Ultimate Guide to Buying a Custom Wood Door
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By Shayan Behjati - Sep 26, 2021
Figuring Out the Size of Your Custom Solid Wood Door
Measure the Dimensions
In order to make sure that your custom exterior solid wood door matches the size dimensions, don’t forget to measure the door frame dimensions:
- Measure the door slab, which is the actual solid wood door without any hardware or frame installed. If you plan to replace the existing door and keep the frame as it is, then the new door size should be exactly the same as the existing door (height, width, and thickness).
- If you plan to replace the exterior or interior wood solid along with the frame, then take the measurement from outside the frame. For each manufacturer, the net frame size may vary. To allow adjustment, the net frame size or the unit size is smaller than the rough opening.
Decide on Configuration That Works for the Given Dimension
For custom wood doors interior and exterior, the owner has to decide which door system would work well for this available dimension. There are several options available for the owner and their designer to select from. For instance, if the owner wants to install a custom double solid wood door, then there are several options available at US Door & More.
Slab or Pre-hung?
Slab and pre-hung is required for the custom interior wood door. A pre-hung wood door includes a frame mounted door along with the hinges and it is just ready to be installed and then used with the prepared doorway. On the other hand, a slab door is considered as basic, which is just a wood door and does not have any frame, handle or the hinges set. Refer to our comprehensive guide about Slab vs Prehung.
Designing Your Custom Solid Wood Door
Decide on the Door Design for the Custom Wood Door
Designing the solid custom wood door includes many options:
- Glass or not? – This comes under the styling of the solid wood door. If the owner decides to have glass, then the question of privacy comes into play. US Door & More offers a wide range of glass styles including 2/3 Lite Doors, Radius Lite Door, Full Lite Door, and many more.
- Selecting the door color – For solid wood doors, interior or exterior, choosing the right shade of door is most important. If the walls have a darker shade, then paint the door dark. The outlining technique is also effective to bring out greater details of the wooden door. Use a deep paint color for the trim to outline the door.
- The architecture of the door and house – The custom wood door style is dependent on the house architecture for instance, in the case of a colonial-style house, simple lines and proportional style door style is best suited. Vibrant colors and bold geometry style doors are suited for an Art Deco house. US Door & More offers a wide range of house styles and door suggestions.
Which Wood Is Best for Doors?
Selecting the right material for the custom wood door is most important because this depends on the taste and aesthetic sense of the owner. US Door & More provides a wide range of materials for solid wood doors including Mahogany, Fir, Oak, Walnut Exterior Wood Door, and much more.
Both interior and exterior doors can have different types of wood, which also depends on personal choice, location, and climate where the house is located.
For the interior custom wood doors, Alder and Poplar are seen as the most popular wood types because of their affordability and beauty. Knotty Alder has knots in the grain pattern. This adds more rustic charm to the door and its appearance. Pine wood is also the cheapest material the interior doors are made out of. In the case of exterior custom wood doors, Mahogany wood seems to be the best option, which is well known for its aromatic qualities. Mahogany wood has a gentle grain that can adapt to any architecture from classic to contemporary. Rot and decay are common issues faced by exterior wood doors, and Mahogany wood seems to be best suited for this when it comes to durability. Other hardwoods like Oak are also rich and quality, but the affordability issue makes them less viable for most homes.
The wood types from which the buyer can choose for the interior and exterior custom wood door include:
- Poplar
- White Pine
- Cedar
- Alder
- Red Oak
- Walnut
- White Oak
- Birch
- Hickory
- Mahogany
- Cherry
- Ash
How do you pick a front door color?
Custom exterior wood door color needs to be selected based on the design and theme of the house. It is recommended to stick with a neutral hue like black, brown, or gray. Even the use of navy blues and deep red could work so well for the classic custom wood doors. Some people are afraid to paint their doors with bright colors, but why not experiment with colors? If you want to add a bold statement to your house, paint the exterior wood door with orange, yellow, or lime green. Quality wood doors are usually stained rather than painted. While you can pick any shade for your wood door, we recommend staying with gentle classic finishes as they tend to stay trendy for years. Walnut, Ebony, and Natural wood colors are among the most favorites.
Consider various accessories to decorate your door
Besides the door design and color, there are door accessories that you can use to improve the look of your door. Here are some ideas:
- Place an antique camera or other vintage items hung over the front door to give it a warm look.
- Place a ring of artificial or fresh flowers on the front door to add an appealing and refreshing look for the door.
- Wooden tags and welcome notes add beauty to the front door.
- Using Moss Letters could add a pretty look to your front door.
If your house is rustic, the followings can improve the look of the doors:
Clavos and Hinge Straps
To add more rustic detail to the wood entry door, it is recommended to use hinge straps and clavos. Clavos refer to the decorative nails which add the old warm charm and give the decorative look with the most structural details.
