FAQ's About Doors and Installations
Q: How do I decide which entry door is best for me?
A: You need to narrow your choices down to those that can meet your needs. There are a few key things to consider before deciding on an entry door or door system:
A. Yes, we can help out with helping you find a door and helping to get that installed quickly. We offer a daytime emergency service. We do not offer a 24 hour emergency service right now, we do hope to offer it in the future.
Q: What exactly is a "prehung" door?
A: A prehung door is simply a door that has been hinged and attached to a new jamb or frame prior to being installed into the opening. It is usually prepared for the lock set and may also include other items such as a sill, weather stripping, exterior trim and door stops.
Q: What is a "prefit" or "retrofit" door?
A: A prefit door is a door that has been properly sized, beveled, machined for hinges and bored for a lock set to fit into a door jamb or frame that is already installed in the opening. Usually this is done by "matching" the existing door's measurements, provided it fits the opening properly.
Q: I am replacing my existing doors. Is it better to use "prehung" or "prefit" doors?
A: Whether or not to use prehung doors depends upon a few things:
If, however,
Q: How are doors measured?
A: Doors are measured in feet and inches as follows: a standard 36" wide x 80" height x 1-3/4" thick door is called a 3/0 ("three oh", which means 3 feet, 0 inches) x 6/8 ("six eight", which means 6 feet, 8 inches) x 1-3/4".
Q: How do I determine if a door is a right-hand or a left-hand swing?
A: Standing on the side of the opening that the door swings into, look at the hinges. If they are on the right, then it's a right-hand door. If they are on the left, it’s a left hand door.
Q: What is the rough opening size needed for a prehung door?
A: For single doors add 2" to the door width and 2-1/2" to the door height. For instance, a standard 3/0 x 6/8 door would require a 38" x 82-1/2" rough opening. Pairs of doors require twice the door width plus 2" as well as an additional 1/2".
A: standard pair of 3/0 x 6/8 doors with an astragal would require a 74-1/2" x 82-1/2" rough opening. An astragal is molding composed of a half round surface surrounded by two flat plains (fillets). An astragal is commonly used to seal between a pair of doors.
Q: How do I determine the "jamb width" for a prehung door?
A: Determining the jamb width for a prehung door can be tricky. For most interior applications it is simply a matter of measuring the overall wall thickness. For instance, a standard wall constructed with 2 x 4 studs and 1/2" sheetrock on both sides would have a wall thickness of 4-9/16", that is 3-9/16" (the net width of the 2 x 4 stud) plus 1" (1/2" sheetrock times 2 sides). To determine the wall thickness of an existing interior door you will need to measure the overall jamb width, excluding the casings.
For exterior doors, determining the jamb or frame width is dependent upon what type of siding and exterior trim is being used. In situations where the exterior trim is being applied over the exterior siding, then it is simply a matter of measuring the entire wall thickness. In other situations where the siding material (such as stucco) is butting up to the exterior trim, then the thickness of the exterior material would not be included in the jamb width.
Q: What information will I need to order a prehung door?
A: Here is a checklist:
Rough opening or nominal door size
A: There are an ever increasing number of paint grade materials available in the millwork industry today. Composite material, MDF is becoming the standard for paint grade doors and moldings because of its superior paint ability and low cost. Finger-joint pine is another attractive option because of its ease of installation, fairly low cost and wide selection of available material. Poplar is another modestly priced hardwood that is excellent for use as paint grade material, especially on high-end custom work.
Maple / MDF doors (that is maple stiles and rails with MDF panels) are the finest in wood. Vertical grain Douglas fir doors continue to be popular in paint grade applications because of their wide selection and reasonable cost. Fiberglass and steel doors offer the consumer a modestly priced alternative, especially in a high-exposure situation.
Q: Can you provide custom designed doors, mouldings or other millwork?
A: No but we can assist you in finding a door and materials.
Q. Can I get a list of prices?
A. No. The custom nature of our product makes it impractical to generate a comprehensive price sheet. We would be more than happy to provide you with a detailed quote.
Q: How do I decide which entry door is best for me?
A: You need to narrow your choices down to those that can meet your needs. There are a few key things to consider before deciding on an entry door or door system:
- Do you prefer a painted or stained finish?
- How much exposure to the elements (e.g., sun, rain) does your entry see? The Houston area is hot and humid or cold and wet. It's very important to consider how much sun and moisture your door will be exposed to.
- How long will you be staying in your home?
