Author Archives: GoOnlineDev

Are you interested in adding sidelights to your front entry door?

Sidelights are some of the most popular additions to front entry doors, and for good reason. These glass accents can provide your home with more natural light and tie a bow on a beautiful entryway. With that said, you can’t pair just any skylights with any front entry door.

Here are 5 tips to Find the Perfect Design for Your Entry Door Sidelights:

1. Match Your Sidelights With Your Entry Door

First and foremost, you need to make sure that your sidelights and front door need to match. It should go without saying that a modern door will usually conflict with classic sidelights and vice versa.

So, design your front entry door and your sidelights in tandem so that all styles, details, and colours work well together.

2. Keep Your Sidelights to a Reasonable Size

If you want to make sure that your sidelights let through plenty of sunlight, you may be tempted to make them as large as possible.

However, large sidelights can quickly compete with the entry door itself and detract from your entryway’s appearance. As a rule of thumb, make sure your sidelights are no larger than half of the width of your entry door!

3. Coordinate Your Sidelights and Transom

If you plan on adding both sidelights and a transom to your custom wood door, it’s important that you coordinate these two features very carefully — just as you would with your door and sidelights.

If you opt for two different designs, at least one of these accents is going to feel out of place. So, make sure you match styles, patterns, materials, colours, and any other details when designing your sidelights and transom window.

4. Use Heavy-Duty or Textured Glass if You’re Worried About Security

Security is one of the most common concerns that customers have regarding sidelights. For the most part, however, door systems with sidelights are believed to be just as secure as door systems without sidelights.

But if you’d prefer to double-down on security and put your mind at ease, consider heavy-duty glass — such as hurricane impact glass — for your sidelights. You can also prevent strangers from looking into your home by opting for textured glass.

5. Go With Insulated Sidelights for Extra Energy Efficiency

It’s no secret that doors and windows are some of the most vulnerable areas of your home when it comes to energy efficiency. The truth is that adding sidelights can easily cause your home to lose even more hot and cold air — potentially causing a spike in your energy bill.

Choose materials that are filled with insulating materials or sidelights that are equipped with insulated coatings. This will go a long way towards helping your home retain as much hot and cold air as possible.

Want to make sure that you land the perfect design for your custom front entry door and sidelights? Contact the experts at Traditional Door today to discuss a plethora of design options and find the perfect entryway design for your home!

Are you on the hunt for a top-notch custom door manufacturer in Toronto?

Whether you’re building a new house or you’re looking to replace a few outdated doors, you’ve already taken a huge step in deciding to go with custom doors for your home.

The next step, of course, is choosing a custom door manufacturer who can deliver an outstanding product. How do you know if you’re hiring the right door manufacturer for the job?

Here are 5 Factors You Should Consider Before Hiring a Custom Door Manufacturer!

1. Customer Service

When you have questions or need more information, does the manufacturer give you the time of day?

The amount of personal attention they are willing to give you before you hire them is a fairly good indication of the kind of personal attention they plan to give you during the design and manufacturing processes.

2. Track Record

Every custom door manufacturer is going to tell you that they have the best products, the best process, and the best customer service. But what do their customers have to say about them?

The truth is that the most honest feedback you’re going to get about a company is the feedback that its customers leave.

You can learn a great deal about a company’s track record just by running a quick Google search or reading their testimonials page. Is the company’s feedback overwhelmingly positive, or are there a handful of scathing reviews that are hard to ignore?

3. Involvement

Although there are many companies that manufacture custom doors, not all of them have the same approach when it comes to design. It’s important that you choose a manufacturer that can meet your design needs.

Do you already have a specific design in mind or do you need a manufacturer who can help you come up with the right design for your home? Some manufacturers plan to be relatively hands-off during the design process, while others will be willing to work alongside you to help you find the perfect design for your home.

4. Craftsmanship and Selection

The level of quality and customization a manufacturer can provide is largely dependent on the equipment, machinery, and personnel that they have available.

Of course, you should look into the manufacturer’s credentials and qualifications. But you should also ask the manufacturer about the different types of designs, woods, finishes, and hardware that they offer.

The reality is that a lack of options may severely limit what you’re able to achieve with your new set of custom doors!

5. Warranty

Finally, you need to make sure that your manufacturer is going to deliver a long-lasting product—one that they will stand behind.

Ask the custom door manufacturer about the warranty they offer before hiring them. The better the guarantee, the more likely they are to give you a high-quality product—the first time.

Do you Need a Manufacturer You Can Trust to Deliver Beautiful Custom Wood Doors in Toronto?

Traditional Door is Ontario’s leading manufacturer of wood doors, mouldings and millwork. At Traditional Door, we can check all of the boxes above and more. Contact us today—we’d love to help design and build your next custom doors! Submit a form or call us!

Are Wooden Doors Safe? 

Most people have custom wooden exterior doors in their homes … but how safe are they, exactly?

