Door FAQs

Call Frank Lumber The Door Store™: (206) 362-2311

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions about our doors.
Please call (206) 362-2311 if you have any further questions.

What is your warranty policy?

Limited Warranty: Frank Lumber The Door Store™ Company warrants each door we sell, for a period of one year from the date of the customer’s receipt of the door, is of good material and workmanship and free from defects that would render the door unserviceable or unfit for ordinary, recommended use. In addition, Frank Lumber The Door Store™ honors the specific warranties offered by the door manufacturers whose products we sell. More information is available on our warranty policy page. Please review our warranty policy here. FRANK LUMBER LIMITED WARRANTY

Can I order my doors prehung?

We prehang our doors to your specifications right here on site. You can choose from SO many options in jambs, weather stripping, hinges, drilling for locks, thresholds/sills, sweeps, trim moldings, etc., and then we put the prehung door together to fit your choices. If the door needs to be trimmed in height and/or width, we do that. There are almost no installation applications we haven’t encountered before; just bring us your measurements and your ideas. If you are removing an old door, it is always helpful to bring or e-mail us a few digital photos of the existing door and its jamb; that allows us to be even more helpful when you’re here.

Do you carry Dutch/Barn Doors?

Yes! We build exterior and interior Dutch/barn doors. Any stile and rail door with a 6 3/4″ mid-rail can be prehung as a Dutch/barn door for you. We cut through the mid-rail, install a wood molding called a “Dutch/Barn Door Astragal,” mount 2 hinges to each half, drill for a handle in the lower half, and for exterior applications, a deadbolt in the top half. The added cost is minimal: one additional hinge at $5.00 to $25.00 each, depending on the model; the Dutch/Barn door astragal at $25.00; and an additional $20.00 for shop labor. We can also build a shelf onto the lower half; charges for that vary with your preferences. Because Dutch/barn doors by definition have a cut through the middle that could potentially leak air or moisture, they are not recommended for installation in weather-exposed areas where that could be a problem.

Do you build outswing door units?

Yes! We can prehang any exterior door to swing outward. We use sills/thresholds specifically designed for that use, and we use special-purpose hinges that are non-ferrous (will not rust) and that have a built-in security feature that prohibits the hinge pins from being removed when the door is closed. Out-swing patio doors (especially fiberglass ones) are great for high wind and rain areas because they are less prone to leak under the doors than in-swing units. There is a small upcharge for the special hinges, but otherwise out-swing doors are no more costly than the same door that in-swings. We also sell Larson brand retractable screen door systems that pair well with out-swing door units.

Do you offer fire-rated doors?

Yes! We sell fire-rated doors in 20-minute configurations. For residential use, the typical requirement for doors that separate the living space from attached garages and also some types of mechanical rooms is 20 minutes. There are matching 20-minute-rated versions of many, but not all, of the interior door models we carry. Glass is not an option in most of these models, but we can provide flush wood-rated units with custom glass inserts on a special order basis.

Do you sell doors for commercial buildings?

Yes! We have a tremendous range of products available for light commercial, mixed-use, and industrial repair/addition applications. Tenant improvement projects/build-outs are one of our specialties. We build doors and door plus re-lite units for office spaces, store frontages, restaurants, churches, schools, condominium/multiple dwelling lobbies and unit entries, and maritime vessels, to name a few of the many different types of jobs our doors have gone into. Please note that we do not quote institutional-type projects such as new high-rises, shopping malls, manufacturing facilities, or hospitals, although we commonly work with the individual tenants to build out their spaces within those types of buildings.

Can I buy locks and deadbolts and have them keyed alike?

Yes! We carry Baldwin and Schlage handles and deadbolts in stock, and we can key them alike here while you wait. We also sell locksets and deadbolts from many other hardware manufacturers, and they can be ordered match-keyed. There is no charge for keying alike locks you buy at Frank Lumber The Door Store™. We can both key alike to each other the new locks you buy, but we can also often match key them to an old key that you bring in. So if you are keeping some existing locks and adding new ones, it is possible they can all be changed to accept the same key. We also make key copies at our showroom(s) while you wait.

Do you make custom doors?

