How to Measure a Wood Door

Too Many Measurements…Where do I start?
Measuring Architectural Wood doors with confidence.

You may have seen my previous blog on measuring steel doors. This post will be similar but tailored to Architectural wood doors with the goal to simplify the wood door measuring process for good. Following the simple guidelines below will get us the information needed to provide you with the best possible fitting replacement architectural wood door.

1. Measure the exact Width of the existing architectural wood door. This dimension is also called the net door width. Measure in multiple places along the height of the door to confirm it is the same width along the entire door. Most 1 ¾” wood doors will have a bevel at least on the lock edge of the door if not both hinge and lock edges. Be sure to measure the width from the wide side of the door
   
   
2. Measure the exact Height of the existing architectural wood door. This dimension is also called the net door height. Measure in multiple places along the width of the door to confirm it is the same height along the entire door.
   
   
3. Measure the hinge locations on the architectural wood door by hooking the tape measure on the top of the door and pulling down to the top of each hinge. Record these dimensions in order. Example: 4 7/8” – 37 1/8” – 69 3/8”
   
   
4. Make a note if the hinges have square or radius corners. The most common radii are ¼” and 5/8”
   
   
5. Measure the height of the individual hinges. (For architectural wood doors they are typically 4 ½”.)
   
   
6. Measure the backset for the hinges. This is the un-mortised section between the hinge cutout and the opposite face of the door. Typically this will be 1/4” for a 4 ½” hinge.
   
   
7. Measure the lock locations on the architectural wood doors by measuring from the top of the door down to the center of the lock. If there is more than one lock, repeat this step for as many locks as you have. 
   
   
8. Measure the faceplate dimensions for each lock. The faceplate is the cutout on the edge of the door for the lock. Typical sizes for a cylindrical lock are 1 1/8” x 2 ¼” and 1 ¼” x 8” for a mortise lock. Whatever your dimensions are write them down so we can duplicate your architectural wood door perfectly.
   
   
9. Measure the backset for each lock. The backset is the distance from the edge of the architectural wood door to the center of the lock bore. Typically 2 ¾” for architectural wood doors and 2 3/8” for a residential application.
   
   
10. Measure the diameter of the lock bores. For an architectural wood door the typical lock bore sizes are 2 1/8” cylindrical lock and 1 ½” or 2 1/8” for a deadbolt.
    
    
11. Finally write down the handing of the architectural wood door. A little easy trick to handing a door is to stand in the door frame opening with your back pressed against the hinge jamb whichever side the hinge cutouts are on is the hand of the door.

Schuham Builder’s machines all of your architectural wood door orders on site. Let us keep the mess in our shop and your project clean. Just pick up the phone and simply relay this information to our sales staff and you will be on your way to a pain free door replacement project.

See you next time.
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