Your front door is the first thing guests will see as they arrive at your home. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your selection:
Typical Door Anatomy
Door styles. Your front door adds curb
appeal and can draw attention to your home. Use your imagination
to create unique designs by combining door panels, transoms and
decorative sidelites.
Glass options. Decorative glass adds a touch of elegance and class to any home. Choose one that reflects your style, whether it's a full panel of glass or a decorative transom across the top.
Security. You want your front door to be as secure as it is beautiful. Reinforced strike plate areas are a good security measure, and increasing the distance from the lockset to the deadbolt spreads impact load from potential break-ins, thereby increasing security. Check the frame of the door to be sure it's strong, tight and well constructed.
The relationship you have with your contractor is an important one. You will want one who is qualified, trustworthy and capable of explaining the differences in various products and installations
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Following is a glossary of different parts of entry doors to help you select the perfect door for your home.
Adjustable Threshold: threshold that can be adjusted up
and down to ensure a tight seal with the door panel. Creates a customized
fit for changing weather conditions, i.e. humidity, cold, dry air,
etc.
Brickmould: decorative moulding surrounding the exterior of
the door frame.
Caming: metal separator that holds individual pieces of decorative
glass in place. Caming is typically brass with a variety of decorative
finishes.
Door Panel: the actual door itself. In combination with the
frame, creates the entry way for your home.
Frame: the outside edge of the door unit surrounding the
door panel. Composed of the jambs, head and sill. The frame creates
the boundary of the door and works with the door panel to ensure
a tight, weatherproofed home.
Glazing: the glass system used in the door. Handing:
describes direction door opens and placement of the handle. When
standing outside, look at the closed door. If door swings in: Handle
on right = left hand door Handle on left = right hand door If door
swings out: Handle on right = right hand door Handle on left = left
hand door
Head: horizontal piece forming the top of the door frame.
Hinges: metal plates and pins that allow the door to swing out
or in.
Jamb: an upright piece forming the side of the door frame. As
an integral part of the frame, the jamb works to ensure a tight
fit for the door in your home.
Mull Post: structural post between the sidelite and the door.
Provides structural integrity to the door unit.
Multi-Point Locking System: locks in more than one location
on the door and frame. Provides increased security and a weathertight
seal.
Muntin Bars: the bars in the true divided light or grille
style of patio doors.
Rails: two horizontal areas on the door panel above and below
the glass or embossing.
Reinforcement Plate: steel plates (or sheets) behind the
locking system designed to increase the security factor of the door.
The further the lockset is from the deadbolt, the greater the resistance
to forced entry.
Sidelite: glass decorative accessory placed next to a door for
ornamentation and to allow light to pass through.
Sill: the bottom composite member of the door frame. Composed
of two pieces: the threshold and the subsill. Works to keep weather
(air and water) infiltration to a minimum.
Stiles: two vertical members of the door panel outside of
the glass or embossing.
Strikeplate: Protects the jamb from the hardware latch. Covers
the latch and deadbolt.
Subsill: area beneath the sill. Sometimes includes a weep system
to drain water away from the home.
Sweep: the weatherseal on the bottom of the door panel that
makes contact with the threshold.
Swing-in: describes a door system which opens inward, toward
the home, when in operation.
Swing-out: describes a door system which opens outward, away
from the home, when in operation.
Threshold: the bottom part of the door frame, i.e. the area
you step on when entering or exiting through the doorway.
Transom: decorative glass piece placed above the door to accent
the style and appearance of the door.
Weatherstripping: flexible material surrounding door panel to
protect your home from air infiltration. Should be tight enough
to create a seal when the door is closed.
Weep System: located in the sill, it channels water away
from your home
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