Introduction Building a large wooden door for the first time can seem like a daunting task.  The pages that follow are intended to take the mystery out of the job.  If you want to build wooden doors for your home, read on, in just a few short pages the secrets of how it's done will be revealed. We are going to explore it all, from the nomenclature of the door itself , the terms used to define the door making process, even how to pre hang and install your  home made wooden door yourself.

Important Information: The drawings at this site were made with a cad program. If your browser does not display the drawings you will need to download the FREE Volo View Express Viewer and install it.  To get the driver just click on the Icon at the left and follow the instructions at the AutoCAD site.  Take your time, we will wait right here for your return.

The language used by door makers Every trade has it's own vocabulary, the door and sash makers are no different.  The names given to the door parts are functional.  On the right and left sides of the door are two long slender pieces which are termed stiles.  The stiles like the sides of a ladder serve to hold the rest of the parts in place.  They also are the part of a door which contacts the strip of wood called a stop which is nailed to the jambs and prevents or stops the door from swinging completely through the opening when the door is closed.  Wow! Just a few sentences into this and already lots of technical terms.  To aid your understanding, you can click on the new terms which are underlined and a drawing will pop up to show where the part fits into the door. Go ahead and try it right now! Just click on the word "stop" to see the drawing.  When using the Volo View Express Viewer, you can press the right button on your mouse for additional commands, and you can zoom in and out, and pan the drawing just like a cad program.

Any questions or comments contact me.