Deciding to order custom iron doors is a big step for any homeowner. They’re a valuable investment that adds a touch of your personal style to your entryway and drastically increases the value of your home.
What to Do Before Ordering Custom Iron Doors
FINDING THE RIGHT DIMENSIONS
Upgrading your existing doors to new custom iron doors will give your home a more updated look. The first step is taking your door’s measurements. To do so, you’ll need the following items:
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Tape Measure: Make sure it’s retractable and can extend long distances. Steel tape is best.
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Notepad: You’ll want to make sure you can create a rough sketch of the door and label each part with the appropriate measurements.
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Pencil: It’s essential that you write down the measurements immediately; don’t wait to take them down later! Installing custom doors will go much easier when errors are avoided.
Always ask a friend for help when measuring your front door. The extra set of hands will be beneficial, and it’s never a bad idea to have an extra set of eyes.
Also, remember to measure more than once for accuracy. If you measure incorrectly, your door company will end up crafting a door of the wrong dimensions, which you will still have to pay for.
Measuring Your Doorway
STEP 1: MEASURE THE WIDTH
Step inside your house and make sure the door is fully closed. Then, measure from the left door jamb to the right door jamb. Make sure to measure the entire area where the door shuts and seals. For easy reference, a standard door width is around 36 inches.
Remember to take door width measurements at three key points:
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The bottom of the door
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The middle of the door
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The top of the door
These measurements will help you determine whether or not the door frame is warped, which could be a problem come installation day. The measurements of all three of these areas should be the same. If not, you may need to replace your door frame.
STEP 2: MEASURE THE HEIGHT
Another important measurement is the height. With the door closed, measure from the bottom of the door to the top. You’ll need to be inside your house again to do this. This measurement should end just inside the upper door jamb.
Next, take the measurements from the middle of the door. To ensure accuracy, measure the edge of each side of the door to make sure that all measurements are the same.
STEP 3: MEASURE THE DEPTH
The depth of the door is also known as its thickness. In order to measure this, you will need to open the door. Measure on the side of the door with the doorknob and deadbolt.
Once again, make sure to record your depth measurements at the top, middle, and bottom of the door to ensure that all measurements are the same.
STEP 4: MEASURE THE WIDTH OF THE DOOR AND FRAME
Now that you have the door open from your depth measurement, step outside the house. Here, you’ll measure the combined width of the door and frame. Measure from the left outside edge of the door frame to the right outside edge of the door frame.
Make sure to take measurements at all three points, top, middle, and bottom, to ensure correct measurements.
STEP 5: TAKE OTHER MEASUREMENTS
If you have glass panels or decorative windows around the front door and plan to upgrade those to iron, you should measure the width and height of each window frame.
Any curved or arched windows above the door will also need to be measured. To do this, take measurements of the length at the bottom and the height at the top of the arch.
To get complex shapes done right, you might need to ask your iron door specialist for help.
Discovering Available Designs
Your design options for custom iron doors are infinite. When you work with iron door specialists like Baltic Iron Doors, you’re not just getting installers. You’ll be working with designers, artisans, and craftsmen that can help you come up with the best designs for your home.
No matter what style home you have or your personal preference, we guarantee we can help you discover the perfect design to wow your neighbors and bring a smile to your face every time you come home.
Choosing a Finish
The finishing process of your new iron doors is just as important as the design process. It’s because of this finish that your door will be protected from the elements, ensuring that your investment will last forever.
With metallic and lead-free paints, our custom-made and hand-forged iron doors are protected from peeling and rusting. All of our finishes are zinc-galvanized and oven-baked. The doors are then layered with a final coat to repel dust and keep the finish sealed. Your iron doors can be painted any way you’d like them, with any finish.
When it comes to picking the right finish, our team of specialists can help you get the most bang for your buck. Most homeowners will choose the classic black finish, which is both dramatic and understated, making it ideal for most homes. Others will choose brown or gold finishes for subtle tones that match the exterior of their home.
Picking the right finish for your new front entry door should be based on your unique style. However, you can follow these tips to help you get started:
CREATE CONTRAST
Making your front door pop will depend on contrast. It can bring cohesiveness to your color palette and really make your house stand apart from the rest.
CHOOSE BASED ON YOUR HOME STYLE AND SURROUNDINGS
The style of your home will often influence the door you choose. Whichever style your home has, whether it’s Cape Cod or Spanish Colonial, make sure that the colors and finishes complement the home’s unique identity.
MATCH YOUR DOOR WITH YOUR PERSONALITY
Your front door should say something about you and reflect your personality. If you’re a minimalist, subtle colors like black may resonate better with you. But if you’re the type of person who’d be happy with a sunflower yellow or hot pink entryway, no one’s stopping you from painting your iron door in bright colours!
In doing so, you can freely express yourself and put a little piece of you into your home.
What else would you like to know about ordering custom iron doors? Let us know in the comments!