Field notes
Practical guides from the shop floor.
Installation guides, spec advice, and compliance references for commercial doors and hardware. Written for the people who actually have to hang the door.
How to install a hollow metal door frame the right way
A practical, plumb-and-square install guide for knock-down and welded hollow metal frames — from rough opening prep to anchor torque.
Solid-core wood door installation: a step-by-step field guide
Wood doors are unforgiving — they're heavy, they don't bend, and every cut is permanent. Here's how to hang one cleanly the first time.
Door handing explained: LH, RH, LHR, RHR (and why you keep getting it wrong)
Handing trips up new estimators every week. Here's the rule that actually works, with a flowchart and the situations that break it.
Fire-rated doors: 20-min, 90-min, or 3-hour — what to spec when
UL 10C ratings drive frame, glass, and hardware decisions throughout the opening. Here's how to read the schedule and what each rating actually requires.
BHMA Grade 1 vs Grade 2 hardware: when each one is the right call
Grade 1 isn't always required, and Grade 2 isn't always cheap. Here's how the cycle ratings translate to real-world wear, and where the line falls.
Knock-down vs face-welded frames: which one to order
KD frames are faster to ship and easier to handle. Welded frames are stronger and look better. Here's how to decide for any given opening.
ADA vs TAS for Texas commercial doors: what's actually different
Texas Accessibility Standards (TAS) align with ADA in most ways — but a few details trip up out-of-state trade pros. Here's what to spec differently.
Door closer adjustment guide: speed, latch, and backcheck
Most door closers are installed and never adjusted again. That's why so many feel wrong. Here's how to dial in the three valves that matter.
Five door schedule mistakes that cost you money
Every estimator has shipped the wrong door at least once. Here are the five mistakes we see most often — and how to catch them before the order ships.
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