What to know before you buy

Purchasing a door online requires specific information to ensure a seamless experience. This section is designed to provide the beneficial information you need to buy with confidence.

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Door Buying Guide

Choosing new doors for your home is an exciting and important decision. So if this is your first time, you've come to the right place. Since each door and opening may have different dimensions and requirements, we have structured our site to allow you maximum flexibility. Look through our site and find the design you love.!

You may narrow your search by material, door size, collection, or model. Click on the desired door to view prices, options and additional information. Some doors are shown with a finish, however are sold unfinished or primed unless otherwise selected.

Feel free to give us a call, we are here to help you with any questions or explore any ideas you may have!

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Right Door, Right Style, Right Material.

One of the most important steps in the selection process! Protecting your door properly and selecting the right door type can lower maintenance, improve performance and extend the life of your door.

Exposure

Doors facing south or southwest in the United States receive the most sunlight and require the most protection. Dark colors and/or storm doors can be harmful in these applications if not well protected by a 5 to 8 foot overhang.

Overhang

Every exterior door needs protection to perform properly and extend it's life. The more exposure to elements, the larger the overhang should be. Please refer to the manufacturer's warranty and guidelines set by the manufacturer.

Color Choice

Your choice of colors may also be dictated by exposure. Light colors reflect heat and dark colors absorb heat. Color choices are a great expression of style, however please consider exposure when selecting colors.

Storm Doors

Storm doors can be helpful in the right application and harmful in the wrong one. Heat build up behind a storm door can exceed 120 degrees in some areas and damage your new door.

Factory Finish

Selecting a factory finish option will produce a door unit with a beautiful, protective finish that promotes long life, beauty, and accentuates the natural allure and texture of the wood grain. For best results our doors are pre finished by the manufacturer. Colors shown may vary from actual application due to uncontrollable factors such as the lighting in your room and monitor settings.

Factory finished doors are custom made and CANNOT be returned. You will need to be
certain that any slight variations occurring between the actual color, and the representation
on our website will be acceptable. Please note slight variations in color and texture are naturally occurring in wood and not considered a defect. Some manufacturers may offer color samples, please call customer service for assistance in ordering. Manufactureres often provide color samples, please contact customer service (877-929-3667) for assistance in ordering samples.

Turnaround time: Ordering a factory finish will add an additional 1-2 weeks to the turnaround time.

Planning Specifications

TIMING AND PLANNING

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling, timing can be be a big deal! If you are working with a specific time frame, we reccomend giving us a call to make sure that we can accomdate your projects timeline with the right products.

Most door slabs ship out in approximately 1-2 weeks.

Most prehung units ship in approximately 3-5 weeks.

Adding a factory finish to either of the above generally adds 1-2 weeks.

BUILDING CODES

Check before you buy! As many of our products are non returnable due to the customization, this is a very important step to consider. Many cities require a permit for a new door. Some may require Fire Rated doors. Many coastal cities require impact and or wind rated doors.

Handing and Swing

Door swings are determined based on the direction the door opens when viewed from the exterior of the home. Here are the definitions of common door swing orientations:

Left Inswing: When standing outside the home and facing the door, a left inswing door is hinged on the left side of the door frame, and it swings inward toward the interior of the home.

Right Inswing: When standing outside the home and facing the door, a right inswing door is hinged on the right side of the door frame, and it swings inward toward the interior of the home.

Outswing Left: In this configuration, the door is hinged on the left side of the door frame when viewed from the exterior, and it swings outward away from the interior of the home.

Outswing Right: In this configuration, the door is hinged on the right side of the door frame when viewed from the exterior, and it swings outward away from the interior of the home.

* Exercise caution when placing your order, as various professionals or manufacturers may use different terminology to describe outswing door configurations.

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Door Slab or Slab Only vs Pre-Hung

Door Slab or Slab Only

Door Slab or Slab Only

Many of the doors featured on our page are initially offered as door slabs, commonly referred to as "slabs," "door only," or "door blanks." Purchasing a door slab only indicates that it does not come with a frame, requiring you to utilize your existing frame and hardware. Additionally, the slab will likely need to be trimmed, drilled, and mortised on-site to fit your current opening and hardware specifications. This option is ideal for single doors paired with frames in excellent condition. For other configurations, we generally recommend selecting the prehung option.

* Purchasing doors for a double door configuration may require you to utilize parts on your existing door unit such as a T-Astragal and Flush bolts. If you are unsure, feel free to contact us for more information.

Door Slab
A "door slab" refers to the portion of a door that comprises the actual panel or surface, excluding any attached frame, hinges, or hardware. Essentially, it is the flat, solid component of a door without any additional components. Door slabs are commonly used in situations where an existing frame is in place, and only the panel needs replacement or installation. They are available in various materials, designs, and sizes to suit different architectural styles and functional requirements. When purchasing a door slab, it is typically necessary to trim, drill, and mortise it on-site to fit precisely within the existing frame and accommodate hardware such as handles, locks, and hinges.

Astragal (T-Astragal)
A "T" shaped component that is attached to the passive door. Astragals are kerfed for weatherstrip to seal the gap between the two doors. In addition, top and bottom flushbolts are mortised into the astragal to hold the inactive door in place.

