42 inch front door help!

11 years ago

Our builder is suggesting that if we go w/a 42inch front door we should go with 84 inches tall vs the standard 80 inches. If we do that we will need to go back to the structural and have some additional fees....

Is it standard to get an 84 inch tall for a front door when you get a 42inch wide door or will it look fine with an 80 inch tall door?

Featured Answer

PRO

Brickwood Builders, Inc.

11 years ago

The old standard 80" door is now considered short. Most people are now installing 82" (or taller) if they can. It is nice to go up to an even taller door if you have the space and it works in your design. I don't think it has anything to do with how much the builder gets paid as the difference is negligible to the builder. It has to do with being in line with current trends and what will look best overall.

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Comments (6)

lefty47
11 years ago
HI -- My question is .. why ? ... does the builder want this other than this is going to be more money for a custom item ???
Erik
Original Author
11 years ago
He believes the door would look to short since it is a wide door. I'm tempted to drive around the neighborhood and measure some other larger front doors to see if they do 80 vs 84 inches tall...
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PRO
User
11 years ago
The taller door will look better.
sandradclark
11 years ago
You are talking about a four inch difference. No one will notice except the builder with more bucks in his pocket!
PRO
Scott Design, Inc.
11 years ago
There's a lot to consider when selecting height...the height of the ceiling... the height of the windows off the floor...depth of interior ceiling moldings...alignment of interior door and window casings...is there is a porch roof or pediment over the front door... are there sidelites on either side of the door, etc. I also find it hard to believe that 6" will cause you to need structural sign off. The 5% difference in height will not have impact on the 15% increase in width. You would have to go to a 92" height to maintain the same vertical proportions. In many cases, a mulled transom would be used to keep that relationship without impacting the other window and door heights if all other considerations are resolved.