Exterior Doors, Best Practices Guide to Selecting & Installing
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Best Practices guide to selecting & installing exterior residential or light commercial doors
Guide to types of exterior doors
Exterior door materials, construction, types
Doors, Exterior, Frames
Exterior door energy efficiency guide
Exterior door sweeps & seals
Doors, Exterior Flashing Details
Door manufacturers list: where to buy doors, door flashings, door parts
Questions & answers about how to choose & install exterior doors

How to install exterior doors: this article discusses the selection and installation of exterior doors, including the types of doors, how doors are constructed, door energy efficiency, and flashing and sealing doors to avoid air and water leaks.

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DOORS, EXTERIOR, Selecting & Installing

Fiberglass exterior door during installation (C) D Friedman Eric Galow Galow Homes

In this article series we discuss the selection and installation of windows and doors, following best construction and design practices for building lighting and ventilation, with attention to the impact on building heating and cooling costs, indoor air quality, and comfort of occupants.

We review the proper installation details for windows and doors, and we compare the durability of different window and door materials and types. This article includes excerpts or adaptations from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.

See WINDOWS & DOORS our home page for window and door information, and also see WINDOW TYPES - Photo Guide for a photographic guide to window and door types and architectural styles. Our links at page left provide in-depth articles on window and door selection, inspection, installation, problem diagnosis, and repair.

Our photograph (above left-DJF) illustrates a fiberglass exterior door during installation. Pre-hung doors make the door installation more rapid and often more accurate, but nevertheless it is important to assure that the door jamb, when set into the opening, is properly secured plumb and square and with proper clearances. Making the doorway rough opening as square as you can makes for a better time installing the door assembly. The finished, installed door is shown later in this article. Photo courtesy Eric Galow, Galow Homes.

What Exit Doors are Required on Residential buildings?

Using the Residential Building Code of New York State for an example,

Residential Code of New York State (RCNYS) section R311 requires one side-hinged exit door not less than 3 feet in width and 6 feet 8 inches in height, openable from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort, that provides direct access to the exterior without requiring travel through the garage.

As described in Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction Chapter 3, BEST PRACTICES GUIDE: WINDOWS & DOORS:

While some entry doors are well-protected from the elements by porches or recessed entries, many face harsh weather exposures in addition to the usual bumps and bruises from children, furniture movers, and others.

In addition, doors must resist warping, shrinking, and swelling across a wide range of temperatures and moisture conditions in order to close tightly and to operate smoothly—all in all, a tall order met with an increasing degree of sophistication by manufacturers.

For new construction, most entry doors are purchased pre hung as an “entry system,” which, in addition to the frame, hardware, weather-seals, and any sidelites, may also include integrated security systems, lighting, and keyless entry systems.

Note: Interior doors are covered under “Interior Finish,” starting on page 186 in the Best Construction text.

Exterior Door Materials

While solid-wood entry doors can last for decades and grace the fronts of many older homes, they are rapidly giving way to a host of hybrid and composite products, some of which are difficult to categorize. While most budget-oriented projects use steel-faced doors, fiberglass and composite doors are the fastest growing market segment, promising greater durability at a price still well below solid wood.

Exterior doors are typically classified by their facing material, but their performance and durability is more a function of their internal construction (Table 3-7).

Wooden Exterior Doors

Traditional frame-and-panel solid wood doors, once standard fare for residential entries, have become primarily a high-end specialty item.

A few larger exterior door manufacturers, such as Jeld-Wen and Kolbe and Kolbe Millworks, still manufacture stock designs in solid wood, but many who have stayed in the business are niche suppliers of high-end custom doors in an endless variety of wood species, shapes, and styles from Shaker simplicity to 14-foot castle doors (see Window & Door Sources).

Our photo (left) shows a blue-painted solid core exterior door that was installed circa 1967 on a New York home. Photo courtesy Galow Homes. On traditional homes a raised panel solid wood exterior door has been used for more than 100 years. The door needs to be kept painted and sealed or protected from the weather by an entrance roof.

