How to Order Custom Doors in East Brookfield, MA

Ordering a new door might seem like a simple task—until you're asked about "handing," "jamb depth," or "rough openings." Suddenly, a straightforward home improvement project can feel overwhelmingly technical. At Howe Lumber Co., we believe that upgrading your home shouldn't be a headache. Whether you are building a new home or renovating a historic property in East Brookfield, MA, getting the details right is crucial for a perfect fit and a stress-free installation. This guide is designed to demystify the process of ordering interior and exterior doors. We'll walk you through everything you need to know, including how to order custom doors for your project.

What Do We Mean By "What Hand is the Door?"

One of the most common stumbling blocks for homeowners is determining the "handing" of a door. Simply put, door handing describes the direction in which the door swings. Getting this detail correct is vital; an incorrectly handed door can block light switches, hit furniture, or obstruct the flow of traffic in a room. There are a few industry-standard methods to determine the handing of your door. Our team at Howe Lumber Co. recommends double-checking using both methods below to ensure accuracy before you finalize your order.

Method 1: The "Back to Hinges" Approach

This is often the most reliable method for visualizing the swing.

Stand in the doorway with your back against the hinge side of the jamb.
Ensure the door is open.
If the door is on your left side, it is a Left-Hand
If the door is on your right side, it is a Right-Hand

Method 2: The "Push" Approach

When trying the second method, here are the steps you can take.

Stand on the side of the door where you have to push it away from you to open it.
Examine the door's position in relation to your body.
If the door panel is on your right, it is a Right-Hand
If the door panel is on your left, it is a Left-Hand

Pro Tip: If you are still unsure, snapping a photo of your current door opening and showing it to our experts at our East Brookfield showroom is a foolproof way to get it right.

White custom front door installed in home in East Brookfield, MA

Understanding Door Swing: Inswing vs. Outswing

While handing tells us which side the hinges are on, the
"swing" tells us whether the door opens into the room or out to the
exterior. This distinction is critical for exterior doors, which must be
weather-tight and secure.

Inswing Doors: If you are standing inside your home and the door opens toward you (into the interior space), it is an inswing door. This is the standard configuration for most residential front entry doors. Inswing doors are generally preferred because the hinges are located inside the house, offering better security against tampering.
Outswing Doors: If the door pushes out toward the patio, porch, or yard, it is an outswing door. These are common in high-wind areas or where interior floor space is limited. When ordering an outswing door, it is crucial to specify this explicitly. Why? Because the threshold and weatherstripping must be designed differently to prevent rain from running down the door and into your home. Additionally, outswing doors require
"security hinges" (with non-removable pins) since the barrel of the hinge is exposed to the outside.

Sizing 101: What Size Door Do I Need?

The size of your door depends heavily on whether you are replacing just the door slab (the swinging part) or the entire unit (including the frame). Door sizes and styles, explained by our team, often begin with a simple question: Is this new construction or a replacement?

Measuring for a Replacement

If you are replacing an existing door but keeping the frame, you must measure the door slab itself. Measure the height and width at three points (top, middle, and bottom) and use the exact measurements. Do not round up or down.

Standard vs. Custom Sizes

Over the decades, door sizes have become relatively standardized, but older homes in Massachusetts often feature unique dimensions that don't align with modern standards.

Common Heights: The industry standards are usually 6'6" (78 inches) and 6'8" (80 inches).
Standard Widths: Widths typically run in 2-inch increments. The most popular sizes are 2'6" (30 inches), 2'8" (32 inches), and 3'0" (36 inches).

However, it is not uncommon to find narrow closet doors as small as 1'0" or grand entryways wider than 3'0". If your measurements don't match these standards, don't worry. Learning how to order custom doors is part of our specialty. We work with manufacturers who can craft custom-sized doors to fit odd-sized openings perfectly. While this route may take a bit longer—sometimes up to 8 weeks—it ensures a perfect seal and finish without requiring major carpentry work on your walls.

What Is a Rough Opening?

If you are framing a new wall or enlarging a doorway, you will need to know the "rough opening" (R.O.). The rough opening is the structurally framed hole in the wall that accepts the door unit. When a house is being framed, builders leave these openings slightly larger than the actual door unit. This gap is intentional and essential. It provides wiggle room to shim the door frame so that it is perfectly plumb, level, and square, even if the wall studs aren't.

