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What are the parts of a front door called?
Just because you’re not a pro, doesn’t mean you can’t talk like one. Here’s the vocab you need to talk front doors with your contractor, dealer, or anyone else.
Front doors are designed to do a lot more than open and close. They add to the aesthetic look of your home, incorporate security features, increase natural light, and much more. Learn what the different elements of a front door are so you can make informed, custom choices. Here’s the vocab you need to talk front doors like a pro.
What is the anatomy of a door?
Knowing what each part of a door is called and where it’s located makes your project easier, whether you’re measuring a door for replacement, ordering a new part for your home, or just trying to communicate effectively with your contractor or builder.
What are the main components of a door?
- Rough opening: The space in the wall where the door is installed. Measuring the rough opening is a key step when measuring to order a new door.
- Panel: This is probably what comes to mind when you imagine a front door. It’s the part of the door that swings open (operates). It’s assembled of components like rails, stiles, glass (if there’s a window), and more. Measuring the panel size can help you order the right size replacement door.
- Frame: The outer structure of the door that connects to the panel with hinges. When you close your door, the panel fits into the frame and the frame fits into the rough opening. It’s important to know your door’s frame size when measuring for replacement.
- Handle: The piece of hardware used to open and close the door panel.
- Rail: Horizontal components on the door panel.
- Stile: Vertical components on the door panel.
What are all the parts of a door?
- Side jamb: The side parts of the door frame. When measuring the width of a door frame, you would measure from outer side jamb to outer side jamb.
- Head jamb: The top of the door frame. When measuring the height of a door frame, you’d start at the top edge of the head jamb.
- Sill: The horizontal piece at the bottom of a door frame. When measuring the height of a door frame, you’d extend your measurement beyond the sill all the way down to the sub-floor, which is the floor below your finished floor.
- Sidelight: A window next to the door that bring light and beauty to your entryway. A sidelight will be installed in the same rough opening as the door. Sidelights can be on one side only or both sides of a door.
- Transom: A window that’s above the door and was historically intended to bring in fresh air while the door was closed. Transoms are installed in the same rough opening as the door.
- Glazing: The glass in your door panel.
- Grilles (also called muntins and dividers): Bars applied to the glass that create a grid or other ornamental pattern.
- Multi-point lock: A mechanism used to secure doors in their closed position and a step beyond the traditional deadbolt. A multi-point lock includes a bolt that is thrown in three directions (up, down, and to the side) and comes as an option with our Entry Doors.
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What are the parts of a door’s glazing?
The glazing (or glass) in a door can affect performance and aesthetics. Here are the features you should know about.
- Dual-pane glass: Two panes (or sheets) of glass with an air space in between that’s filled with an argon gas blend to help with insulation. This type of glass comes standard with our windows and doors and is more energy efficient than single-pane (one sheet) glass.
- Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass: Glass with a coating that helps restrict heat loss. A Low-E coating comes standard on our dual-pane glass. Different types of Low-E coatings are available and can even be combined. The right Low-E coating or coatings will depend on your climate.
- Light/Lite: Individual glass panes within a door panel.