The hinges need to be well coordinated well with the handle and hinge finishes to give the seamless look for the door.
Crossbuck
The crossbucks could be added to the vertically planked doors and gates to add more strength. These are the future of door decorative features that could add the most rustic touch.
Dentil Shelf
The craftsman look can be created by adding the dentil shelf on the front wooden entry door. This includes the series of small square blocks that are uniformly added and spaced while projecting like teeth.
Wrought Iron
The wooden door look can be completed with elegant wrought iron designs. To add beauty of old world inspired design, ornate and sophisticated iron should be used.
Speakeasy
This was coined in the time of Prohibition Era which refers to the small window cut present at the eye level of the entry panel door which is used to view the outside of the entire door. It can be in the form of either glass or door with a latch.
Pick a right locking mechanism for your door
Electronic Locks
An electronic lock is recommended to lock by means of electric current. It is recommended for wooden doors as they can work as stand alone locks with an electronic control assembly mounted onto the lock directly. They are secure and can be monitored and controlled remotely, to lock and unlock the door.
Tabular Entry Sets
These looks are in the form of entry codes which are entered to open the door. These are secure as it is hard to guess the code by any outsider. These locks are secure and provide a combination of numbers to be entered as a code for securing the door.
Mortise Lock Entry Sets
These sets fit doors which have been prepared specially to accommodate to fit the Mortise lock. It provides an extra layer of security with a keyless locking system with UL listed mortise lock box. Check some interesting locks here.
MultiPoint Lock Systems (3 or more latches or bolts)
This helps in locking the door at different points, typically at the top, middle and bottom. It has three deadbolts which add an additional layer of security to the door as it needs more force to break through a door which is locked at three different points.
Pick a door supplier
If you have decided to finally order a custom wooden door, exterior or interior, then picking the door supplier is the first step to do. You need to survey prices, material and quality offered by the different suppliers before making the final decision. This can also be a tricky step because selecting the wrong supplier could ruin the entire choice and decision of the door. Following tips are recommended:
- Always check for door supplier’s excellence and credibility
- Avoid suppliers who offer other services besides doors. These suppliers typically lack experience as their focus is stretched thin between multiple industries.
- Favor smaller companies to work with. Small companies will give you more attention.
- If you choose an online supplier, read the product description and ask questions. Do not assume what you see in the picture is what you get. Doors can change dramatically when customized.
- Check whether they provide custom made doors or not
- Cheaper is not always the best. Compare the cheapest option with the others and be sure to understand what is being compromised to achieve a lower price.
Not everyone knows how to install a door, so have an installer on hand when you are installing the door if you think you might need one. An exterior or interior custom wood door needs to be installed by a professional, so set a meet up date with the installer, so when the door arrives, the installer is already there to install the door instantly. As keeping a wooden door aside in a safe position is also not an easy job, it is recommended to install the door right away when it reaches your house.
Consider the lead time for the door delivery
This considers the question of how long the shipment of the product will take as waiting too long is a waste. Doors are an important necessity when either constructing the house or when replacing an existing door. So, it is recommended to choose the door supplier wisely that has the least lead time for the door delivery.
How do you determine door handing?
The swing configuration of the custom wooden door depends on the space where the door is installed. If the space inside is limited, then it is recommended to have a right or left hand outswing door. So, it merely depends on space and convenience to select the right swing configuration. The 8 available options at US Door & More are available here.
Know the Right Jamb Size for the Custom Wood Door
The jamb width refers to the wall thickness width where the door will be fitting into, including siding, or sheetrock that is on the outside as well. To measure the door jamb size, remove the trim siding or molding on the door. To get the correct size, make sure to measure from the visible edges of the jamb. Here is a guide to measure the jamb size correctly.
Know about your local code requirements and restrictions
There are certain federal laws and nationally recognized codes which you need to know before building the house or installing any hardware like the wooden doors. Inquire about your local code requirements and restrictions before making the final purchase for the solid wooden exterior door.
Get permit from the HOA (Home Owner's Associations) Office
The homeowner association’s governing documents include all the regulations, rules and contractual terms which the members are bound by. Getting a permit from the HOA Office is most important before installing the custom solid wood door.
Custom Solid Wood Door FAQs
Some of the commonly asked FAQs for the custom doors are:
Should You Choose a Solid Wood Door Over One With Glass?
It totally depends on personal choice and aesthetic choices of the owner. However, the fact is clear that a solid wooden door requires much more maintenance compared to the glass door as wooden surfaces are much harder to clean. An opaque exterior wooden door will definitely help in protecting the inside of the house from light and heat, but yes, it would also mean that you will miss out the outside view. A wooden exterior door is also prone to weathering issues and can have a higher chance to develop leakage. A wood door with glass can also be a good option. If you install a custom wood door with high functional glass material, then it is possible to reap the benefits of both. Wood adds charm and aesthetic factor to the house and specialized glass can help in adding energy efficient solutions to the house.
