When purchasing a new front entry door for your home it is just as important to find the right hardware, both for esthetic purposes and functionality.  Entry door hardware comes in two basic forms, a standard “tubular” set and “mortise”.  They can and often do look very much alike, so what is the difference?

As with most industries entry door hardware has standardizations.  An entry door, whether it is your front, side or back door, will usually come from the manufacturer with two holes on the face of the door called a “double bore” which will accept the hardware. These holes are most often 2 1/8” in diameter, 5 ½” apart and are at set certain distances from the top of the door depending on its height. They are also centered from the edge of the door, called a setback, 2 3/8” to 2 ¾”. Most all hardware on the shelf (wherever that may be) is sold to accommodate this industry standard.  The benefit to consumers is a plethora of styles and manufacturers to choose from without the worry as to whether it will work.

Mortise hardware on the other hand is usually not sold “on the shelf” but is a special order item that should be decided on prior to ordering your new door.  Though it installs in approximately the same place it does not install in the same way. Take a look at the pictures below. On the left you’ll see a conventional tubular setup. On the right you will see a mortise prep.  The mortise prep or “pocket” is either ordered that way from the manufacturer or done by the dealer.  It is bored out to accept a mortise box which fits into the side (edge) of the door.  This box is the inner workings of the mortise hardware that gives this type of hardware its peculiar “features and benefits”.

Mortise hardware could be considered heavy duty residential.  This is because the surface area of the dead-bolt is almost twice that of the tubular set (see pictures below). In a tubular set the dead-bolt is usually the only locking point whereas with the mortise set both the dead-bolt and the thumb latch lock giving you more security and peace of mind. Another neat feature is the ability to lock the thumb latch, as your leaving, without the use of a key. See the two buttons on the side of the mortise box; they toggle back and forth from lock to unlock. Of course this benefit is best used only when going on short excursions. One of the best features (also available on some tubular sets) is the Emergency Egress function. When you turn the knob or lever on the inside of your home, on your way out, it unlocks the dead-bolt and latch strike all at one time. The benefit here is only one action instead of two.

The practical difference is of course the price.  Tubular sets come in many more styles and materials, and are therefore usually less expensive depending on the grade (a subject for another day). Mortise sets are most often made from solid brass and have more intricate moving parts.

There is lots more to be said but these are the significant differences between the two styles of locks.

When a customer is looking for a front door, the field is usually narrowed down to two types wood or fiberglass. Steel doors, though relatively inexpensive, dent easily and become unsightly if used heavily. Vinyl, clad and composite products are used for patio door applications and just do not have the decorative glass and panel designs consumers want for their front entry doors.

If there really are just two choices (wood or fiberglass) how do we choose?  The first question that should be asked of the customer is does the door get any sun? This leads to a discussion of the direction the home faces and how much of a protective overhang there is.  The reason for this is that most wood door manufacturers will not warranty the product if it is unprotected from the elements.  Though you may not get the direct intense heat of a summer sun an unprotected door facing  early morning or late evening sun could also be in jeopardy. Wood contracts and expands leaving unsightly cracks and blemishes.  Wood door manufactueres are usually all too eagar to point out that the door should never have been installed in the chosen location once there is a warranty issue.  That’s why in these types of situations fiberglass entry doors are the preferred choice

Fiberglass entry doors are made to withstand direct exposure to all the elements, sun, wind and rain . They don’t contract and expand, they stay true regardless of cardinal direction or protection.  These characteristics lend themselves to less fatigue and maintenance.  The skins of fiberglass doors come in multiple types,  smooth for paint or several different wood grain impressions simulating oak, mahogany, fir or even alder which can be stained or painted.  For Southern California and particular Orange County, fiberglass entry doors should be given careful consideration when choosing your new front door.

Today's Windows and Doors is an EPA-Certified Renovation Firm

Did you know that lead poisoning affects one in six children and an unknown number of adults in the United States? That the National Center for Disease Control said that “lead poisoning is the number one environmental health problem affecting children in the United States”?

Most people don’t. Nor do they know that 75% of homes and apartments built before 1980 contain some lead paint, since the government banned the manufacture of lead paint in 1978. At Today’s Windows and Doors, we take the quality and care of our installations, replacements and renovations very seriously, which is why we are certified and registered by the EPA to deal with lead-based paints in homes.

As of April 22, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency will enforce their Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, requiring all contractors to be trained how to conduct renovation activities safely to reduce the risk of lead poisoning. The EPA defines “contractors” as general contractors, renovation contractors, property managers, painters, plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, and the rule applies to any of these individuals or companies who work on homes, buildings or schools that were built before 1978.

