Custom Door Quote Checklist

Opening and finished dimensions

The quote should identify the opening and list the finished frame or door dimensions using the same measurement convention. Confirm swing, active leaf on pairs, sill and any out-of-square accommodation.

Label every doorway so a size cannot migrate to another opening. Distinguish rough opening, trim opening and finished assembly size; these are not automatically interchangeable. Record viewed-from-outside hinge side and, on pairs, the active leaf. If the opening is out of square, the quote should say how much fitting allowance or field correction is expected. Compare the measurement document with the final configuration before approval, especially after any revision. A changed hinge side or rounded dimension should appear in the latest written scope.

Frame, panel and inserts

List frame material and profile, lower-panel construction, glass type, screen type, insert operation and replacement access. Terms such as full-view or security do not replace component details.

Ask for the actual component arrangement. Frame depth, lower-panel material, removable or fixed glass, mesh type, screen retention and drainage affect function and future service. If glass performance or safety treatment matters, require it to be named. If the screen is intended to resist pets or forced entry, confirm what part of the assembly supports that claim. A category phrase such as full-view, iron or premium describes appearance or positioning; it does not replace dimensions, materials and the method by which panels are retained.

Hardware

Confirm hinges, handle set, lock preparation, cylinder, closer, sweep, retainer and pair hardware where applicable. Identify whether decorative hardware is included or only the preparation for it.

List every hardware item: hinges, closer, handle set, latch or deadbolt, cylinder, strike, sweep, retainer, chain or limiter, and any pair-conversion parts. Clarify whether the door arrives bored, mortised, surface-prepared or with hardware installed. Confirm backset, handing and finish. If the main entry has projecting hardware, put the measured clearance in the record. Replacement-part availability matters too; save model and key information once a final configuration is selected so a later service call does not begin from an unlabeled photograph.

Finish

Specify color, sheen and which components receive the finish. Ask how touch-up material is handled and whether coastal, direct-sun or other exposures change maintenance expectations.

Finish descriptions should include color and sheen, plus any different finishes on screen frames, hinges, handles or fasteners. Ask whether the illustrated color is a planning representation and how a physical sample can be reviewed. Dark finishes in direct sun may become hot, while coastal or industrial exposure can demand more cleaning and faster touch-up of coating damage. Clarify what field cuts or drilled holes need sealing. The final care instructions should match the actual coating and hardware, not a generic painted-door checklist.

Delivery and installation

Separate manufacturing, freight, unloading, inside placement, removal of the old door, opening preparation, installation, trim, sealant and disposal. A delivered door is not the same scope as an installed door.

Put each responsibility in one column: fabrication, freight, appointment service, liftgate, unloading, storage, old-door removal, opening repair, subframe, anchors, sealant, trim, installation, adjustment and disposal. Confirm how visible and concealed freight damage is documented and the deadline for reporting it. If installation is separate, ask whether the installer will verify measurements before production. A lower delivered price can become the higher project cost once receiving equipment, trim work and specialty anchors are added outside the quote.

Approval record

Keep the final approved quote, drawings or configuration sheet, opening photos and correspondence together. Do not rely on a shopping-cart label to preserve choices that affect fit or later service.

The approval packet should contain the dated final quote, configuration or drawing, measurement sheet, labeled photographs, finish and hardware choices, delivery address and accepted terms. Cross out or archive superseded versions so there is one clear approval set. After delivery, add packaging labels, inspection photographs and installation records. This file helps resolve questions about what was ordered and makes later glass, screen, lock or finish service more precise. Do not approve from a cart title or verbal summary when the opening-specific details exist elsewhere.