Everything you need to know before you order

Measure the rough opening, not the old door. The rough opening is the framed hole in the wall, and building to it leaves the shim space a pre-hung jamb needs to sit plumb and level.

Take the width at three heights, near the top, the middle and the bottom, and record the smallest. Take the height on both the left and right sides and again record the smallest. Old homes are rarely square, and building to the smallest usable dimension avoids a door that binds.

Measure the jamb depth, the thickness of the wall from interior finish to exterior finish, since the jamb is built to wrap it. If the opening is arched, capture the width, the height to the spring line where the curve begins, and the radius of the arch.

Note the swing you want, inswing or outswing, and the handing, left or right as you face the door from outside. When in doubt, write not sure and we confirm it with you. Download the measuring worksheet to record every reading in one place.

A custom iron door is priced by what it takes to build, so the honest answer is a range that your quote makes exact. The largest factors are size, single versus double, the amount and type of glass, the finish, and any upgrades like a thermal break or impact glass.

Freight is real and itemized. A crated single runs about 600 pounds and a double up to 1,000, and both ship by liftgate freight, so distance and access affect the delivery line on your quote.

What is included matters when you compare quotes. Our price covers the forged and finished door, insulated tempered glass, a pre-hung jamb, standard boring, weatherstripping and a deadbolt. A lower number elsewhere often leaves the jamb, glass upgrade or hardware out.

Rather than publish a fixed price that would be wrong for most openings, we send a free quote and CAD rendering for your exact door. Send your specification through the quote form and we will price it precisely.

Choose a double door when the opening is roughly 60 inches wide or more, or when the entry should read as formal. Below that width a single door, sometimes with sidelites, usually looks and works better.

On a double, one leaf is active for everyday use and the other is inactive, held by flush bolts top and bottom and closed against an astragal. You open the second leaf only when you need the full width, for furniture or a crowd.

A double door raises curb appeal and lets in more light, and it is the natural choice for a grand arched opening. It also costs more than a single of the same height, since there is more iron, more glass and heavier hardware.

If you are unsure, send your opening width and we will advise. See the glossary for active leaf, astragal and flush bolt, and we will help you compare both configurations.

An iron door needs little care, but a little goes a long way. A few times a year, wipe the door with a soft cloth and mild soapy water, then dry it. This removes grit that would otherwise dull the finish.

Never pressure wash the door and never put adhesive tape on the finish, since both damage the baked epoxy. Avoid abrasive pads and harsh solvents. If a chip appears, touch it up promptly with the supplied kit so bare steel does not start to rust.

Coastal homes need more attention. Salt air is hard on any metal, so rinse the door more often near the water and keep to a touch-up schedule. Sites within two miles of salt water fall outside the finish warranty, which is why we recommend Sienna Rust or a sealed finish there.

Seasonally, check the weatherstripping for compression and the hinges and lock for smooth operation, adjusting as needed. A well kept iron door looks its best for decades.

Glass is where privacy and daylight are balanced, so start with how exposed your entry is. Each of our textures carries a privacy rating from one to five, where one is a clear view and five is fully obscured.

For a street-facing or close-neighbor entry, Satin Etch and Frosted rate five and still pass even, bright light. Reeded, Flemish and Granite sit in the middle, giving privacy with more sparkle. Clear Low-E rates one, for entries that frame a courtyard or view worth showing.

Match the texture to the architecture too. Reeded and satin read modern, while Flemish, Seedy and Glue Chip suit traditional scrollwork. See each texture up close in design options.

Add Low-E on sun-facing doors to cut heat and glare, and specify impact laminated glass in coastal and high-wind zones. Both are upgrades detailed on the craftsmanship page.

Hand your installer the pre-hung door, the fitting guide that ships with it, and your approved CAD drawing. Because the door arrives mounted in its jamb, a competent finish carpenter can set it accurately.

Prepare the rough opening first. It should be clean, square within reason, and sized per the drawing, with a solid subfloor for the threshold. Plan for two or three people, a pallet jack or dolly, shims, low-expansion foam and exterior sealant.

On the day, set the jamb plumb and level, shim behind the hinges and strike, and check the reveals before fastening. Foam and seal the perimeter, then adjust the hardware so the door swings and latches cleanly.

Inspect and photograph the crate before signing for delivery, and note any freight damage on the receipt. See the shipping section on the craftsmanship page for the full delivery checklist.