As a family-run business, we understand the importance of protecting children, and we also want to protect our customers. We are happy to comply with the EPA’s rule requiring a contractor to provide the homeowner with information on the Lead PRE (Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Rule) before starting work. The RRP Rule applies to homes built before 1978 where children are present, and the renovations will affect a painted area of 2 sq. ft. or larger. How serious is the EPA about their RRP Rule? VERY—fines can cost up to $37,500 per incident.

The EPA has listed Today’s Windows and Doors as a Certified Renovation Firm, and have a technician trained in all the EPA compliance rules. And although this may add cost to a select amount of installations or replacements by Today’s Windows and Doors, we agree with the EPA that you can’t put a price on your family’s health and safety.

An example of an entry door with sidelights.

Most people don’t think about the size of their entry door until they want to install a new one. If they start their shopping at one of the big home and garden stores, they may be shocked to find that they don’t see the same size doors on the rack as they see at home. They may also find that the employees at the store aren’t much help in solving their odd-size door dilemma.

Although roughly 60% of the market has a 36″-wide entry door, and another 25% has a 36″- or 32″-wide, double entry door combination, there are pockets of homes in Southern California that were designed and built with 5′-wide (60″) entry doors. Until recently, the big manufacturers have been reluctant to accommodate this segment of the marketplace, which is why they aren’t found at the “big box” stores. And even though there are more 60″-wide entry doors being made, the range of styles and decorative options is still lacking.

With over 20 years of experience installing entry doors in Orange County and surrounding areas, Today’s Windows and Doors can offer several options for these odd-sized entry door customers. The first option is to design the entry with a 36″ door flanked by two panels, or “sidelights.” Sidelights can be either glass, wood or fiberglass panels that complement the entry door. We would have to install two 10″ sidelights with a 36″-wide door, and although they usually come in 12″ 0r 15″ panels, we see the major door manufacturers are offering more choices every month.

Our second option is to modify the entryway to accommodate a double door, with either two 32″-wide or two 36″-wide doors. Today’s Windows and Doors is a certified, licensed and bonded general contractor with trained craftsmen on staff to do the job—no outside contractors are used. This is a popular option for many of our clients, as it offers the most choice in doors, for both style and material.

Choosing a new entry door is not just about the look. It is crucial to evaluate your home and the direction that your entry door faces in order to choose the right material for your new door. Wood is more likely to expand and contract during changes in the weather, while fiberglass is more likely to withstand the effects of direct sunlight. If these factors are not considered before installation, a homeowner may find that the door’s warranty is invalid.

The perfect entry door installation begins long before workmen arrive at your home. Make sure that your entry door installation is done professionally from start to finish, no matter what size your door is. Contact us for a free consultation, either at one of our two showrooms or in your home.

Andersen® donated nine 100 Series windows to retrofit one of the shelter houses for the Eli Home, a charity dedicated to breaking the cycle of abuse of women and children based in Santa Ana, California. Today’s Windows and Doors provided the labor to remove and replace the old windows in the house, built in 1940.

“Because of the house’s age, many of the windows weren’t functional,” commented Lorri Galloway, Executive Director and co-founder of the Eli Home. “Not only could we not open or close any of them, but they also did not do a good job of keeping out the elements: the cold air came in during the winter, and the hot air was trapped inside during the summer.”

Mark Nelson, who helped with the installation as a representative of Anderson®, explained: “The 100 Series is a relatively new product. It is made from a composite-based material, and works very well in replacements and retrofits.” The Andersen® 100 Series products are also twice as stable and rigid as windows made from vinyl, and were made to withstand the strength of the Southern California sun. Also, the 100 Series products feature frames and sashes made from Fibrex®, which contains 40% pre-consumer reclaimed wood fiber, and the glass contains 12% reclaimed glass.

As the installations were in progress, Lorri Galloway thanked Larry and Donna Cahoon of Today’s Windows and Doors and Mark Nelson of Andersen® for their help in restoring one of their three shelters.

“We are so grateful—this means so very much to us. What it truly does is offer a window into the heart of the Eli Home, and how abused mothers and children have their lives saved and changed here at the Eli Home.”

For more information on the Eli Home, their mission and how to donate, please call (714) 300-0600 or visit their website. Click here to watch a video of Today’s Windows and Doors installing the windows at the Eli Home’s shelter.

A Jeld-Wen® Dutch door in a Craftsman style

Have you ever seen a Dutch door and thought how nice it would be to have one? With the warm weather quickly approaching, there’s never been a better time to have one installed.

For the last few years, door manufacturers are reporting that Dutch doors are more popular than ever. What is a Dutch door? It’s an entry-door style that’s been in use in America since the 1600s. Dutch doors are split horizontally, usually in the middle, so that the top half and bottom half of the door can both open and closed. Originally, back in the early days of our country, a Dutch door was installed to allow fresh air to enter a house while stopping any wandering cows, sheep or other barnyard animals from visiting!