- What style is appropriate for both the home and neighborhood you live in? HOA neighborhood regulations should be considered.
- What are your budget concerns?
A. Yes, we can help out with helping you find a door and helping to get that installed quickly. We offer a daytime emergency service. We do not offer a 24 hour emergency service right now, we do hope to offer it in the future.
Q: What exactly is a "prehung" door?
A: A prehung door is simply a door that has been hinged and attached to a new jamb or frame prior to being installed into the opening. It is usually prepared for the lock set and may also include other items such as a sill, weather stripping, exterior trim and door stops.
Q: What is a "prefit" or "retrofit" door?
A: A prefit door is a door that has been properly sized, beveled, machined for hinges and bored for a lock set to fit into a door jamb or frame that is already installed in the opening. Usually this is done by "matching" the existing door's measurements, provided it fits the opening properly.
Q: I am replacing my existing doors. Is it better to use "prehung" or "prefit" doors?
A: Whether or not to use prehung doors depends upon a few things:
- First, are you replacing the door casings as well
- What shape are the existing jambs in; are they scratched or dented
- Do all your doors currently fit well and operate properly
If, however,
- You are only changing the doors and not your door casings
- Your jambs are in good shape
- Your doors are all fitting properly
Q: How are doors measured?
A: Doors are measured in feet and inches as follows: a standard 36" wide x 80" height x 1-3/4" thick door is called a 3/0 ("three oh", which means 3 feet, 0 inches) x 6/8 ("six eight", which means 6 feet, 8 inches) x 1-3/4".
Q: How do I determine if a door is a right-hand or a left-hand swing?
A: Standing on the side of the opening that the door swings into, look at the hinges. If they are on the right, then it's a right-hand door. If they are on the left, it’s a left hand door.
Q: What is the rough opening size needed for a prehung door?
A: For single doors add 2" to the door width and 2-1/2" to the door height. For instance, a standard 3/0 x 6/8 door would require a 38" x 82-1/2" rough opening. Pairs of doors require twice the door width plus 2" as well as an additional 1/2".
A: standard pair of 3/0 x 6/8 doors with an astragal would require a 74-1/2" x 82-1/2" rough opening. An astragal is molding composed of a half round surface surrounded by two flat plains (fillets). An astragal is commonly used to seal between a pair of doors.
Q: How do I determine the "jamb width" for a prehung door?
A: Determining the jamb width for a prehung door can be tricky. For most interior applications it is simply a matter of measuring the overall wall thickness. For instance, a standard wall constructed with 2 x 4 studs and 1/2" sheetrock on both sides would have a wall thickness of 4-9/16", that is 3-9/16" (the net width of the 2 x 4 stud) plus 1" (1/2" sheetrock times 2 sides). To determine the wall thickness of an existing interior door you will need to measure the overall jamb width, excluding the casings.
For exterior doors, determining the jamb or frame width is dependent upon what type of siding and exterior trim is being used. In situations where the exterior trim is being applied over the exterior siding, then it is simply a matter of measuring the entire wall thickness. In other situations where the siding material (such as stucco) is butting up to the exterior trim, then the thickness of the exterior material would not be included in the jamb width.
Q: What information will I need to order a prehung door?
A: Here is a checklist:
Rough opening or nominal door size
- Jamb width or finished wall thickness
- Door style, species and finish
- Hinge style and color
- Selected lockset (for proper door machining)
- Handing or swing of door
- Additionally for exterior doors
- Exterior trim and siding used on home and/or threshold needed
- Distance flooring projects into the door opening
A: There are an ever increasing number of paint grade materials available in the millwork industry today. Composite material, MDF is becoming the standard for paint grade doors and moldings because of its superior paint ability and low cost. Finger-joint pine is another attractive option because of its ease of installation, fairly low cost and wide selection of available material. Poplar is another modestly priced hardwood that is excellent for use as paint grade material, especially on high-end custom work.
Maple / MDF doors (that is maple stiles and rails with MDF panels) are the finest in wood. Vertical grain Douglas fir doors continue to be popular in paint grade applications because of their wide selection and reasonable cost. Fiberglass and steel doors offer the consumer a modestly priced alternative, especially in a high-exposure situation.
Q: Can you provide custom designed doors, mouldings or other millwork?
A: No but we can assist you in finding a door and materials.
Q. Can I get a list of prices?
A. No. The custom nature of our product makes it impractical to generate a comprehensive price sheet. We would be more than happy to provide you with a detailed quote.