Custom doors are our specialty. We can build in-house or order virtually any residential or commercial door you can imagine. Frank Lumber The Door Store™ offers doors in almost any wood species, with almost any type of glass, prehung and/or mortised for hundreds of different installation requirements. Any of our thousands of in-stock doors can be prehung to your specifications within a few working days. It is extremely rare that we are presented with a door detail that we are unable to provide, and even in those rare circumstances, we can usually offer an alternative solution that accomplishes what you are looking for. Please call or e-mail us for a quote for any door you may need. We have salespeople on staff that have literally seen it all!

Can I get my doors delivered?

Frank Lumber The Door Store™ Delivery Map: Yes. Frank Lumber The Door Store™ Company has a fleet of delivery trucks. We deliver our doors all over Western Washington, from Bellingham to SeaTac, the Olympic Peninsula, and as far east as North Bend. Fees for local delivery (greater Seattle area) start as low as $100.00. In addition to our Frank Lumber The Door Store™ curbside delivery service, we can crate up your orders for will-call by the freight company of your choice or deliver the crates to a local freight forwarding company such as Alaska Marine Lines or Honolulu Freight Service.

Do you install doors?

Frank Lumber The Door Store™, does not offer installation services through our company. We do refer to a list of preferred professional door installers. They are door installation specialists, pre-qualified by us to be experienced, reliable, and conscientious, as well as licensed, bonded, and insured. The installers we refer will come out to your house or work site to take the applicable measurements and give you an on-site consultation along with an estimate for their labor. They then put the measurements on file here at our store so that you will be ready to finalize your door and hardware purchase. Once the doors are ready, they can be either delivered to you for on-site prefinish or to the finishing shop of your choice. Once painted or stained, the installer comes back out to remove the old stuff and install your new doors, trim, and locks. They clean up after and dump waste materials as well for a fee. All contractors are independent. Frank Lumber The Door Store™ does not guarantee or warranty their work.

Can I get my doors finished by Frank Lumber The Door Store™?

No—we do offer a list of finish service providers that offer a broad range of millwork finishing options. Your doors, jambs, and trim can be stained and varnished, primed and painted, or primed only/ready for paint when delivered. Finishing adds 2-3 weeks to the lead time of most orders and also adds to the applicable delivery fee, as finished products require more packing and handling considerations than unfinished ones.

What doors can be used for pocket doors or wall-mounted doors?

What if I need design consultation?

We design and build many of the doors we carry. Our expert salespeople have lots of experience in different architectural styles and are pleased to assist in suggesting door and lock set models that complement each other and match your house as well. We also help develop new designs for your unique idea- so much fun to do! Even with the thousands of doors we stock, it’s amazing how often we find ourselves either modifying an existing design or creating something all new for a client. We love the opportunity to brainstorm with our customers, and it’s always exciting to see the results take shape.

How do I measure for a door replacement?

When replacing an existing door, it is best to take some basic measurements before visiting us. Please check the height, width, and thickness of the current door, and try to generally evaluate how the door fits in the jamb. It is very helpful to take photos with a digital camera or cell phone of the existing door, locks, hinges, and threshold. We can help you much more easily with this data in hand.

How to measure for a new door

Measuring your rough opening: To measure a rough opening, you will need to remove the trim (moldings) on one side. To find the width, you should measure in three locations: top, middle, and bottom. The narrowest point is your rough opening width. The height is measured from the bottom of the header to the subfloor or finished floor, depending on the surface that the unit will sit on top of. Click here for a visual example of measuring the Rough Opening.

Measure wall thickness: the depth of the wall. Measure the existing jamb, not including moldings. Exterior: Measure from sheetrock to exterior sheeting. Interior: Measure from sheetrock to sheetrock. Click here for a visual example of measuring the wall thickness.

Determining Which Direction Your Door Will Swing. Frank Lumber, The Door Store™, determines the swing of your door as follows: Stand so the door opens toward you. If the hinges are on the right, we call that a right hinge. If the hinges are on the left, it’s a left hinge. Click here for a visual example of the Door Swing Right. Click here for a visual example of the Door Swing Left.

How to measure for a new screen door

Finishing Guide — Interior Doors

Interior doors should be finished prior to or directly after installation. Improperly finished or unfinished doors carry no warranty. As with exterior doors, all surfaces, including the top and bottom, must be covered with all coats of recommended finishing products. Do not expose wood or MDF doors to moisture before finishing. Do not install unfinished interior doors before drywall taping. Interior walls should be finish coated, sanded, and primed before the doors are hung or stored at the worksite. Note that primer alone on the door(s) does not block the absorption of moisture!