Although few Southern California residents need worry about a cow coming up their driveway, Dutch doors are still a practical—and good looking—way to open your home to the fantastic California weather without using a screen door to keep the kids and the dog from getting outside. When you keep the top half of the door open, you can easily keep in touch with the neighborhood’s activities, but with the bottom half closed, you can have some security and privacy at the same time. It’s also a great choice for your door out to a backyard or patio, so you can keep an eye on the kids playing out in the backyard.

The best thing about choosing a Dutch door is that you have almost as much choice as you would with a traditional entry or interior door. Hadn’t thought of a Dutch door for interior doorways? They can be perfect for laundry rooms, too! With the top half open, air can flow in and out for drying, but close both top and bottom when the washing machine or dryer is on and keep the noise inside. Another great way to use it is for children’s rooms, especially during naptime—the little one gets some privacy, but it allows the parents to take a peek when they like to check on them.

If the thought of a beautiful and practical Dutch door appeals to you, Today’s Windows and Doors can help you find the style to suit your home and budget with a free, in-home estimate. Summer is right around the corner…

Glass panels can be installed in both the door and in the sidelight panels that flank the entry door

After this bout of June Gloom, summer will be in full swing. It’s during this time that most California homeowners start thinking about the amount of natural light in their home, and that includes their entry door. Why live in California if you can’t enjoy the renowned weather?

Today’s Windows and Doors offers a wide range of glass designs that transcend any “big box” store cookie-cutter model. We find that many customers already have an idea of their ideal design in mind before they’ve passed through our doors, realizing that we can provide more customization than the chain stores.

At Today’s Windows and Doors, customers can choose their preference of pattern in the leaded material housing the glass, called “caming,” as well as the type of decorative glass inserts. We provide the customer with an almost unlimited selection of glass types including wave, water, baroque and seeded glass, plus a rainbow of color choices. As for the caming, wrought iron styles have proved to be a popular recent trend.

There are other considerations for a homeowner when deciding on whether or not to use glass in the front door. All of the glass inserts that we use are triple glazed, which not only protects the caming, but is also more thermally efficient than just a single pane.

Another main concern with customers is privacy, even if they’re determined to have glass panels in their doors. While homeowners are looking for light to come through the entry door window, they also want to make sure that it’s not easy for strangers to peek in. Manufacturers rate glass obscurity on a scale from 1 to 10, with a rating of one as the least obscure while a glass rating of 10 would be the highest. Even with a glass rating of 10, customers have requested even more privacy from the outside world. In such a case, we can apply a soft white film to the glass that adds another level of opacity.

Security is also a concern with many customers contemplating glass panels. The more glass in the door, the easier it is for a burglar to break the glass and potentially reach in to the hardware lock. Typically, there is a compromise between security and light. For instance, a door with two glass panels that cover almost 40% of the surface would present a larger hazard, as the design places the panels closer to the door handle. Using a glass panel in the top third of the door, which has been popular in the Craftsman or bungalow style of homes, is a more security-conscious choice. The panel’s position in the top of the door makes it more difficult for a potential burglar to gain access to the door hardware.

If you have any questions about the right entry door for you, with or without decorative glass, please call Today’s Windows and Doors or stop by one of our three conveniently located showrooms for expert advice and first-class customer service.

We went out to the home to scope out the work needed, and found out that the home’s stucco siding was coated in old lead-based paint, and we’d be required to use the new protective procedures put in place by the EPA’s recent Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule. Which was absolutely no problem, as we had recently gotten our installers trained and certified through Milgard’s dealer training program. So not only were we able to install the windows using the necessary steps to ensure the residents’ safety, we were able to use donated, energy-efficient windows, thanks to Milgard’s Temecula manufacturing plant.

Watch the video! Click here.

Tami Galloway, Director of Development for the Eli Home, was happy to give us a quote about the process: “Our goal is to provide a safe place for women and their children to start building toward a positive future. These new windows and the extra effort given to ensure this healthy living environment are truly a blessing.”

We’re just happy that everything aligned like it did so that we could do this project. The fact that we received lead paint training from Milgard, then they donated the windows, and our own initiative to accumulating the necessary equipment and supplies to perform a lead-based paint installation. It all results in a wonderful show of support for an organization that performs a much needed service in our community.

Many homeowners may not know that lead-based paint stopped being used on residential structures in 1978, but is still a serious health risk for children as well as adults. The EPA estimates that approximately three-quarters of the nation’s residences built before 1978 (64 million dwellings) contain some lead-based paint. Home renovations, such as window replacement, that disturbs stucco, siding and other surfaces with lead-based paint, results in paint chips and dust that carry dangerous lead content.

