How to measure for a steel door

Firstly, it’s important to record the size of the opening and how plumb and level the four surfaces are.  We recommend following these steps using a laser range finder, a laser line level (vertical and horizontal), a tape measure, and a pencil.   

1. Measure the height in 2 or 3 places (2 for a single door and 3 for a double door), left, middle, and right, from the finished floor to the underside of the finished opening.
2. Measure from the level line down to the finished floor in the same 3 places.
3. Measure the width in 3 places, top middle & bottom. 
4. Measure from the laser line to the left side in the same 3 places.
5. It’s essential to make note of any skirtings, dado rails, or other obtrusions so that these do not affect the door leaf.   

The Envo team can provide a survey sheet showing an opening in elevation marked with the required level lines and sizes that should be recorded.  Completion of this sheet will enable our designers to envisage the size and shape of your opening.  Envo also offers a site measuring service if you prefer.   

Our steel doors are manufactured carefully but still have an acceptable amount of tolerance.  Similarly, it’s wise to allow for a small amount of tolerance on the sizes in case of measurement error.  To ensure the frame can move into the opening without causing damage to the opening or frame itself, we will allow for around 5mm of packing zone around the product.   

For a steel door the packing zone can be covered with either a suitable mastic or silicon, you could also allow for a timber bead, timber architrave, or even stone architraves.