Exterior Swing Door Schedules are MISLEADING!!

Exterior Swing Door Schedules are MISLEADING!! Architects often call out windows and sliding doors in frame sizes, but then switch to panel sizes for swing doors—because that's how INTERIOR doors are typically scheduled. The result? Inconsistent coordination and construction errors. These schedules vary widely depending on who writes them—often assistants or interns—and while tedious, they are absolutely critical.

A 2'6" x 8'0" exterior aluminum swing door usually refers to the panel size, not the frame. That means it may not account for the 1-1/2" to 2" sill riser (below finished floor) or the 1" to 2-1/2" frame head. If you specify a 96" (or 120") door and flush out the 2" sill with the flooring, the top of the frame may be at 94" or 118" AFF—not the panel. Your beautiful 8' door panel may sit as much as 2-1/2" lower than expected. Meanwhile, that 8' interior door starts just 3/8" above the finished floor, and the 3/4" jamb tops out over 97" AFF. That’s a visual mismatch waiting to happen.

Did you know the popular ES 9000 series door—used in many luxury homes—has a standard 2-1/2" frame? If you order a 30" wide door, you’re losing over 5" to framing! There is a 1" narrow frame option, but you have to specify it—and it reduces maximum height to 119-1/2". With a 2" sill, that frame top ends up at 117-1/2" AFF. Not great if you’re trying to hit a clean 10’ ceiling alignment.

Bottom line: Swing doors can be your limiting height factor if you want clean alignments across windows and doors. If you don’t coordinate interior and exterior door heights carefully, nothing will line up—and you won’t know until it’s too late.