1. Inside or Outside

Interior doors differ from exterior doors by two main factors. The first is the thickness of the door. Exterior doors are thicker than interior doors, typically 1 ¾” 44mm or more depending on style and security requirements, while interior doors tend to range from 1 3/8″ 35mm to 1 5/8 40mm.

Another differentiating factor is the type of glue used to join the joints of the door and the panels. Exterior doors are bonded with exterior grade adhesive, which offers greater resistance to moisture and temperature variations.

2. Door sizes

Doors are manufactured in a variety of standardized sizes (see list below). Most doors will allow you to reduce the size of no more than ½” (12mm) on each side, so choosing the correct size is essential, as oversizing panel doors will greatly affect their durability and limit your locking options.

– 1981mm (6ft 6in) x 762mm (2ft 6in)

– 1981mm (6ft 6in) x 838mm (2ft 9in)

– 2032mm (6ft 8in) x 813mm (2ft 8in)

– 2057mm (6ft 9in) x 838mm (2ft 9in)

– 2083mm (6ft 10in) x 863mm (2ft 10in)

– 2134mm (7ft) x 914mm (3ft)

3. Security considerations

Consider the level of security required and the type of locks you intend to use and choose your door accordingly. If you intend to use a mortise lock on a paneled door, make sure the door styles (the vertical wood on the outer edges) are wide enough to accommodate your chosen lock. Note: A common mistake is to locate a deep mortise lock at the center track point of the door, which can result in cutting through the entire mortise and tenon joint that holds the two door parts together, significantly weakening the door frame. Also consider the amount of glass and the position in relation to the lock/bolt locations, ie how accessible the locks/bolts are if a potential intruder breaks the glass.

4. Fire protection

Is there a fire regulation that requires the door in question to meet specific fire resistance standards? In the UK this is especially relevant if the property is to be rented out. You may want to give your home some extra fire protection, in which case, talk to your door supplier who can tell you about the options available. Fire rated doors are rated based on how long they can maintain their integrity in the event of a fire. They come with specific assembly instructions that must be followed to ensure maximum performance.

5. French doors

When choosing French doors, keep in mind that one door will be the ‘Active’ door (the door was opened normally without having to remove the concealed deadbolts in the door style trim). This door will be in regular use so when ordering, a choice must be made whether it will be placed on the left or right and swing in or out. You will need to purchase locks specifically designed for this type of door arrangement.

6. Lock position

Some doors are designed to have the lock placed on only one side. This is especially relevant in prefabricated hollow doors in which a block of solid wood has been placed in the area of ​​the lock. The top edge of the door will have some indication of which side this block is placed on.

7. Marking the new door

Since old door frames are rarely perfectly square, the new door will most likely require some shaping. It may be helpful to use the existing door as a template. Before removing the old door, note the fit carefully, as it may be necessary to compensate for any inaccuracies when marking the new door. Place the old door on top of the new door making sure that its outermost parts are within the outline of the new door. Using a sharp pencil; mark around the door. Make any necessary adjustments based on your observations of the original door fit. Compare the size of the door opening to your markings. The gaps around the sides and top should be about 2mm.

8. Mounting adjustments

Once the hinges are installed on the door, attach it to the frame with one screw on each hinge. This will allow you to make minor adjustments to the position of the door before drilling the other screw holes.

9. Drilling the shroud

When drilling the mortise for a mortise lock, measure the depth of the keyhole against the bit and wrap a piece of tape around the bit to mark the distance. This will allow you to measure the depth to avoid over-drilling and weakening or damaging the door.

10. Door edge protection

The top and bottom edges of exterior doors must be sealed with paint or varnish to prevent moisture penetration, which often leads to expansion and rot.