Doors on the Historic Eastside
Eastside doorways: old lintels, uneven floors and doors worth getting right
An Eastside front door often faces a narrow lane where every passerby sees it, and a courtyard door may open onto flagstone that has settled for decades. Both need a door that's hung precisely in an opening that's anything but standard.
What makes Eastside door work different
Low, irregular openings
Older doorways can be shorter than today's standard and out of square under a wood lintel. We measure at several points and order a door, or a custom slab and frame, to suit.
Floors that aren't level
Brick, flagstone and old wood floors rarely sit flat at the threshold. We fit the sill and sweep to the floor you have, so the door seals without catching.
Doors the street can see
Front and lane-facing doors in the historic district may be part of the city's review. We bring style and material options that are likely to fit, and help with the paperwork.
Keep the old door or replace it?
A handsome old wood door with a sound core can often be rehung, resealed and fitted with new hardware, and that may be the better choice on a historic facade. When the door is split, rotted at the bottom rail, or simply never sealed, a new door built to the same look is usually the smarter spend.
We'll tell you honestly which camp yours falls into.
Doors we fit on the Eastside
- Solid wood entry doors, painted or stained
- Wood-look fiberglass for sun-blasted elevations
- Glazed French doors onto courtyards and portals
- Doors with sidelites or a fixed transom over an arched opening
Questions about doors on the Eastside
Our front doorway is shorter than a standard door. What are the options?
We can order a door and frame made to the existing height, or cut down a suitable slab and build a frame around it. Raising the opening is possible in some cases, but it involves the lintel and may need review, so we usually avoid it.
Can a courtyard door seal properly over an old flagstone floor?
Yes, with some care. We shape the threshold and adjust the sweep to follow the floor, and where the stone is badly uneven we may set a new sill on a small bed of mortar.
Does replacing a door facing Canyon Road need approval?
Many street-facing changes in the historic district do. We'll help you check with the city and prepare what they need before we order anything.
More services in Historic Eastside
Entry, Patio & French Doors nearby
Have an Eastside doorway that needs attention?
We'll measure it properly, talk through repair or replacement, and price the option you prefer.