Door FAQs
Masonite gets you the answers to common door questions.
Exterior
Why can't I see Home Center glass options on your website?
To locate home center glass designs please refer to the respective retailer’s website.
Can my glass insert be replaced? Where can I purchase inserts?
If your door has screws and/or screw plugs on the interior side of that window frame, it can be replaced. You can purchase glass inserts at the original dealer you purchased your door from. If you are not sure of the dealer, you can go to any Masonite independent dealer in order to purchase a glass unit from our exterior door catalog. However, if you have a decorative glass insert purchased from a home center, you will have to go to the respective home center and have them special order a new glass unit.
Can I trim my exterior fiberglass/steel door?
No, any trimming or modifying of exterior doors will void the warranty.
Does my exterior door have to be finished?
How do I finish and maintain the finish on my exterior doors?
Yes, all entry doors are required to be finished within 45 days or your warranty will be void. All 6 sides must be sealed according to Masonite’s finishing instructions.
I want to replace my existing entry door. What measurements do I need to take to ensure that I order a door that will fit my opening?
There are two ways to replace your entry door. You can replace just the door panel, or slab, or the entire prehung (including door frame) unit. For the slab only, measure the height and width on the door you are replacing – do not measure sweep (weather seal) on the bottom of the door. If you wish to have the door prepped for hinges, lockset and deadbolt you will need to supply your retailer with the following information:
- Distance from the top of the door to the top of the first hinge,
- Distance from the top of the door to the top of the second hinge,
- Distance from the top of the door to the top of the third hinge,
- Distance from the top of the door to the top of the fourth hinge (for 96” doors),
- The size of hinge you are using (width and height with hinge open),
- Distance from the top of the door to the center of the deadbolt,
- Distance from the top of the door to the center of the lockset,
- Distance from the edge of the door to the center of the deadbolt and from the edge of the door to the center of the lockset. They should be the same.
For the entire prehung unit, measure the height and width of your entire door opening, stud to stud, floor to header – called the rough opening. To measure accurately, you might have to remove some interior casing (moulding) to see the backside of the door frame. Typically, no more than a one inch of extra space is desired between the actual (outside to outside) door unit dimension and the rough opening, length and width. Shimming, blocking or additional framing may be required in the opening to accommodate the new door unit. Please consult your Masonite Dealer for additional help.
Can I use a storm door in front of my entry door?
Storm doors that are vented can be used on Masonite fiberglass and steel entry doors, but should NOT be used in conjunction with doors painted or stained with dark colors or in areas of high heat or intense sun exposure. A vented storm door allows the trapped heat to escape, prolonging the life and performance of your door. Improper storm door applications can void the warranty on your entry door. Storm doors may not be used on Masonite wood doors and will void the warranty.
What are the steps to adjust an adjustable threshold?
If installed, remove the plastic screw caps on the threshold riser that are located directly under the sweep when the door is closed. There are screws located underneath. Turn screws clockwise to lower the threshold riser (when the sweep is dragging too much when the door opens). Turn screws counter-clockwise to raise the threshold riser (when the sweep is not making good contact/seal with the threshold). Adjusting the threshold riser too high can cause damage to the sweep. Please contact your Masonite Dealer for further assistance.
How can I get replacement parts for my Masonite entry door such as weather-stripping, sweeps or glass?
Please contact your Masonite Dealer or servicing Home Center. They should carry or be able to obtain these replacement parts for you. If they are unable to assist, please call the Masonite Helpline at 1-800-663-3667.
Does Masonite have any doors that meet the Florida Building Code for wind load? Where can I get the required information?
Masonite offers many door products for coastal applications. For complete information, please see our Coastal Series Door brochure. Supporting technical data can be found on our Coastal Information page. You can also call a Masonite Dealer or servicing Home Store for further information.
Are any Masonite entry doors impact-rated?
Masonite manufactures a number of impact-rated entry doors. For complete information, please see our Coastal Series Door brochure. Supporting technical data can be found on our Coastal Information page. You can also call a Masonite Dealer or servicing Home Store for further information.
Does Masonite offer prefinished fiberglass doors?
Masonite offers prefinished (paint and stain) fiberglass doors through retail home centers in certain markets. In addition, many of our distributors and dealers may offer this service for you. Please use our Dealer Locator to find a Masonite Dealer or Home Center closest to you.
Do Masonite entry doors meet Energy Star® qualifications?
Yes, when Masonite’s fiberglass and steel entry doors are assembled into entry units by an approved Energy Star partner, the assembled unit can be considered Energy Star compliant. Please note, tax credit eligibility is based on the county in which you reside. Please see Energy Efficiency page. for further details.
Can I paint the plastic lite frame on my steel or fiberglass entry door?
