Doors glossary
Plain-English definitions of 0 doors terms you will see on quotes and inspection reports.
- 0Terms defined
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- 0Featured starters
Find the word. Read the definition. Check the bid.
Prehung - a door already mounted in a complete new frame with hinges and usually the threshold. Slab - just the door panel, no frame or hinges. Which one your quote covers is the single biggest driver of price difference between bids.
Jamb - the vertical sides and head of the frame. Sill - the horizontal bottom member the door closes onto. Threshold - the piece you step over, often adjustable. Rough opening - the framed hole in the wall behind the trim, which is what a prehung unit has to fit into.
Handing - the combination of hinge side and swing direction. Conventions vary by supplier, so always also state it in words. Sidelight - a narrow fixed glass panel beside the door. Transom - a panel above it. Astragal - the vertical seal strip where two door panels meet on a double door.
Weatherstripping - the compressible seal around the frame; a wear item. Door sweep - the seal at the bottom edge. Sill pan - a waterproof tray under the door that catches and drains any water that gets past the seal; a key detail on exterior installs. Strike plate - the metal plate on the jamb the latch and deadbolt engage.
Three rules for every term
- Learn prehung vs. slab first It explains most of the price variation between quotes and determines whether a damaged frame gets fixed.
- Rough opening is not the door size The rough opening is larger than the unit to allow for shimming. Don't quote one number when a supplier asks for the other.
- Ask if a sill pan is included It's a small item that determines whether water gets drained out or into your wall framing. Get it named in the contract.
A-Z doors dictionary
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Glossary terms for this industry are being written.
Where related figures come from
Sources last checked
- How to Adjust an Exterior Door (threshold, sweep, weatherstrip terminology) · retrieved 2026-07-25
- How to Fix Common Exterior Door Problems · retrieved 2026-07-25
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