Photo: Lisa Fotios

What is the minimum width of a front door?

The International Residential Code requires that front door dimensions be at least 36 inches wide and 80 inches tall.

vibrantdoors.co.uk - Standard Door Sizes & Adjustments for Exterior Doors: External Door ...

What do you call a garage without walls?

Garages may have doors and other openings on one, two, or even all four sides. However, those doors close to create an entirely enclosed box....

Last updated Jul 28, 2020

What skills are needed for woodworking?

They are the foundational skills every woodworker should know. Understand How Wood Works and Behaves. ... Sharpen Saws, Planes, and Chisels. ......

Last updated Feb 2, 2021

Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

Promotion

One thing that a lot of people don’t realise when they are shopping for a new front or back door is that there is more than one “standard” external door size. There are requirements for the minimum width and height of the main entryway to a house, only the main door has those restrictions, and as long as the door meets or exceeds those restrictions, it can be any size.

Standard Front Door Sizes

The good news is that there are a handful of standard external door sizes, including:

28, 30, 32 and 36 inches wide

80 inches tall, up to 8 ft tall.

The International Residential Code requires that front door dimensions be at least 36 inches wide and 80 inches tall. When you buy a standard front door size, the standard front door width is 36 inches wide and the height is 80 inches, and these are designed to fit in a rough opening that is 38 inches by 82 ½ inches. This extra space is intended for the jamb and the floor covering. You will need to allow for a small amount of space around the outside of the door for smooth opening and closing. However, there is a lot more to it than just choosing a standard door size. If you have a period property, for example, you might find that the doors are lower, or an unusual shape. So here's how to make sure you get the right-sized door for your property.

Buying Made to Measure External Doors

If you live in a period property, or your home is newer but was made with doors that were an unusual size, then you may want to buy made-to-measure doors instead of trying to cut standard exterior door sizes down to size. In fact, depending on the material you want your doors to be made from, made-to-measure doors may be the only option. A lot of period properties in particular do not conform to standard door sizes, and it is not possible to trim UPVC or metal doors, for example. In addition, while you can cut wood doors down to size, if you want extra wide doors, you will need to get them custom made. It can take 10-12 weeks to get an extra-tall or extra-wide door made, depending on the size and the type of material. If you want something that is just slightly smaller than the average front door size of 3 foot, then trimming down a standard-sized door to fit is a good option. Before trimming down the door, make sure that it is a door with a solid core. Some wooden doors are hollow – and these should not be used as external doors because they are not strong enough to provide good security. Make sure that when you adjust the door you do so in a way that ensures that the lock box lines up securely with the jamb, and that the door lines up perfectly in the frame. External doors should be a minimum of 44mm thick, but thicker is better – assuming the opening is deep enough. When cutting the door, you will need to remove it from the jamb, and trim the jamb to match. Use a shooting board to ensure that your cut is accurate, and be sure to measure carefully. Err on the side of removing too little and re-measuring if there is any doubt, because if you remove too much wood the door will be unusable.

What is the best type of anchoring line?

nylon For most docking and anchor lines, standard nylon is a good choice. It has great strength, "gives" under load to absorb energy, and is...

Last updated Nov 22, 2019

Does garage floor epoxy increase home value?

Updating the garage floor with a fresh epoxy coating can increase the property's value and make the space more aesthetically pleasing. Furthermore,...

Last updated Nov 13, 2019

Promotion

What is cull wood?

Cull lumber is lumber that has been pulled from inventory because it is damaged in some way or is a piece leftover from trimming. It might be warped, have a split in it, or have a chunk missing. Or, it may simply be the leftovers after they made a cut for another customer.

thespruce.com - What You Need to Know About Cull Lumber - The Spruce

How to Shop the Cull Rack

Look for wood with damage that would be easy to cut off or workaround. If your project doesn't need perfect pieces (such as a cat condo that's going to be covered in carpeting), you don't have to worry about blemishes, but you may not want pieces that are very warped. Then, measure to see if there are enough good board feet past the damaged area to meet your needs. When you find something that works, load it into your cart before someone else gets a chance to grab it. Cull lumber moves quickly. Don't see everything you need? The cull lumber inventory changes daily, so it may be worth checking back tomorrow.