In order to quote a project, we must first define it. The Breeze and Light Breeze doors have several options that allow you to personalize its appearance. Exploring the Options (below) should give you a better understanding of the possibilities.
Breeze or Light Breeze
Door Only (Slab Only) or Prehung
When remodeling, you may wish to purchase only the door and have it installed into your existing jamb. This is referred to as “slab only”. Your installer is responsible for precision sizing and placement of hinges and hardware.
Alternatively, you may wish to have the new door fitted and hung onto a new jamb (also referred to as the frame.) This process is called “prehanging.” The prehung unit includes the door, jamb, hinges, threshold, and weatherstrip. It is common in both new construction and remodeling. It ensures a factory fit and function, and is generally easier to install.
Go here for more information about Prehanging.
Configuration
If your entryway is to be prehung, we will need to know its configuration. Is it a single door? A double-wide (French doors)? Are there sidelites or transoms?
There are a variety of configurations available, and it is possible to change your existing configuration to a new one that is more suitable for your wishes. Your Rough Opening will determine the space available.
Go here for more information about Configurations.
Wood Species
Various wood species have different colors and grain patterns. We are happy to assist you in selecting the species that will best serve your needs.
We maintain or have immediate access to the specie listed below. However, we can obtain other woods by special order. Customers often ask which is the best species to use for an exterior door. There is no singular answer. Color, texture, environment, appearance, wood density, and many other factors guide us in determining the optimal species for your home. We will not suggest or use a species that we know to be unstable.
Since most customers choose to have their project stained, the natural color of the raw wood may play a minor role. Knots and natural blemishes may be highly desirable for rustic character. Perhaps you simply want to match a species that is already utilized in the vicinity of the entryway.
Note: Spanish cedar, as seen on many of our product pages, is no longer available through our lumber vendor. We suggest African mahogany as a suitable substitute regarding color. Select Alder would be the substitute of choice regarding character. We can still obtain Spanish cedar by special order, but at an increased cost.
Our stock species:
Raised Molding
All Breeze and Light Breeze doors have raised molding (also called bolection molding) around each panel on the exterior side of the door. There are three profile possibilities: Classic (with a 1 1/4″ decorative profile), Craftsman (flat with rounded edges), or Shaker (flat with squared edges.) Examples are shown below.
Panels
The Light Breeze door has two panel areas – a large, fixed, lower panel area and a smaller, hinged, upper panel area. The Breeze door has a smaller, fixed, lower panel area and a larger, hinged, upper panel area. (See “Breeze or Light Breeze” at the top of this page.) In addition, the 8′-tall Breeze door has a small, fixed, top panel. You have a choice in each and every panel as to whether it is wood or glass.
Wood Panels
If the panel is wood, it can be a Flat Panel, Raised Panel, or Plank Panel. The differences are shown below.
Glass Panels
Any or all panel areas can have glass rather than wood.
If the panel is glass, it can be a single pane, single pane faux divided lite, or true-divided-lite. The glass panes can be single-glazed or insulated. Furthermore, the glass can be clear, frosted, or textured. If artistic glass is desired, we can even make the panel “open-for-glass”. That way you can have a local glass artist make whatever you want. We will provide all the moldings necessary to install your glass.
You will see a variety of different glass in the galleries. Go here to see all of your glass options: Glass Options
Hardware Finishes
The Breeze and Light Breeze doors have a variety of catches, latches and hinges associated with the screen operation. Not all of this hardware is available in all finishes, but we endeavor to use the finish that will best match your handleset finish. Your choices include the following: Bright Brass, Antique Brass, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Satin Nickel, Pewter, or Black.
Wood Panel Added Textures
While most customers prefer smoothly surfaced panels, we can also add a wire-brushed or hand-hewn texture. Furthermore, they can be textured only on the exterior surfaces or on both the exterior and interior surfaces. Examples are shown below.
Distressing
Distressing is a technique used to scratch and scar the door to make it look old or reclaimed. The unit can be smooth, lightly distressed, or heavily distressed:
- Smooth – For a clean, new appearance.
- Light Distressing – Great for hiding nicks, dings, and dog scratches that accumulate over time.
- Heavy Distressing – Makes the project appear old, worn, or reclaimed.
The interior and exterior do not have to be the same. For example: The exterior can be heavily distressed while the interior can remain smooth.
Mantles
A common ornamentation on entry doors is the mantle. We have three optional mantles that can be installed on the exterior surface of the lock rail. We generally restrict the mantle to the width of the lock rail so that it will not interfere with the placement of decorative hardware. However, the Dutch Mantle, which gives the illusion that the Breeze is actually a Dutch Door, must run from edge to edge. As a result, hardware is limited to a knob below the Dutch Mantle and the deadbolt above. Examples are shown below.
Clavos
Clavo is the Spanish word for “nail.” Ornamental nails have been used throughout history to assemble wood doors or to use as decoration. When the nail was hammered in all the way, it was said to be “hammered dead.” This is where we get the phrase, “Dead as a door nail.” Nowadays, they are strictly ornamental.
We offer two types of clavo placement: 1 1/4″ Round Hammered clavos on the panels for a Southwestern or Central European look:
Or 3/4″ Square Pyramid clavos in the joints for a Craftsman look:
Custom clavo designs or clavo placement are also available for an additional charge.
Finish Application
Units can be ordered “unfinished” for any reason. You may want to stain, varnish, or paint them yourself, or you may want your finish contractor to match another finish used in your home.
That being said, we perform an excellent finish application.
Go here for more information on Finish Application.