To improve strength and stability in wood doors, Kolbe and Kolbe uses laminated-veneer lumber (LVL) for locking rails, and custom door makers Lamson-Taylor and Simpson build up their rails, stiles, and panels from two or more layers of wood.

Lamson-Taylor laminates foam insulation between two solid wood faces to create a unique insulated wood door that the company says is immune to problems with temperature and humidity differences across the door.

To keep costs down and improve stability, many manufacturers offer simulated panel doors with a real wood veneer over an engineered wood core. These are sturdy and offer good value, but the veneered face is more vulnerable to damage than a solid wood model.

If well maintained and periodically repainted or stained, a high-quality wood door can last indefinitely. However, they are best suited to temperate climates and should be protected from direct weather exposure with a suitable overhang or inset.

Steel Exterior Doors

A premium residential steel door has a 24-gauge or heavier galvanized steel skin over a wood or steel frame filled with foam insulation. This creates an extremely strong and durable product with an effective insulation rating of about R-8 for polyurethane insulation versus about R-5 for polystyrene.

Our photo (left) shows a steel exterior door retrofit to a 1920's home in Poughkeepsie, NY, adding security and weather-resistance to the structure.

Most steel and other hollow-core doors contain a wood or composite lock-block for mounting the lockset, and may use wood, engineered lumber, or steel for the stiles and rails.

Bottom rails, which get the greatest exposure to water, are sometimes made of waterproof composites.

Steel is the strongest edge material but requires a thermal break to prevent condensation around the door’s interior perimeter.

Wood forms a natural thermal break, but it is prone to decay along the door bottom if not kept well painted (Figure 3-23).

Here is a closeup photo of a rotted bottom rail in a vinyl-covered storm door -DF.

Watch out: Our photo (left) shows a rust-damaged exterior door that was exposed to weather and not maintained. The door frame and trim at this opening were also rotted. Unused, the building owner didn't notice this deterioration until the door, jamb, and trim all needed to be replaced. Here is a closeup photo of the rusted door bottom.

Most steel doors come embossed with a wood-grain pattern and preprimed with a baked-on polyester finish, although smooth metal finishes are also available.

For better protection, some manufacturers apply a vinyl coating with wood grain, which can be stained with a high solids stain. The vinyl is fairly durable, but deep scratches are difficult to conceal. For a more realistic wood look, some manufacturers apply a stainable wood-fiber finish. Follow manufacturers’ recommendations regarding prep work and finishing.

In general, premium steel doors are very strong and durable, although they require regular painting and over time will likely acquire a dent or two. Rust is generally not a problem with galvanized or stainless-steel facings, but condensation can damage finishes on doors without thermal breaks.

(Also see CONDENSATION or SWEATING PIPES, TANKS and DEW POINT TABLE - CONDENSATION POINT GUIDE as well as HUMIDITY LEVEL TARGET.)

Fiberglass Exterior Doors

Fiberglass doors, first introduced by Therma-Tru in the early 1980s, are built internally the same as a steel door with internal wood rails and stiles and a rigid foam core.

The fiberglass facing is typically embossed with a stainable wood grain, but is also available with a smooth finish that when painted is hard to distinguish from a painted wood door. Fiberglass doors generally price midway between a steel and wood door and carry long-term warranties.

Fiberglass, while not as strong as steel, is very durable, stable, and energy-efficient. It will not warp, crack, or swell like wood and will not dent like steel, making it a good choice in harsh weather exposures.

While fiberglass can be gouged or cracked if hit hard enough, repairs are no more difficult than for steel doors. Scratches, however, are difficult to sand out without destroying the wood-grain pattern on embossed panels.

Our fiberglass exterior door photo (left) is installed on a home in New York. We plan to construct an entry roof to further protect the door from the weather. Photo courtesy Eric Galow, Galow Homes.

