touches the wood veneer. This is to eliminate any interference with vapor diffusion that would have most likely occurred.





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