We are proud to be certified on how to handle, contain, and clean up the dust and debris resulting from renovations on these pre-1978 homes, as we want to keep our customers healthy and happy.

For more about how the Eli Home Eli Home provides a safe place for battered and abused women and their children to stay, as well as counseling and support services to these families in need in the Orange County area, visit www.elihome.org for more information.

Wire mesh security screens from Provia doors, available through Today's Windows and Doors

At Today’s Windows and Doors, we are dedicated to providing our customers with entry doors they want with the level of security they need. Luckily, great-looking doors and good security can go hand-in-hand, especially with the right know-how.

Entry door security usually comes down to two factors: hardware and door choice. There are many styles of door hardware available that are both beautiful and practical, but the hardware’s locking mechanism is where the security factor comes in. Most entry door hardware has a two-point locking system, composed of a latch and a deadbolt. This creates two points of contact between the door and the doorframe—and all of it has to be installed properly to be effective.

For a higher level of security, customers can upgrade to a mortise lock, which are considered light-duty commercial grade. Mortise locks are favored because the points of contact—the latch and the deadbolt—are built with a larger surface area, and are more effective at preventing a forced entry, besides having options and features that other types of hardware do not offer. Also if you’re choosing a mortise lock, you will also have to look at what type of door you have. Mortise locks work well with most wood doors, but if you’re choosing a fiberglass door, be aware. Fiberglass is a great choice for energy efficiency, but choose a fiberglass door with a higher ratio of wood to polyurethane to get the greatest benefit.

If your need for security goes beyond just the door hardware, Today’s Windows and Doors can advise on security doors that fit over your entry door. Unfortunately, most of these do not increase the beauty of a home’s entry, although there are a few exceptions. Today’s Windows and Doors works closely with Provia, a manufacturer in Ohio, to provide customers with attractive storm doors with a wire-mesh security screen that complements a wide range of entry doors.

Security can also be a concern when customers are contemplating glass panels. The larger the glass panels, the easier it can be for a burglar to break the glass and potentially reach in and unlock the door. Typically, there is a compromise between the amount of security and the amount of glass. At Today’s Windows and Doors, any of our staff can recommend the best style of glass door to provide the look and level of security that’s right for you.

If your main concern is about security, Today’s Windows and Doors can give professional advice about security weak spots in homes.

If you have any questions about entry doors, door hardware and security, please call Today’s Windows and Doors or stop by one of our three conveniently located showrooms for expert advice and first-class customer service.

An example of the Pella® Designer Series® ©Pella Windows

At Today’s Windows and Doors, we are focused on two things: offering the best products on the market and making sure our customers get what they want with top-quality installation. And a collection that has caught our attention recently is one that functions on several levels, making it a great product for many of our customers: “between-the-glass” window solutions.

You may have heard of between-the-glass windows or doors before, but Pella’s^® Designer Series^® is the first to make them with Low-E triple pane glass. This system provides superior U-Factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings, which is a fancy way of saying that it will keep the sun from heating up the house and reduce the risk of fade damage without using a heavily tinted glass. Who doesn’t want to save nearly one-third on their heating bills? And yes, these windows qualify for the tax rebate for energy efficiency, too.

What about blocking the noise from the neighborhood? These windows and doors are also rated #1 for noise reduction among top national brands.

Do you have allergies, or have children with allergies? Draperies, window treatments and Venetian-style blinds can be dust traps that keep allergens in the home. In fact, windows with ordinary blinds trap up to 200 times more allergens than these with the between-the-glass blinds. That sounds like a lot less sneezes to us…

Plus, using between-the-glass blinds remove the hazard of children or pets getting caught in the pullcord by designing a subtle knob that is easy to use.

But that’s just the scientific benefits of Pella’s between-the-glass doors.  We’re also concerned, as our customers are, with how they look and work.

Even with over 20 years of experience in this field, we tend to think of windows and doors as fixed, unchangeable objects that we can open and close, maybe paint over, but not the Pella^® Designer Series^®. First of all, it doesn’t matter if you need casement windows, double-hung windows, or patio doors, there’s a window for your design. Plus, these windows have a hinged glass panel that allows the homeowner to easily change blinds in and out with varying seasons or a new look. Ever think about French doors but can’t stand the thought of cleaning every individual pane of glass? The Designer Series^® has removable grilles that create the look of French doors without the hassle. Or change fabric shades and decorative panels, and make your home one-of-a-kind.

When choosing windows and doors for your home, please lean on us and ask us any questions you may have. We love to share our experience with our customers, and help them get the right product for their needs. With so many amazing choices in the Pella^® Designer Series^®, it may be easier for you to come in to one of our three showrooms to see the variations in person. Call us on (877) 886-3297 or visit our website to find the showroom nearest you.