How to Calculate Rough Opening

Generally, a rough opening should be:

Width: The width of the door unit + 2 to 2.5 inches.
Height: The height of the door unit + 2 to 2.5 inches.

Having this extra space allows for adjustments during the installation process. It is always easier to shim a door into a slightly larger opening than it is to try to wedge a frame into a hole that is too tight. If the frame is squeezed too tightly, it can cause the jambs to bow, resulting in the door binding or not closing properly.

The Importance of the Jamb

The "jamb" is the wooden frame that surrounds the door and attaches to the wall studs. The size (depth) of the jamb is one of the most critical specifications, yet it is often overlooked.

Why Jamb Depth Matters

If your jamb is too deep, it will protrude past the drywall, making it impossible to install casing (trim) flat against the wall. If it is too shallow, your casing will have gaps, or you may expose the rough framing lumber. When you order a jamb, there are specific regular sizes available. These sizes are made to accommodate the framing lumber, along with the correct thicknesses of 1/2" wallboard and plaster (where applicable). This is why doors are ordered with a 4 9/16" or a 6 9/16" jamb. There are other sizes, of course, as there are a few other sorts of walls. A drywall jamb is often 5 1/4" thick, and there are also even larger jambs to accommodate walls that are made of 2x8's. These, as well as custom sizes, are available by special order.

Old Home Challenges

In East Brookfield and surrounding towns, we have many beautiful antique homes built before modern dimensional lumber was standardized. These homes often have "full-dimension" rough lumber, resulting in walls that don't match standard jamb depths. In these cases, you may need a custom jamb extension or a custom-ordered door unit. A quick measurement of your wall thickness (paint to paint) will tell you precisely what you need.

What Kind of Door Do I Want?

Once the technical measurements are out of the way, the fun part begins: choosing the style.

Interior vs. Exterior Doors

First, distinguish between functions.

Exterior Doors: These must be weather-resistant, insulated, and secure. They are typically 1-3/4" thick and come with weatherstripping and a threshold. Materials include fiberglass (for low maintenance), steel (for security), and wood (for classic beauty and aesthetic appeal).
Interior Doors: These are typically 1-3/8" thick. Since they don't need to withstand New England winters, they are lighter and focus on privacy and sound dampening.

Choosing Your Style

The door style sets the tone for your home. Here are options you can choose from:

6-Panel Pine: A traditional favorite that fits perfectly in colonial-style homes.
Hollow Core: A cost-effective, lightweight option available in various molded styles, including smooth and textured finishes.
French Doors: Featuring glass panes, these are excellent for letting light flow between rooms, such as into a dining room or sunroom.
Flush Doors: Flat surfaces with no panels, ideal for modern, minimalist aesthetics.

If you are looking to buy wood doors online or browse our catalog, consider how the door design complements your flooring and trim. A cohesive look ties the whole house together.

Women look at interior door ideas in East Brookfield

Selecting the Right Jamb Style

Did you know there are different ways a jamb can be constructed? The type of jamb you choose can affect the ease of installation and the final look.

Split Jambs: The split jamb is incredibly popular for interior pre-hung doors because of its ease of installation. The jamb is literally "split" into two interlocking pieces. One side of the jamb has the casing already attached. You slide it into the opening. Then, you slide the second side (also with casing) into the other side of the wall. The two pieces tongue-and-groove together, sandwiching the wall. This automatically adjusts to slight variations in wall thickness and completely hides the rough opening without requiring you to miter the casing yourself.
Flat Jamb with Applied Stop: This is the traditional method. It consists of a flat piece of wood (the jamb) where the door hangs. A separate piece of molding, called the "stop," is nailed onto the jamb to prevent the door from swinging through the opening. This is often structurally more solid than a split jamb and is preferred for heavy, solid-core doors. It requires you to install the casing separately, giving you more freedom to choose custom trim profiles.
Single Rabbeted Jamb: In this style, the "stop" is not a separate piece of wood but is milled directly into the solid jamb stock. This is incredibly strong and eliminates the risk of the stop molding, warping, or separating over time. It provides a very clean, high-end look.

Order Your Lumber Parts Today

Whether you're enhancing the beauty of your home, improving energy efficiency, or tackling a full-scale renovation, our team is here to support you every step of the way. With high-quality products, expert advice, and flexible delivery options, we aim to make your experience seamless and enjoyable. Once your order is in, we are happy to coordinate a pickup or local delivery so you receive everything you need to complete your project. Contact us today to get started—we look forward to helping you find the perfect doors for your project!