Pre-Hung

Pre-Hung

A prehung door unit refers to a complete door assembly that comes preassembled within its frame, including all necessary hardware and components for installation.

There are two measurements we will need to know in order to help you.

1: Rough Opening Measurement: In the context of doors, a rough opening refers to the framed and unfinished opening within a wall or structure where a door is intended to be installed. It is typically larger than the actual door unit to allow for adjustments and proper fitting during installation. The rough opening provides the necessary space for the door frame and any necessary adjustments, insulation, shimming, and finishing materials.

2: Jamb Width or Wall Studs: This measurement is important as you must have the correct door jamb width to correspond with your wall stud. The most common wall stud sizes are 2x4 or 2x6.

A prehung unit is ready to be installed directly into a rough opening in a wall without requiring additional framing work.

The main components of a prehung door unit typically include:

Door Slab
A "door slab" refers to the portion of a door that comprises the actual panel or surface, excluding any attached frame, hinges, or hardware. Essentially, it is the flat, solid component of a door without any additional components. Door slabs are commonly used in situations where an existing frame is in place, and only the panel needs replacement or installation. They are available in various materials, designs, and sizes to suit different architectural styles and functional requirements. When purchasing a door slab, it is typically necessary to trim, drill, and mortise it on-site to fit precisely within the existing frame and accommodate hardware such as handles, locks, and hinges.

Frame
The structural framework surrounding the door slab, consisting of vertical side jambs, a horizontal head jamb, and sometimes a threshold at the bottom. The frame provides support and stability to the door assembly.

Hinges
Mechanisms attached to the door and frame that allow the door to swing open and closed. In a prehung unit, the hinges are typically already installed on the door slab and attached to the frame.

Flush Bolts
Flush bolts are mechanical devices used to secure an inactive door in a double door setup. They are typically installed on the top and bottom edges of the inactive door and are designed to slide into corresponding strike plates or sockets in the door frame or floor when engaged. This helps to stabilize the door and prevent it from swinging freely when not in use.

Threshold / Sill
A horizontal component located at the bottom of the door frame, providing a transition between the interior and exterior floor surfaces and helping to prevent air, water, and debris infiltration.

Weather-stripping
Sealing material installed around the perimeter of the door slab to improve energy efficiency and weather resistance by sealing gaps between the door

Astragal (T-Astragal)
A "T" shaped component that is attached to the passive door. Astragals are kerfed for weatherstrip to seal the gap between the two doors. In addition, top and bottom flushbolts are mortised into the astragal to hold the inactive door in place.

Casing / Brickmould / Trim
Decorative molding or trim installed around the perimeter of the door frame to conceal gaps between the frame and the wall, providing a finished appearance.

Door Hardware
This includes any locks, handles, knobs, or other mechanisms necessary for opening, closing, and securing the door.

Checkout to Delivery

Order Review

Order Review

Once you have carefully reviewed all the details, you may proceed to place your order. Your order will then be forwarded to one of our dedicated order processing representatives who will conduct a review. Should any concerns or questions arise, we will reach out to you via email or phone before proceeding with the order to the manufacturer.

Order notifications

Order notifications

Upon completing the checkout process, you will receive an automated email from us confirming your order. Please retain this email for your records as it includes your order number and details. If you do not receive the confirmation email, kindly check your spam folder and ensure that your email address was entered correctly. This will also be important for future corespondence.

Shop Drawings

Shop Drawings

We will prepare and email you drawings that illustrate your pre-hanging selections, including frame size and door swing. Please review these drawings thoroughly and notify us within 24 hours if you find any issues with the order. Note: If you did not select to have your door(s) pre-hung, we will not send any drawings.

Production

Production

Production starts immediately after we review and approve the order. Once production pulls the door(s) off the shelf including all the parts needed, we will notify you via email (typically within 2-3 days) of the estimated shipping date. We work closely with our vendors to ensure orders are shipped on time. In the event of any delays we will notify you as soon as possible.
Please note: once your order is in production we will not be able to make any changes to the order.

Quality Control

Quality Control

Quality control is an integral aspect of our ordering process. Once production concludes, the manufacturers quality control team will perform a comprehensive inspection of your order prior to packaging. This will ensure that the door, frame, and hardware are all present and in perfect working condition.

Packaging

Packaging

We work with each manufacturer to ensure your doors are carefully packed and crated by the manufacturer to protect your investment during shipping.

Shipping

Shipping

Once the order arrives at the local terminal in your area, the shipping company will contact you directly to schedule a date and time of delivery. Two or more people must be on site to receive and inspect the order at time of delivery. All orders are delivered curb side on a truck with a liftgate. Please follow the delivery instructions provided on our website. Any special delivery needs should be arranged prior to production.

Delivery

Delivery

Once the order arrives to the local terminal in your area, the shipping company will contact you directly to schedule date and time of delivery. Two or more people must be on site to receive and inspect the order at time of delivery. All orders are delivered curb side on a truck with a liftgate. Please follow the delivery instructions provided on our website. Any special delivery needs should be arranged prior to production.