Yes for steel and more recently manufactured fiberglass doors.
Where can I see the available glass options for my entry door?
Not all glass options are available for all entry doors. Available glass options are: decorative, miniblinds, standard.
What is tempered glass?
Tempered glass is a heat-treated safety glass so that when it breaks, it breaks into very small pieces as opposed to large shards.
What is insulated glass?
Insulated glass is two or more panes of glass separated by an air space that creates an Insulated Glass Unit (IGU).
What is Low-E glass?
Low-E glass has a special coating that blocks some heat transfer for better energy performance.
What is laminated glass?
Laminated glass is a type of safety glass that is intended to hold together when shattered. Laminated glass is two pieces of glass bonded together with impact-resistant interlayer.
What is glass U-Factor?
Glass U-Factor is the measure of heat loss through the door system. The lower the U-Factor, the better the insulator.
What is SHGC solar heat gain coefficient?
The SHGC solar heat gain coefficient is the fraction of solar heat admitted through the door glass unit.
Will your door require a fire label?
It is based on the county in which you reside and the use for the building, check with your local jurisdiction.
Interior
Can I order my doors unmachined?
Yes but not all doors. You should contact the Masonite Dealer and specify that you want the door un-machined. They will let you know the availability.
What is the finished opening required for a Molded Panel Series hollow core bifold door?
There are a number of different screws for installing your hollow core bifolds. There should be five flat head screws that are to be used for the track. You will have three short flat head screws that are to be used for the aligner. There are two round head screws with blunt tips, in differing lengths that are for your door knob. Please use the appropriate length screw for the proper thickness of your door. This will leave three round head screws one long and two short. The longer screw is for the floor part of the jamb bracket and the 2 shorter ones are for the wall part of the jamb bracket.
I am missing or have damaged the hardware for my bifold door. Where can I get replacement parts?
To attain replacement parts you should return to the Masonite Dealer or servicing Home Center where you purchased your door. However, any retailer that sells Masonite products should carry or be able to order these parts for you.
I have put the pivots for my bifold door in the wrong end of the door. How do I remove the pivots?
Use a flat head screwdriver or flat utility knife and gently pry up around the flange of the pivot going all the way around the flange. Do not pry up in just one location or you’ll break the plastic flange. Once you have pried up enough to expose some of the plastic sleeve, gently grab with a pair of needle nose pliers and gently rock the sleeve pulling up at the same time. If the pivot breaks, a replacement can be purchased at most home centers or hardware stores.
How much can I trim off my bifold door?
Any trimming of your bifold doors will void the warranty.
How much can I trim off my passage door?
For Molded Panel and Flush doors, you can trim 1/8” off each edge (sides and bottom) without affecting your warranty. For Wood Panel, MDF and French doors, you can trim 1/4” off each side and 1” off the bottom of the door without affecting your warranty. No trimming is allowed off of the top rail.
Are Wood Panel doors solid wood? If not, how are they constructed and from what materials?
Wood Panel doors have a solid construction but, are not completely made of wood. The door is engineered from various materials for best performance. For example, the panels are typically made from MDF (medium density fiberboard) with wood veneer laminated to the outside surface. Stiles (vertical portions) and rails (horizontal) typically feature wood veneers laminated to edge-glued wood substrates.
Does Masonite make fire-rated doors? If so, how do I determine the fire rating on the door?
Masonite makes a wide variety of 1-3/4” thick interior doors that are available with a 20-minute fire rating. Several interior doors are also available with a fire rating of 45-, 60- or 90-minutes in duration. Please consult with your Masonite Dealer and/or building official to ensure that the configuration you have chosen will meet your specific fire door application.
All doors that are fire-rated will have a fire label affixed to the hinge side of the door stating the specific fire rating. Please check with your Masonite Dealer for product availability. Typically, fire doors need to be special ordered. If you cannot find a product that meets your requirements, please call the Masonite Helpline at 1-800-663-3667.
Can clear or decorative glass in an interior French door be replaced?
No. Masonite French Doors are factory glazed with a “compression glazing” technique. This type of assembly eliminates nail holes and unsightly miter joints for the best quality and aesthetics. In addition, doors are assembled with glazing putty for rattle-free glass. Therefore, Masonite French Doors are not designed to be re-glazed.
Do any Masonite doors meet FSC Certification?
We have an offering of interior doors that are FSC Certified.
Other Door FAQs
Do you sell direct?
Masonite sells its products through Distributors, Dealers and Home Centers. Please use our Dealer Locator to find the Dealers and Home Centers closest to you. Once you have entered your zip or postal code and the type of door you are looking for, a list of Dealers and Home Centers with contact information will be provided.