Parameters for Customizing Fiberglass Doors

What to measure

When purchasing a fiberglass entry door, there are a number of choices to make. Foremost, the size of the entry space in your house will dictate the basic dimensions of the door frame that holds the door. However, there are several other parameters of which the consumer must be aware.

Custom vs. preset sizes

The sizes of fiberglass entry doors can come in custom or preset sizes. Whether your home is wood or brick will limit how much resizing and cutting you can do to the door in order to make it fit the wall. Yes, some fiberglass doors have wood trim which allow them to be adjusted to a certain extent. With regard to size, the most important parameter is the "nominal" height or width, which gives the height or width from end to end of the door.

Smooth or grained texture?

The surface of the fiberglass can be made to mimic wood. When buying, the consumer can opt for different kinds of texture. Because fiberglass is a composite material that has characteristics of glass, it can be produced with a smooth surface. This is the smooth texture. On the other hand, modern manufacturing techniques can generate wood-like feel to the fiberglass by carving minute grooves mimicking the natural feel of wood. This is the wood-grain texture. The choice is up to the consumer of course, although many will go for the wood-grain because of its aesthetic qualities.

Finishing

Fiberglass entry doors can also be finished, much like wood. The finishing agents most appropriate for fiberglass are likely to be different from those used on woods, so check with the original manufacturer what finishes can be used. If the consumer decides to buy a prefinished door, this removes one difficulty as the retailing company will know best which chemicals to use. On the other hand, some customers go for unfinished doors so they can add their personal touch.

Counting lites

Fiberglass doors can come with panes of glass embedded in the main door, or on the side that are to the right and left of the frame. These panes of glass are known as "lites" in the industry. The shape of the lites, as well as the number of lites, are choices the consumer can make. How the lites are installed into the door, i.e. the lite panel style can also be chosen. Layout of how the panels are arranged on the door is likely to have a very big impact on the look of the door. A large lite that fills the top half of the door exudes a very different feel from smaller ones evenly spaced.

Transoms

The top of the fiberglass entry door can also have a transom. The transom is another decorative element which is installed over the door. It can be arched, straight, paneled with lites o not. A larger transom can enhance the perceived size of the door.