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Wooden Screen Door Co.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Full Mortised Latch Sets

Exterior Knob, Interior Handle with Privacy Lock

  • A mortise (sounds like mor-tuhs) is a small pocket drilled into the wood. The latch will sit in this pocket, keeping it very secure.
  • Full mortised latch sets are solid brass (where noted) with privacy lock.
  • These latches are excellent for high-traffic, year round doors.
  • Latch sets accommodate door thicknesses of ⅞” to 1 ¾”.
  • All sets include face places and curved spike plates and are oiled and inspected prior to shipping.
  • All sides for door parts are determined when you are standing outside looking in.

Rim Mounted Latch Sets

  • Exterior Knob, Interior Handle with Privacy Lock
  • Rim mounted latch sets are installed without a mortise. These latches are perfect for seasonal or lighter traffic use, but are inappropriate for doors in regular use.

Instructions

  • Double Doors – For double door configurations, please indicate which door will have the active handle (from the outside looking in). Don’t forget to order an astragal. Only one is needed for a double door configuration.
  • Astragal – a vertical strip that is placed in the gap between two doors to provide a seal against air, light, dust, insects, and noise. It can also help with the alignment of the doors and prevent drafts. Necessary for double doors.
  • Measuring – see “How To Measure” instructions below.
  • Frame Color – Frames secure the screens and/or glass. The frames are anodized so the color will not flake over time. This section does not refer to a door frame as with pre-hung doors.
  • Mortise – A mortise for a wooden screen door is a recess or cavity cut into the edge or face of the door to accommodate a lock, hinge, or other hardware. This allows the hardware to sit flush with the surface of the door, providing a clean and streamlined appearance. Left/Right is determined as you are outside looking in.
  • Middle Rail – A mid rail is the horizontal rail that runs across the middle of the door and provides extra support/ structure and design interest. See “How Do I Measure Middle Rail Height?” in the FAQ section below.

We recommend three hinges for doors up to 84″. Doors larger than 84″ require at least four hinges.

  • Loose Pin Hinge: Solid brass construction with loose pin for ease of door removal. Hinges are 3” x 3” and come with screws for mounting.
  • Spring Loaded Hinge: 3.5” x 3.5” adjustable spring tension hinge. This allows the door to close automatically without the need for a pneumatic closer. *Spring loaded hinges are not for use with glass.

Mortise For Hinges

  • A mortise (sounds like mor-tuhs) is a small pocket drilled into the wood. The latch will sit in this pocket, keeping it very secure.
  • Side determined standing outside looking in.
  • One mortise will be placed 6” from the top, one will be 6” from the bottom, and one will be on center.

Please provide us with the opening dimensions for where your door is going to hang (see picture below). If you already have a door and you are replacing it, you can send us the dimensions of that door, but please indicate that you are sending us the “actual door dimensions.”

To ensure proper measurements for installation, follow the picture to determine height and width of your opening.

  • Measure the inside edge of the casing area where you will hang your new door (A, B, and C). Use the narrowest measurement for the width.
  • Then, measure the inside height (D). This is the “opening size.”

-OR-

  • Measure the current storm/screen door that you are replacing if it fits properly.
  • Be as accurate as possible with your measurements. Please do not send us pictures of your tape measure as it is highly inaccurate.
  • In some cases, it might be desirable to hire a carpenter to check your casing and provide measurements. Please show the final dimensions as Width x Height.

A mid rail is the horizontal rail that runs across the middle of the door and provides extra support/ structure and design interest.

A mortise (sounds like mor-tuhs) is a small pocket drilled into the wood. The latch will sit in this pocket, keeping it very secure. Left/Right is determined as you are outside looking in.

All sides for door parts are determined when you are standing outside looking in.

The full mortise latch sits in a pocket drilled into the stile (see Mortise definition above). The wood of the door itself keeps the latch secure. This style latch is appropriate for regular or heavy-use doors. The rim-mount style latch is secured to the door using four screws and is appropriate for seasonal and light-use doors.

We can! If you are replacing a screen door, however, it is recommended that the hinges be mortised on site to match the old hinge locations. Left/Right is determined as you are outside looking in. We only need to know if the door swings in, as this will aid in construction. We do not need to know if it is a left-hand or right-hand swing (your installer will need that, but not us).

All our doors are manufactured using quarter sawn mahogany (sapelle, to be specific). Quarter sawn lumber is less likely to warp than regular flat sawn lumber. It also moves less seasonally. Mahogany is considered to be very rot resistant.

We can! Please let us know what you are interested in. Keep in mind that we can only cut profile outlines.

Yes! simply email us the panel dimensions and frame color and we will email you an estimate.

As of August 2024, our current lead time is 22 weeks.

We only need to know if the door swings in, as this will aid in construction. We do not need to know if it is a left-hand or right-hand swing (your installer will need that, but not us).

We use pegged mortise and tenon construction. Mortise and tenon joints are strong and stable and have been used by woodworkers for thousands of years. The pegs are made of birch, and ensure the door does not sag (and provide a nice contrast on bare doors). Every mortise and tenon joint in the door receives two pegs, and are held together with TiteBond wood glue.

The screens and glass sit in a small “rabbet” (a recess cut into the edge of the stile) on the inside of the door. The removable panels are held in place by solid brass clips (working like the back of a picture frame). It takes only a minute or two to swap out the glass and screens.

Paint: We recommend any national brand acrylic-latex paint.

Finish: We recommend Epifanes clear high gloss varnish, available from Jamestown Distributors (or Amazon). Follow the directions on the can for best results.

You will need to reapply a fresh coat of paint/varnish every few years.

With regular maintenance, the doors should last the life of the house. We hear from people all the time whose doors are over 20 years old and going strong.