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Looking to immerse yourself in the world of interior doors?

Whether you’re buying custom interior wood doors in Toronto or simply wanting to learn more about interior doors, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the many terms that are used by people across the door manufacturing industry.

Keep reading to learn more about the most common types of interior doors and the different industry lingo that is used!

Types of Custom Interior Doors

Custom interior flush doors

These doors are typically constructed from a single piece of wood—often possessing a solid wood core. While simple from a design perspective, the door’s sheer density can provide added soundproofing and insulation.

Custom interior panel doors

Unlike flush doors, custom interior panel doors are divided into raised or recessed sections of wood. These sections may run vertically or horizontally, adding detail to the door’s design.

Custom interior French doors

These swinging or sliding double doors are typically adorned with ornamental glass panels. Custom interior French doors allows light to shine through from one room to the next—making your home appear more open and spacious.

Functions of Interior Doors

Swinging doors

As you might expect, a swinging door functions by rotating inward or outward—depending on the room and application. This type of door is usually secured by hinges on one side of the door frame.

Sliding doors

Contrary to a swinging door, a sliding door rests on horizontal tracks at the top and bottom ends. This allows the door to open and close from one side.

Parts of Interior Doors

• Door slab: The door itself, sans the unit’s frame and moulding, is often referred to as the door “slab.”
• Door frame: The frame is the wood structure that lines the perimeter of the door on all four sides. It supports both the hinge and the door itself.
• Side Jambs: The side jambs are the vertical pieces of the door frame. One jamb attaches to the hinge and supports the door slab, while the other jamb attaches to the mullion and allows the door to open, close, and lock.
• Head Jamb: The head jamb is the horizontal section located at the top of the door frame.
• Sill: The sill is the horizontal section located at the bottom of the door frame.
• Casing: The terms “frame” and “casing” are sometimes conflated, but it’s important to distinguish between the two terms. The casing is not the frame itself but rather the decorative moulding that is added to the frame.
• Transom: There are two common types of decorative glass that are added to custom interior wood doors in Toronto. The glass located above the door is called the transom.
• Sidelight: The decorative glass that is located at the side of the interior door is called a sidelight.
• Door unit: The door, its frame, hardware, and the entire assembly is often referred to as the door “unit.”

When it comes to preserving your exterior custom-made wood doors, maintenance is key.

In many cases, a little maintenance can be the difference between a door lasting for several years or several decades. Fortunately, most routine maintenance tasks can be performed at home with only a few simple tools.

Here are our top tips for maintaining exterior wood doors in Toronto!

1. Dust Your Home Frequently

There are all types of dirt and debris particles that can impact your exterior door’s finish and hardware. While seemingly harmless, these particles will eventually eat away at your door’s protective coating,

So, make a habit of dusting your home—including your door—at least once per week. You can achieve this with a conventional duster or a soft, damp rag.

2. Wash Your Door Regularly

Given all of the grime that can build up on your door from dirty hands, mud, bad weather, and the environment, it’s important that you wash your exterior wood door at least once per month.

If you live in a high-pollution area, you may need to do this as often as once per week.

To start, find a smooth, soft cloth or sponge. Avoid steel wool or rags with harsh textures that could scratch your door. Using water and a mild dish soap, gently rub the cloth over the surface of your door until all dirt has been removed.

Using a second rag and disinfectant spray, wipe down all of the door’s hardware—including handles, hinges, and latches. This will not only stop dirt from corroding the hardware but also prevent bacteria from building up.

3. Polish Your Door As Needed

After cleaning and washing your custom-made residential exterior doors, you may notice that they have lost some of their normal luster. Fortunately, you can restore their sheen with a simple polish.

Using a clean cloth, gently rub a modest amount of high-quality furniture polish across the door’s surface. Be careful not to apply too much of the product, as it is not a substitute for your door’s finish.

4. Give Your Door a New Finish

When it comes to protecting custom-made residential exterior doors, the finish is the first line of defence. Without this protective coating in place, exterior doors are more susceptible to scratches, chips, and moisture.

First, inspect your door to determine whether it needs to be refinished. Then, choose a paint, wood stain, varnish, or another type of finish that will pair well with the hardwood. Before you begin the refinishing process, remember to remove the door from its hinges and tape up any hardware.

If most of the original finish has worn off, you may be able to remove any remaining areas by lightly sanding the door. Otherwise, you may need to remove the old finish with a chemical stripper. Next, wipe down the entire door down to remove any sawdust. Finally, apply a few coats of the finish before rehanging your door!

Do your traditional wood doors need a little attention?

It’s important to remember that not all issues require the expertise of a professional. In fact, there are several problems that—with some basic knowledge and a few tools—you can tackle yourself!

Here are nine common issues with traditional wooden doors that you can repair on your own!

1. Your Door Has a Small Crack

With most traditional wooden doors, there is only a certain amount of cosmetic damage you can repair with tools at home. If a crack is small enough, however, you can apply putty to the crack using a toothpick.

2. Your Door Doesn’t Stay Open

If your door closes on its own, it’s possible that it isn’t sitting straight on the hinges or that the hinges aren’t properly aligned. Remove a pin from the problematic hinge and move it into position before tightening all screws.

3. Your Door Squeaks

In many cases, a squeaky hinge can be resolved simply by applying lubricant to the hinge. If this doesn’t fix the issue, or you find that the hinge pin sticks, you may need to replace the door hinge altogether.

4. Your Door Sticks

If your door is difficult to open, assess the space between the door and the frame for any obstruction. Next, check the hinges for dirt or loose screws. If cleaning the area doesn’t fix the issue, use a piece of cardboard to shim the hinge opposite to the area of the door that is sticking.

