Entry Doors Primer

Product Knowledge Course
Introductory Level
ENTRY DOORS PRIMER

This is an introductory course designed
for people who are new to the entry door
business.
There are a variety of materials used to
manufacture entry doors; steel, fibreglass
and wood.
No matter what material, the industry
requires that they meet stringent
specifications for energy efficiency and
are built to withstand the harshest
environments.
Objectives
______________________________
By the end of this course, you will
understand:
1. Benefits of Entry Door Replacement
2. Types of Entry Door Construction
3. Door and Lite Styles
4. Common Entry Door Terminology
5. Glazing
6. Entry Door Accessories
A portion of this information provided by Fenestration Canada, www.silltosash.com
Entry Doors Primer

The performance of exterior doors impacts many aspects of a home’s environment:
The space heating and cooling are affected by the outside temperatures and
wind speed, the temperature being maintained inside the house, the amount of
insulation in the walls, roof, and floor, and the performance of the windows,
patio doors, skylights and exterior doors.
The lighting that you need to add is affected by the number of daylight hours,
and the amount of daylight coming in through all glazed units. This depends on
their size, number and location throughout the home.
Humidification and de-humidification are affected by the outside temperature
and dryness, the moisture production inside the house, and the relative
humidity needed to be comfortable and healthy. Exterior doors can leak the
humid air out in winter or can be used to ventilate unwanted humidity especially
from the basement. The other aspect of humidity is controlling the
condensation on the cold glazed surfaces.
Ventilation is a comfort and health concern and can be achieved mechanically
or naturally through the windows, patio doors, exterior doors and skylights.
Benefits of Entry Door Replacement

Choosing to replace drafty, poor-performing entry doors
can result in many benefits:
 Reduced energy costs in Summer and Winter
 Reduced energy consumption
 Increased comfort
 A healthier home
 Reduced sound transmission
 Increased natural light
 Less colour fading of furnishings
 Enhanced curb appeal
 Increase in home value
 Reduced maintenance
Benefits of Entry Door Replacement

Steel entry doors are actually made from a
combination of materials. The interior structural
components (rails and stiles) are often wood, the
inner core is filled with insulating foam and the outer
skin is made of steel. The inner wood structure
gives it stability and strength. The foam core
provides good insulation and the steel skins are
durable, resistant to warping or rotting and require
little maintenance.
Steel exterior doors can be painted any number of
colours. They are also available with pre-finished
PVC coatings that simulate a wood-grain finish.
Types of Entry Door Construction

Wood entry doors are available in a
number of different wood species. They
require significant protection from the
elements as well as regular maintenance.
Manufacturers are required to treat wood
with a preservative to help prevent rotting,
and ongoing maintenance is the only way
to ensure that wood exterior doors last
and perform.
Fibreglass entry doors are constructed in
the same fashion as steel exterior doors
with wood stiles and rails and an inner core
of injected foam. The outer skin is
fibreglass, which is very strong and durable.
In addition to a flat painted surface,
fibreglass can also be embossed to give it
the beautiful texture and appearance of real
wood without all the maintenance.
Types of Entry Door Construction

Entry doors are stile and rail doors, or door slabs with no glazing units in them. They can be
used in either a single or a double exterior door configuration.
Entry doors with Glazing are exterior doors with a glazed unit inset into the body of the door
itself. The glazing unit can range in size from a small fan top unit at the top to a full length lite.
Glazed units can be clear glass, etched, stained and with or without grills. They can also be used
to create either a single or a double exterior door entrance.
Entry door systems with side lites and/or transoms are exterior door systems that add side lites
and/or transoms to create an impressive appearance. The entry doors themselves in these
systems can be either solid or with glazed units.
In addition to being impressive design elements, side lites and transoms allow natural light in to
illuminate the entry hall and operable side lites also provide for ventilation.
Door and Lite Styles

1.Transom - the glazed glass unit across the top of an exterior
door entry system
2.Glass inset (door lite) - a glazed unit installed in the structure
of the exterior door itself. There can be one or more in an exterior door.
3.Side lites - the glazed units that can be incorporated on either one
side or both sides of the exterior door.
4.Frame - the outer structure that supports the exterior door system
5.Stiles - the vertical supports in the exterior door. In a wood door
they are exposed. Steel and fibreglass door stiles are covered by the
outer skin.
6.Rails - the continuous horizontal supports in the exterior door
7.Brickmould - the trim around the exterior door that covers the jamb
edges
8.Jambs - the vertical and horizontal portions of the frame where the
door is secured
1
2
3
4
5
6
9
8
7
9.Panels - the sections of the exterior door held in place by the stiles and rails. On a
wood exterior door, they are part of the construction. On steel, fibreglass and vinyl
exterior doors they are embossed on the surface of the skin.
A portion of this information
provided by Fenestration
Canada, www.silltosash.com
Common Entry Door Terminology

Sill or Threshold - the bottom portion of the
frame against which the bottom of the
exterior door rests when it is closed.
Bottom Sweep - the adjustable continuous
barrier attached to the bottom of the exterior
door to create an effective barrier to air
leakage and drafts. There are various styles
available.
Weatherstripping - a flexible continuous
gasket that ensures a tight seal between
the exterior door and the frame when the
door is closed
Common Entry Door Terminology

Glazing is the generic term for the
transparent, or sometimes translucent,
material in any exterior door system, patio
door or skylight. Quite simply, it is the part
that you can see through and that lets
light pass through.
The glazed component is usually a
separately manufactured unit, which is
sealed to prevent air, dirt and moisture
from entering the air space. If the seal is
broken, the only cure is to replace the
sealed glazed unit.
Glazing

Glazing is characterized as being either single or
double or triple glazed which is a reference to the
number of panes of glass used. A single-glazed unit
consists of just one pane of glass, double-glazed
consists of two panes of glass separated by a single
spacer, and triple-glazed is three layers of glass
separated by two spacers. Sometimes, as a way to
achieve the efficiency of triple glazing but to avoid the
added weight of another full pane of glass,
manufacturers will use a transparent plastic film
instead of glass as the centre layer.
All exterior door systems, patio doors and skylights in Canada should be at least
double-glazed (with low-e and gas filled) to achieve the level of energy efficiency and
performance required to be effective in our changing climate.
Glazing

A wide selection of decorative glass is available that will help complement any
architectural style. Grills (grids), SDLs (Simulated Divided Lites), and internal blinds can
be added to clear glass. Brickmould and interior casing (trim) will enhance the entry
door look as well, inside and out. Hardware comes in various styles and colours. Storm
or screen doors can also be incorporated.
Entry Door Accessories

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Entry Doors Primer

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