Windows Siding Doors Gutters
Our Team Our Customers Preferred Vendors
Doors

Doors 101

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

If you are ready to go ahead and request a free quotation please click here.


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

Home page | Windows | Siding | Doors | Gutters | About us | Special offer | Free estimate

American Home Renewal, Inc.
California Contractor's License #740587

info@renewal.com

© 2010 American Home Renewal, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Notice