5. Your Door Doesn’t Latch

Much of the time, exterior wood doors don’t latch because the hinges have become too loose. Make sure the screws are tight. Be careful not to overtighten and strip them, however.

6. Your Strike Plate Is Out of Alignment

A misaligned or faulty strike plate may prevent the door latch from reaching the hole in the plate. If the strike plate is damaged, replace it. Otherwise, loosen the plate’s screws, gently tap the plate back into place, and tighten the screws.

7. Your Door Handle Is Stiff

If you’re finding it more and more difficult to turn your door handle, spray the latch system with oil. Then, rotate the handle back and forth for a few minutes so that the oil is dispersed evenly.

8. Your Door Is Hitting the Wall

Forcefully opening a door can cause the door handle to damage the wall. To avoid this issue, install a stopper to the skirting board. This will catch the door before the door handle hits the wall.

9. Your Sliding Door Doesn’t Slide Smoothly

f you have sliding interior custom wood doors, dirt and debris will likely build up on the tracks over time. This will prevent you from opening and closing your doors with ease. Vacuum up the dirt or use a wet rag to remove the gunk.

If there is extensive damage to your traditional wood doors, it might be time to consider ordering new custom wood doors for your home.

Do you want to make sure that you pick the perfect wood species for your new custom entry door?

There are all kinds of decisions that go into designing a brand-new custom front entry door, but choosing a wood species is arguably the most important decision you will need to make during this process.

Of course, there are dozens of wood species for custom doors to consider.

Here are some of the most popular options and their characteristics!

Mahogany

Known for its durability and resistance to wear, mahogany is often used for furniture, flooring, and of course, exterior wood doors. While mahogany can be painted, it is best paired with a quality wood stain that draws out its fine, straight grain and gorgeous dark wood tones.
The wood’s incredible strength and beauty come at a cost, however, as mahogany is among the more expensive options for custom wood doors.

Alder

Alder—and knotty alder, more specifically—has a prominent wood grain that can bring a sense of rustic charm to your home.

With that said, alder is not nearly as dense as most popular hardwoods, and therefore, less durable overall. Although it requires more maintenance than many other wood species for custom doors, alder is one of the more affordable options on the market.

Oak

While there are well over 500 different species of oak, red oak and white oak are the two most common species used for custom wood doors.

This type of hardwood is known for not only its density and water resistance but also its wide range of grain patterns. Some oak species possess a straight grain, while others have more of a wavy or swirly grain pattern.

Walnut

Walnut has a chocolate-coloured appearance and is one of the darker woods used for exterior doors. Because walnut’s colour is prone to fading over time, however, it is critical that you keep it well-maintained.

The wood’s fine, straight grain gives it a modern feel that is best complemented with a high-quality wood stain. Keep in mind, however, that walnut tends to be among the more expensive wood species for custom doors.

Accoya® wood

Accoya® wood is the result of extensive research and development to combine a proven wood modification technique – acetylation – with cutting-edge patented technology in order to create a durable, stable and sustainable wood product that can withstand outdoor use and challenging weather conditions. Not only does Accoya offer superior performance compared to the best tropical hardwoods, but its production is also non-toxic and uses only sustainable sources of wood.

Accoya wood is favoured by many due to its suitability for a wide range of applications, from windows and doors, all the way through to cladding and even bridges or boats. Its properties make it an ideal replacement for materials which are not environmentally friendly or sustainable.

Do you need help choosing a wood species for custom doors?

No feature enhances solid wood doors in Toronto quite like high-quality custom glasswork.
As you’re in the process of designing a brand new custom front entry door, maybe you’re comparing a bevy of design options, or perhaps you’re unsure of the value that custom glasswork will add to your home.

In any case, here are the top four benefits of adding custom glasswork to your Toronto exterior doors!

1. Custom Glasswork Increases Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Your front door is one of the first features people notice when driving by your property or visiting your home. By adding custom glasswork, you can make not only your front door but also your entire home stand out.

While most of your home’s exterior features are likely to be rugged and practical, glasswork will bring a sense of elegance and glamour that very few exterior features are able to showcase.

2. Custom Glasswork Raises the Value of Your Home

Whether you plan to put your home on the market in the near future or 30 years down the road, custom glasswork is an addition that will only increase the value of both your solid wood doors in Toronto and your home—allowing you to raise your asking price. To many home buyers, the front entry door is such an important home feature that the addition of glasswork might even serve as the tiebreaker between two comparable homes!

3. Custom Glasswork Allows More Natural Light to Enter Your Home

From an interior design perspective, natural light is by far the most desirable type of light in most spaces—which is why many homeowners are always looking for new ways to maximize the amount of natural light that shines throughout their homes.

Custom glasswork allows you to enjoy more natural light in an area of your home that, for logistical purposes, might be lacking windows, skylights, and most types of glasswork—your front entryway.

4. Custom Glasswork Comes With Versatile Privacy Options

If you’re worried that glasswork will automatically compromise your privacy and the security of your Toronto exterior doors, fear not—there are all kinds of custom glasswork that allow for various levels of visibility.

Glasswork privacy levels are measured on a ten-point scale. Zero to three points is considered low privacy. This glass is clear and allows plenty of light through. Four to six points is considered medium privacy. This glass largely obscures objects on the other side of the glass so that only shapes and colours can be detected, and it allows a moderate amount of light through.

Seven to ten points is considered high privacy, and this glass allows minimal light through. Keep in mind that a higher privacy rating will require that you sacrifice some natural light, and vice versa.

Are you in need of a professional manufacturer for your Toronto exterior doors? For the best solid wood doors in Toronto, be sure to contact the team at Traditional Door today. We would love to help you explore your options!