Door and Window Plus - About Doors

Architect Craig Stoddard said it best: "The entry door is the beginning of the journey through your home. It's the first thing people notice, and it's the last thing they'll see when they leave." Door and Window Plus is here to help you make a decision that may well last you a lifetime.

We display over 150 entry doors in our 10,000 sq. ft. showroom, and feature over 20 different manufacturers in order to provide the best and most beautiful door of your dreams. Come visit us today!

Inswing (I/S): A door that opens in.

Outswing (O/S): A door that opens out.

Left/right handedness: When viewed from the house's exterior, an inswing door has hinges on the left and an outswing door has hinges on the right. An easy to way to determine the door's handedness is to stand in the entryway with your back to the hinges. If the door swings to your left, it's a left hand door, and if it swings to the right, it's a right hand door.

Lites: The pane(s) of glass in a door. Most doors have triple-glazed insulated glass for energy efficiency and security. The inner pane may have a decorative beveled, silk-screened, or stained glass with brass caming (metal joining strips). The glass may be one large lite or have a grille that separates it into several lites.

Divided Lite: Panes of glass that are or appear to be divided.

Grid: Vinyl, wood, or metal strips or rods in a pane that give the appearance of divided lites.

We believe that hardwood makes the most dramatic and impressive entry doors. The weight adds a sense of security. They may be painted or stained for a natural, elegant appearance, and there are several kinds of wood to choose from.s

Honduras Mahongany is generally the most sought-after hardwood for entry doors. It has a smooth, even grain that results in a deep and handsome finish.

Oak provides a much more traditional look, with dark, thick grain patterns and a beautiful lighter brown finish.

Mahogany comes primarily from tropical Asia and South America, and there are no less than 100 generic types from all over the world. Its grain is darker than Honduras mahongany, but the finish is just as deep and beautiful, and there is no difference in the performance.

Fiberglass doors are lighter and more reisistant to all kinds of weather, scratches, and dents, making them ideal for extreme climates and high-traffic entrances and exits. They have wood grain texture molded into the door so that they give the appearance of real wood when painted or stained.

Steel doors, though they dent easily, can withstand years of extreme weather conditions with minimum maintenance. They are highly resistant to shrinking, swelling, and warping, and have an energy efficient foam core insulation. They come preprimed and ready to paint, and usually also have a predrilled doorknob and lockset holes.

French doors are generally hinged double doors with divided lites that open out onto the patio, deck, or backyard.

Sliding doors are usually huge panes of glass mounted in a frame with rollers through which you can walk.

We sell both French and sliding glass doors, ranging from five to over twelve feet in width and covering a wide range of materials.

Aluminum doors are usually the least expensive. They won't rust and are easily maintained. However, we sell very few aluminum doors because vinyl's cost is almost as low, and their advantages are much greater. Vinyl frames are easy to maintain and look new for years. They are also energy efficient, as vinyl is an excellent insulator. Most vinyl patio doors also offer low-e insulated glass for maximum energy savings.

Wood doors are the highest quality and the most expensive patio doors. They offer the same natural qualities as traditional wood doors, but with a full view through the large pane(s). Fiberglass also offers the same qualities as fiberglass entry doors: less weight and more resistance against the elements.

Wood clad doors offer the best of both worlds. They have wooden doors and frames, but with a vinyl, fiberglass, or aluminum coating on the exterior face. The coating serves as an armored layer that protects the wood from the elements and preserves the beauty of real wood on the inside.