Custom Doors USA
Measuring and planning a hinged or pivot door
A successful entry starts with the opening, the door movement and the landing working together. Record each separately before choosing the frame and hardware.
Begin with an opening sketch
Label the entry with an opening ID and draw it from a stated viewpoint, such as the exterior looking in. Record the wall opening width and height in several locations, wall depth, and any difference between the interior floor and exterior landing. Note the existing frame if the project is a replacement. Keep field measurements separate from the final ordered frame dimensions.
Choose the usable entry before adding surrounding glass
The FDS.30 layouts distinguish a single leaf from a pair with active and passive leaves. Decide which leaf will handle everyday use and whether both leaves need to open for furniture or equipment. The total frame width of a pair does not equal the clear passage through the active leaf. With a transom or sidelites, identify the size of the operating door separately from the complete framed assembly.
Record swing and pivot movement
For a hinged door, show inswing or outswing and which jamb carries the hinges. Sketch the open leaf and handle beside nearby walls, steps, light fixtures and furniture. Written handing labels can be interpreted from different viewpoints, so include a drawing with the viewing side clearly marked.
A pivot door needs a plan view showing the pivot position and both portions of the panel as it rotates. The portion behind the pivot also sweeps through space. Check the approach path and landing on each side, then have the final clear passage confirmed for the selected pivot location and hardware. An elevation alone cannot establish those clearances.
Coordinate the floor and threshold
Give the installer the intended interior finish thickness and exterior landing level. Review the selected sill, weather seals and water-management detail before the floor or landing is finished. A low threshold is one part of an accessible entrance; the complete entrance arrangement must be reviewed for the project.
What to include with the quote request
- Opening ID, measured wall opening and wall construction.
- Exterior-view sketch, active leaf, swing direction or pivot location.
- Desired clear passage, surrounding glass and divided-lite pattern.
- Interior and exterior floor levels, finish, glass and hardware preferences.
- Project address, quantities and photographs showing the entry and adjacent obstructions.
The final order should identify the frame size, assembly layout and hardware together. Have the installer verify dimensions before approving production.