This is a question that countless customers ask themselves when considering the different options for their front entryways and back custom wood doors. After all, the piece of wood you install might be the only thing preventing a burglar from breaking into your home!

Spoiler alert—wooden doors are much safer than you might think; and yet, there are a number of customizations you can make to maximize their safety.

5 Tips to Make To Customize & Reinforce Your Doors 

Make the following customizations when designing your next wooden exterior door to make it as sturdy and secure as possible!

1. Avoid Adding Glazing/Windows if Possible

You may be tempted to add glazing/windows to your exterior door, as they can add character to your door design and allow a little extra natural light to shine through.

The truth is, however, that the addition of a window immediately makes it the most vulnerable component of your exterior wooden door. Glass is not only less dense than wood but it also allows strangers to make out figures and movement inside your home.

2. Choose a Dense Hardwood

Not all woods are created equal. Generally speaking, most hardwoods are at least a little sturdier than most softwoods.

Although you might enjoy the cost savings of a pine, poplar, or alder door, there are denser woods that are much more difficult to break through—namely, ash, oak, and maple.

Related Article: What Types of Woods Are Best for Your Custom Interior Doors?

3. Invest in Your Doorframe

Your wooden exterior door is one component in an entire door system. In other words, make sure you don’t neglect the doorframe!

A hard, dense wood—such as mahogany or oak—will prove to be significantly sturdier than your average, inexpensive interior doorframe. You can even reinforce a wooden door with a steel or metal doorframe!

4. Choose a High-Security Locking System

When designing a new wooden exterior door, there is a handful of locking mechanisms to choose from—including five-lever mortice locks, latches, and more.

A deadbolt arguably offers the greatest level of security, as burglars cannot force these types of locks open using a credit card or knife. You can also double down on security by pairing your deadbolt locking system with a door chain!

5. Install a Peephole

Do you feel anxious whenever you hear a knock at your door? With a peephole installed, you’ll be able to view the person outside your home before deciding to open up. A wide-angled peephole, more specifically, will give you a broad range of views.

While a peephole doesn’t provide much in terms of the sturdiness and security of the door itself, it will give you peace of mind whenever someone knocks at your wooden door!

Now that you know how to maximize the security of your wooden door, you can design and purchase your next custom wooden exterior door with confidence.  Traditional Door is Ontario’s leading manufacturer of wood doors, mouldings and millwork. Get in touch with one of the experts today and ask them to give you a hand. Submit a form or give us a call!

Are you looking to install a set of trendy interior doors in Toronto?
While the primary purpose of a door is to be functional, efficient, and durable, a door can also be decorative and stylish.

Every year, old designs, styles, and finishes make way for new designs, styles, and finishes. As we enter the new year, it’s important to be mindful of all of the newest trends—particularly if you plan on purchasing interior doors in the near future.

From styles and designs to colours and finishes, in this article, we will go over the top five interior door trends to look out for in 2022.

5 Interior Door Trends for 2022:

1. High and Wide

It’s true that doors can help frame their environments; and this year, higher and wider interior doors are going to be all the rage.

Contrary to what many people believe, larger doors can be used throughout the home—not only at the front entry. Especially when you want a certain room to appear larger and more spacious, installing a two-leaf or three-leaf door can make a world of difference.

2. More Sliding Doors

The average homeowner associates sliding doors with glass, but wooden sliding doors are becoming more and more popular heading into 2022.

Of course, wooden sliding doors are simple and easy to use; but what’s more, the lack of the traditional “swinging” mechanism can help preserve space in an already-crowded room.

3. Less Is Sometimes More

When ordering a custom interior door, there may be the temptation for you to go with an impressive or elaborate design. However, more and more homeowners are opting for minimalist designs.

Rather than opting for interior panelled doors or intricate patterns, many trendy homeowners are pairing invisible-like designs with neutral colours to complete a highly contemporary look!

4. There Are Plenty of Great Colours

Today, you can choose just about any type of colour for your custom doors, so long as they work within the context of your home. Neutral shades and bright pastels—such as white, soft pink, soft green, soft gray, and soft blue—can help brighten a room and complement a minimalist design.

There are also plenty of dark and bold colours that can work. Of course, natural wood finishes continue to be popular—timeless, even. Over the past few years, however, we have also seen the return of emerald green and navy blue doors. You can continue using these bold colours in 2022 as well!

5. Brass and Long Handles

In terms of features and finishes, there are a couple of interior doors trends that are on the rise. Brass finishes, specifically, can add a touch of elegance and also stand out against a bold shade.

What’s more, long door handles are often being used in lieu of traditional doorknobs and short handles—largely for their elegant appearance and practicality.

So, do you need a new set of custom interior doors for your home? One of our custom door experts can help you choose the perfect design, style, and finish to complement your home. Be sure to call us at 416-747-1992!