Are Custom Wood Doors Secured?
Exterior custom wood doors are selected by the owners to give a traditional charm to their homes. Along with the aesthetically pleasing sense, the custom wood door can also give a very secure feature to your house. Timber wood is a secure material to be used in the exterior wood doors. It is necessary to ensure that the door also fits well in the wood slab. Solid wood doors are also considered to be exceptionally secure and reliable.
Are Custom Wood Doors Energy Efficient?
Unfortunately, wooden doors are poor insulators of heat. They are considered the least energy efficient doors out of all the other kinds of door materials available. They can absorb heat easily and can easily cause heat flow. Extreme weather or temperatures are seen as the most dangerous and common factor that causes damage to exterior wood doors. If the temperature is too high or low, then it can cause damage to the wood directly. With changes in temperature, the wood door can expand or contrast. This is the reason why extreme temperatures are always considered as a threat to the wood doors, as they are more exposed to weather conditions day and night.
Which Wood Is Best for Custom Wood Exterior Doors?
In the case of exterior custom wood doors, cedar wood seems to be a good idea, which is well known for its aromatic qualities. Rot and decay are common issues faced by exterior wood doors, and Mahogany wood seems to be best suited for this when it comes to durability.
How much do custom wood doors cost?
As a rough estimate, a stock slab door starts at $150, while a pre-hung starts at around $400. However, a custom wood door could even run three times this cost, starting at $1,500.
What is the cheapest wood for custom interior wood doors?
Pine is regarded as the cheapest material used for the wood interior doors.. It is also cheap and affordable.
What is the cheapest wood for custom wood exterior doors?
Ash is regarded as the cheapest wood for the exterior doors which is inexpensive, outstandingly strong and plentiful.
Can I replace a door without replacing the frame?
In order to make sure that your custom exterior solid wood door matches the size dimensions, don’t forget to measure the door frame dimensions:
- Measure the door slab, which is the actual door without any hardware or frame installed. If you plan to replace the existing door, and keep the frame as it is, then the new door size should be exactly the same as the existing door (height, width and thickness).
- If you plan to replace the exterior or interior wood solid door along with the frame, then take the measurement from outside the frame. For each manufacturer, the net frame size may vary. To allow adjustment, net frame size or the unit size is smaller than the rough opening.
Do Wooden Front Doors Warp?
Unfortunately, all types of wooden exterior doors have the potential to either twist or warp. So, it is important to ensure that any timber door that you select for your house is manufactured using the materials that are not likely to do this. The door needs to be manufactured using the material which is designed and also fabricated to prevent any kind of damage happening. Maintain proper sealing of your door because bottom and top edges are mostly overlooked when it comes to sealing and painting. If you haven’t done proper sealing, then it can result in more absorption of moisture, causing the door to swell.
Are Wood Front Doors Safe?
Exterior custom wood doors are selected by the owners to give a traditional charm to their homes. Along with the aesthetically pleasing sense, the custom wood door can also give a very secure feature to your house. Timber wood is a very secure material to be used in the exterior wood doors. It is necessary to ensure that the door also fits well in the wood slab. Solid wood doors are also considered to be exceptionally secure and reliable.
Are there situations where wood doors are not recommended?
Wood doors are able to absorb moisture very quickly. More moisture is absorbed if their finish is weakened. Absorbing moisture makes them heavy and it weakens the hinges too over time. If you live in areas that receive heavy rainfall or snow, then humidity and moisture have similar effects, as this will increase the amount of moisture in the air, causing more damage to the exterior doors. So, it is not recommended to install wood doors in such areas.
What is a custom door?
A custom door refers to a door which is made using a number of elements, materials and styles that could meet the client’s unique requirements and specifications. Installing a custom wood door could change the entire look of the house and make your house feel like home in no time. It could enhance the beauty of the house.
Why is wood good for a door?
Wood doors are very safe, secure and have many variations in terms of design and construction. They give an aesthetically pleasing sense to the house. Timber wood is a very secure material to be used in the exterior wood doors. It is necessary to ensure that the door also fits well in the wood slab. Solid wood doors are also considered to be exceptionally secure and reliable.
What Maintenance is Needed?
Keeping up with a wood door can be done periodically, either once or twice in every six months, depending on how the wood surface looks. You can get a clue by looking at the door surface, because it will appear a bit dull and will ask for refinish or touch up. It is important to evaluate the exterior door’s weather-stripping every fall, if you want your house to remain cozy and warm in winters. To avoid any heat leaks, the exterior doors need to be firmly sealed, but weather stripping damages with time and starts to show signs of wear. Exterior wood doors are prone to get a lot of sunlight. To protect from sunlight damage, finish it using a varnish which contains UV blocking ingredients. Having an overhang for the exterior wood door saves it a lot from extreme weather conditions like sunlight, rain, storm or wind.