Composite Exterior Doors

A new breed of engineered wood doors are built of a variety of engineered wood materials, including laminated-veneer lumber (LVL), exterior-grade medium-density-fiberboard (MDF), and exterior-grade particleboard. Some are built with an engineered-wood skin over a foam or particleboard core, while others are milled from a single slab of MDF. Most come with either smooth or embossed wood-grain finishes ready to paint or stain.

Composite doors tend to price between steel and fiberglass and carry warranties up to 10 years. While many wood composites have established a good track record in exterior use, others, such as hardboard, have had problems with swelling and delamination if exposed to the weather and not protected by a good coat of paint.

As with real wood, it would be prudent to use these products in a sheltered entryway and keep them well painted. Until long term durability has been established, their use remains an open question.

Also see
  WINDOW / DOOR ENERGY EFFICIENT, DOE
    Select & Install Energy Efficient Windows
    Selecting Energy Efficient Skylights
    Window Energy Efficiency Designs
    Window Glazing Types
    Window Operating Types
    Window Frame Materials
    Window Installation
    Improving Existing Windows
    Energy Performance Ratings
    Window Daylighting Requirements

Manufacturers of Windows & Doors

Windows and Patio Doors

Andersen Windows and Doors www.andersenwindows.com Vinyl-clad windows and patio doors, including storm resistant models

Atrium Companies Inc. www.atriumcompanies.com Vinyl and aluminum windows and patio doors

Certainteed Corp. www.certainteed.com Vinyl windows and patio doors

Crestline Windows and Doors www.crestlinewindows.com Wood, vinyl, and aluminum-clad windows and patio doors

Eagle Windows and Doors www.eaglewindow.com Extruded-aluminum-clad windows and sliders with LVL frames and steel entry doors

Fibertec Windows and Door Manufacturing www.fibertec.com Pultruded fiberglass windows and doors

Hurd Windows and Doors www.hurd.com Wood, vinyl, and aluminum clad windows and patio doors

Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors www.jeld-wen.com Wood, vinyl, aluminum-clad, and aluminum windows and patio doors

Kolbe Windows and Doors www.kolbe-kolbe.com Wood, vinyl, and aluminum-clad windows and patio doors

Marvin Window and Doors www.marvin.com Wood and extruded-aluminum-clad windows and patio doors, including true divided lites and storm-resistant models

Milgard Windows and Doors www.milgard.com Wood, aluminum, vinyl, and fiberglass-clad windows and patio doors

MW Windows www.mwwindows.com Wood, vinyl, and vinyl-clad windows and patio doors

Peachtree Doors and Windows www.peach99.com Vinyl-clad and aluminum-clad windows with optional hardwood interior; aluminum-clad, steel, and fiberglass patio doors with optional hardwood interior

Pella Windows and Doors www.pella.com Wood and aluminum-clad windows and patio doors with optional between-the-glass shades and blinds, including storm-resistant models

Thermotech Windows Ltd. www.thermotechwindows.com Complete line of fiberglass pultruded windows

Weather Shield Windows and Doors www.weathershield.com Wood, vinyl, vinyl-clad, and aluminum-clad windows and patio doors, including historic replacement windows and storm-resistant models

WindsorWindows and Doors www.windsorwindows.com Wood and vinyl windows and patio doors, including a line of wood windows with a cellular-PVC exterior

Door Manufacturers & Products Guide

Benchmark Entry Systems (division of Therma-Tru Doors) www.benchmarkdoors.com Steel and fiberglass entry doors

Jeld-Wen Windows and Doors www.jeld-wen.com Wood, wood composite wood, fiberglass, and steel entry doors

Kolbe Windows and Doors www.kolbe-kolbe.com Wood, steel, and fiberglass entry doors with LVL core and optional extruded-aluminum cladding on frame

Lamson-Taylor Custom Doors and Millwork www.lamsontaylor.com Custom pine and hardwood entry doors with foam insulation core

