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The difference between Impact Wood Doors & Standard Wood Doors?

Many homes today have front impact wood entry doors in Florida or other coastal areas, but you might not be able to notice the difference between a wooden impact entry door and a standard wood entry door. We would like to go over some facts and details among the two different entry doors. Let's 1st talk about wood entrance doors. The biggest difference you will find between a impact wood door and a standard wood door is the thickness of the front doors. Standard front wood doors usually come in 1 3/4" inches thickness unless done in a custom size, where Impact approved wood front doors come in 2 1/4" inches or 2 1/2" inches thickess which is more thicker and therefore, more stronger to withstand hurricanes and tropical storms. The 2nd thing noticeable is the locking system or door hardware. A standard wood entry door will come with any door entry lock such as a mortise lock or wrought iron door pullers where a impact wood entry door will come usually with a three-point or five-point multilock system which makes the doors more safe and secure in these kinds of storms. The 3rd thing is glass. If your wood impact doors require glass in the design you choose, then impact doors will have approved impact glass such as uvekol which has gone thru testing at a testing facility approved by the State of Florida or Miami-Dade County to be used anywhere in Florida and other coastal states or the Caribbean Islands.

Now, which entry door should you choose? If you live in Florida and are doing a new home construction or a new remodel and replacing the exterior doors, usually you will be required by the city you live in to have impact exterior doors and usually is the case in other states and islands along the ocean. When you purchase impact front doors, the company will give you a set of plans called "N.O.A.'s which means the doors have been testing and approved by the city or state at a qualified testing facilty. You might also check with your local building department to see your city requirements. This is a very important step in the building process and the safety of your home and family. Also another note, if you purchase non-impact standard front doors and your city requires impact doors, then the city inspector can deny your permit and make you take down the doors and purchase impact approved doors which will cost you lots more money and delays in your new home construction in the long run. If you ever need advice on which doors are for you, then you can speak to a knowledgeable door manufacture such as Deco Design Center located in Miami, Florida who will explain the differences to save you time and money. Some door companies just to make a fast buck will tell customers, "as long as you have shutters you don't need impact entrance doors" or they will tell customers, "as long as you have impact glass, you don't need impact approved front doors". Again, this info is totally wrong and can cost you alot of money in the long run and alot of headaches!

Also, there are some restrictions when it comes to impact wood exterior doors. It is best to do research and to talk to professionals such as Deco Design Center http://www.decodesigncenter.com to see which door you can purchase and be approved by your local building dept. in your city, state or Caribbean island.
Most models from our entrance doors collection are impact resistant with approval certification.

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Beautiful entrysets, interior locks, collections, mortise entrysets.


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Provides one of the most color matching and finish design.


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We have the expertise to design and create the perfect door for your home.


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