If you’re looking to replace your front door with a new solid oak door and frame, one of the first things you’ll need to know is the size of the opening.
The good thing about choosing a bespoke oak door and frame is that you don’t have to work to a standard size. Your new door can be made to fit the existing opening.
However, getting the measurements right is important.
Measuring the Width
Measure the width of the opening at three points: across the top, in the middle and across the bottom.
It is common for an opening to be slightly different at each point, particularly in older properties. Make a note of all three measurements rather than assuming the opening is perfectly straight.
Measuring the Height
Measure the height on both sides of the opening and also through the middle.
Measure from the finished floor or threshold up to the top of the opening.
The floor level is important because the new door needs the correct amount of clearance underneath it. If you are having new flooring fitted, this should also be taken into consideration.
Measuring the Wall Thickness
The thickness of the wall is another important measurement when ordering a new oak frame.
Measure from the inside face of the wall to the outside face. This helps determine the depth of the new frame and how it will sit within the opening.
Is the Opening Square?
It is also worth checking whether the opening is square.
The easiest way to do this is to measure diagonally from one top corner to the opposite bottom corner. Then measure from the other top corner to the opposite bottom corner.
If both measurements are the same, the opening is square. If they are different, the opening is out of square.
This isn’t necessarily a problem when ordering a bespoke door and frame. It is simply useful information that needs to be taken into account when the new frame is made.
Should You Measure the Existing Door?
You can measure your existing door, but this shouldn’t be the only measurement you use.
The existing door may have been made specifically for the current frame, so copying its measurements doesn’t always give you the correct size for a new door and frame.
It is better to measure the actual opening and assess the existing frame.
Getting the Measurements Right
Taking your own measurements is a good way to get an idea of the size you need when asking for a quotation.
However, before a bespoke solid oak door and frame are made, the final measurements should always be checked carefully.
At LSC Joinery & Manufacturing, we manufacture bespoke solid European oak exterior doors and frames to suit individual properties. Each door is made to the required size, design and specification.
So whether you are replacing an old front door or creating a completely new entrance, your new oak door and frame can be made specifically for your property.
Thinking about a new solid oak exterior door? Contact LSC Joinery & Manufacturing for a free quotation and discuss your requirements with us.