Masonite Corp. www.masonite.com Steel, wood-edged steel, and fiberglass entry doors

Peachtree Doors and Windows www.peach99.com Steel and smooth and textured fiberglass entry doors

Pella Windows and Doors www.pella.com Fiberglass and steel entry doors

Phoenix Door Manufacturing Company www.phoenixdoor.com Softwood and hardwood entry doors up to 8 ft. high and custom designs

Simpson Door Company www.simpsondoor.com Douglas-fir, hemlock, oak, and mahogany entrance doors, including custom doors; also primed MDF, particleboard, and composite wood doors

Stanley Door Systems (division of Masonite) www.stanleyworks.com Steel and fiberglass entry doors

Weathershield Windows and Doors www.weathershield.com Wood and steel entry doors, with wood, vinyl, aluminumclad, and vinyl-clad frames

Taylor Building Products www.taylordoor.com Steel (stainable finish) and fiberglass entry doors

Therma-Tru Doors www.thermatru.com Steel and fiberglass entry doors with optional vinyl-clad jambs

Industry Associations for Windows & Doors

American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) www.aamanet.org

Efficient Windows Collaborative www.efficientwindows.org

National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) www.nfrc.org Sustainable by Design www.susdesign.com

Shareware calculators for sun angles, solar heat gain, and shading

Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) www.wdma.com

-- Adapted and paraphrased, edited, and supplemented, with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction.

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InspectAPedia.com^® - Daniel Friedman - Publisher & Editor.
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
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  DOORS, EXTERIOR, Selecting & Installing
  DOORS, INTERIOR
    Exterior Door Materials
    Wooden Exterior Doors
    Steel Exterior Doors
    Fiberglass Exterior Doors
    Composite Exterior Doors
  Doors, Exterior, Frames
  Doors, Exterior, Energy Efficiency Guide
    Weather-Stripping Advice for Exterior Doors
    Exterior Door Sweeps
  Doors, Exterior Flashing Details
    Pan Flashing for Exterior Doors
  Window & Door Sources

Basic Housing Inspection, US DHEW, S 352.75 U48, p.144, out of print, but is available in most state libraries; New York State version, ca 1955, source of our window parts and window repair sketches.
Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspect ion services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
Eric Galow, Galow Homes, Lagrangeville, NY. Mr. Galow can be reached by email: ericgalow@gmail.com or by telephone: 914-474-6613. Mr. Galow specializes in residential construction including both new homes and repairs, renovations, and additions.
New York State Building Code, Mark Blanke,P.E. Assistant Director of Technical Services, New York State Department of State Code Enforcement and Administration, 99 Washington Ave., Suite 1160, Albany, NY 12231, Tel: 518-474-4073, FAX: 518-474-5788 - http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/Title19.htm
New York State Building Code - 2007, online, see http://publicecodes.citation.com/st/ny/st/index.htm
New York State Building Code - 2007, provisions governing stairs, railings, landings, etc. - http://publicecodes.citation.com/st/ny/st/b200v07/st_ny_st_b200v07_10_sec009.htm
Residential exit doors, stairways, landings, handrails and guards, Technical Bulletin, 1 January 2003 (10 July 2003), Source Department: 19NYCRR 1220 - Residential Code of New York State (RCNYS), web search 03/03/2011, original source: http://www.dos.state.ny.us/code/pdf/RCstairsTB.pdf

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

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Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for adaptations, quotations, or reproductions used at this website. All rights and contents of the JLC material are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
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DOORS, EXTERIOR, Selecting & Installing

What Exit Doors are Required on Residential buildings?

Exterior Door Materials

Wooden Exterior Doors

Steel Exterior Doors

Fiberglass Exterior Doors

Composite Exterior Doors

Manufacturers of Windows & Doors

Windows and Patio Doors

Door Manufacturers & Products Guide

Industry Associations for Windows & Doors

Questions & Answers regarding this article

Ask a Question or Search InspectAPedia

Technical Reviewers & References

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair