Can you spot anything unusual about this door?
If your answer is no, don’t worry — you’re not alone. Most people, unless they spend their days knee-deep in door installs like we do, wouldn’t think twice about it.
At first glance, it looks like a fairly standard setup: a clean, transitional-style door framed into a stucco wall. But there are a couple of things going on here that make this install a little more interesting than it seems.
Curved Opening, Rectangular Door
The first subtle quirk? That beautiful, clean composite filler piece at the top. See, this door was originally framed into a curved opening — which strongly suggests someone, somewhere down the line, changed their mind. Maybe the builder rethought the door style at the last second. Maybe the original idea didn’t pan out. Either way, we had to find a clean way to adapt a rectangular door into a curved opening — and that filler piece did the job perfectly. Seamless, minimal, and clean.
The Bigger Issue: It’s an 8-Foot Door
The real thing to note, though, is the height of the door — it’s 8 feet tall. And if you’ve been around tall doors in residential construction, you might know that’s where things can get… complicated.
Steel and fiberglass doors at this height, if equipped with a standard single-point lock, are prone to warping over time. That’s not speculation — it’s reality. Especially in our climate, where weather conditions shift dramatically, an 8-foot door with a single latch just doesn’t cut it long-term. That’s why I typically always recommend a multi-point locking system on tall doors. It ensures that the door stays aligned, sealed, and structurally supported for years to come.
But Wait — Don’t You See These All the Time?
If you’re thinking, “But Andrew, I see 8-foot doors in new builds with basic locks all the time — how bad could it be?” You’re absolutely right — and that’s part of the problem.
You do see them all the time. But by the time those doors start to warp (usually 3–5 years down the road), the builder warranty is long expired. And if you’ve ever tried to claim anything on a new construction home warranty, you know how difficult it is even when the issue is fresh — let alone years later.
So What Did We Do Here?
Here’s where we had to get creative.
The client needed to reuse their existing standard lockset because it was tied into their home’s alarm system. Replacing it with a multipoint lock wasn’t an option. So, we did what we do best — improvised.
We added interior latches that support the door when locked and help press it into the weatherstripping properly. It’s a low-tech solution, but it works — especially because this door is:
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Made of steel (which is generally stable, especially in lighter colors)
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Well-protected from the elements, which means less thermal expansion and contraction
Given those factors, I’m not worried. But it’s still a bit of a gamble — and one we only took because we understood the risk, knew how to mitigate it, and were willing to take full responsibility if it ever becomes a problem.
The Takeaway?
You have to learn the rules before you can break them.
And when you do, make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons — and you know how to do it safely.
Looking to install a custom entry door — the right way?
Get in touch. We’ll help you do it once, do it well, and do it beautifully.