General recommendations for stain or clear finishing:

Coat with oil-based wood conditioner such as Daly’s Benite to harden the surface for finish sanding and promote uniformity of the stain color.
If a stain color is desired, apply a penetrating oil-based stain.
It is a good idea to do a test sample first. If a clear finish is desired, skip this step.
Top coat with a clear, oil-based finish. Semi-gloss or high gloss is preferable to a flat or satin finish. Daly’s Teak Oil and Daly’s Profin are available at Frank Lumber The Door Store™.

General recommendations for painting:

High-quality acrylic latex-based primers may be used on MDF doors ONLY.
Wood doors should be primed with a slow-drying, penetrating, oil-based primer.
Oil-based or high-quality acrylic latex may be used for finish paint.
Select primers and paints from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility.

Important: Use premium products. Mass-produced, cheaper-grade products do not perform well and are not recommended. A specialty paint store or quality finishing shop can help you select the best products for each application. Read the labels on each product carefully and follow all directions regarding temperatures, drying times, and recommended number of coats to ensure the best possible results.

No warranty is extended to wood doors if the above requirements are not met. It is the sole responsibility of the buyer to do all the necessary finishing or to verify that the finisher of their choice follows the guidelines given. Inspect and clean the door(s) carefully before you begin the finishing process. Door manufacturers do not compensate for finishing expenses in warranty replacement situations. interiorFinishingGuide7-22

Finishing Guide — Exterior Doors

Exterior doors must be properly finished prior to installation or prolonged storage. Improperly finished or unfinished doors carry no warranty. All surfaces of a door, including the top and bottom, must be covered with all coats of recommended finishing products. As a final step, glass inserts in doors must be sealed- use a thin bead of clear silicone caulk around the outside perimeter between the glass and stops to prevent moisture infiltration into the core of the door(s).

General recommendations for stain or clear finishing :

Coat with oil-based wood conditioner such as Daly’s Benite to harden the surface for finish sanding and promote uniformity of the stain.olor.
If a stain color is desired, apply a penetrating oil-based stain. It is a good idea to do a test sample first. If a clear finish is desired, skip this step.
Topcoat with a clear, exterior-grade, oil-based finish. Semi-gloss or high gloss is preferable to a flat or satin finish. Daly’s Teak Oil and Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane are available at Frank Lumber The Door Store™.

General recommendations for painting:

Apply a slow-drying, penetrating, oil-based primer to harden the surface for finish sanding and allow for the proper adherence of the finish paint.
Apply two to three coats of oil-based or acrylic latex exterior-grade finish paint. Semi-gloss or high gloss is preferable to a flat or satin finish.
Important: Use only premium-quality paints, stains, and clear finishes. Cheaper, mass-produced products do not perform well and are not recommended. A specialty paint store or quality finishing shop can help you select the best products for each application. Read the labels on each product carefully and follow all directions regarding temperatures, drying times, and recommended number of coats to ensure the best possible results.

There is no warranty extended to wood doors in the following applications:

The finishing requirements given above are not met.
Severe southern or western exposure with inadequate overhang.
Dark-colored paints are used in direct sun exposure.
Excessive cutting has undermined the integrity of the door structure.

If you have questions specific to your situation, be sure to address them with a salesperson. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to do all the necessary finish work (including cleaning the glazing sealant from glass inserts). Inspect and clean the door carefully before you begin the finishing process. Door manufacturers do not compensate for finishing expenses in warranty replacement situations.exteriorFinishingGuide7.22

Match-Up Service

MATCH-UP is a service Frank Lumber The Door Store™ offers to simplify door replacement into existing jambs. A standard MATCH-UP includes cutting your new door to size, mortising for hinges, and drilling for standard locksets. Anything else must be scheduled and charged accordingly (mortise locks, mail slots, viewer preparation, pet doors, etc.). A MATCH-UP takes 1-3 hours; however, because other orders may be ahead of yours, we can only guarantee completion by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays or 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit our Match Up Service section here. Matchup__measurement_sheet