Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get more information and pricing on Real Carriage Doors?

Doors get priced according to size, style, species, and thickness, among other things. So please either call 800. 694.5977, or email: info@realcarriage.com for pricing.

2. Do you have stock-size carriage doors?

We build each and every door custom to your specifications. As a result, we do not have pre-made, ready-to-ship carriage, entry, or custom doors.

3. Do you build overhead garage doors?

We do not offer overhead doors.

4. Can entry doors be made to match the carriage doors?

Yes, we can design entry and interior doors to either match or coordinate with your carriage doors.

5. Do you build Dutch doors?

Yes, we do offer custom Dutch entry doors for both, single and double doors. The ‘Dutch cut’ can be placed at almost any height. The offset between the top and the bottom door panels is weather stripped to ensure a tight weather seal.

6. Can I get an insulated door?

With solid wood construction, we do not split the panels to insert insulation. That may cause cupping and warping of the panels. Therefore, we do not offer insulated doors. Yet, we do offer either 1 ¾” or 2 ¼” thick doors!

7. What is the R-value for your doors?

R-values come relatively low on all solid wood doors and will vary with door thickness and glass type.

8. Can carriage doors be used for living spaces?

Yes. Carriage doors may be used for living spaces and conditioned spaces.

9. How well do your carriage doors seal?

All pre-hung doors provide a tight weather seal for conditioned spaces for both, inswing and outswing doors. Single rabbeted jambs have a kerfed-in weather strip for the sides and top of the doors. The astragal (that covers where the doors meet), also provides a tight weather seal. We have a few solutions for the bottom of the doors for a tight weather seal as well. We offer pedestrian wood sills, or ADA aluminum saddle thresholds, with standard silicone fins (mortised into the bottom of the door). These also provide seals for conditioned spaces.

10. Can sliding doors be weather tight?

At this time, sliding doors do not provide a tight weather seal suitable for conditioned (heated and cooled) spaces. Perimeter brush sweeps available to help keep out weather and debris.

11. Do doors have plywood panels? How do you build your doors?

We construct our doors board by board, using solid wood – not plywood. With mortise and tenon, stile and rail construction, the exterior and the interior of the door is the same.

12. Do the doors come pre-hung, or do you offer jambs?

Single entry doors, and most double entry doors arrive as pre-hung units that include: door, weather stripped jamb, hinges, sill and bottom door fin.
Carriage doors come shipped as knock-down units that include: single rabbeted, weather stripped jambs and astragals. We build the jambs to the doors, mortise both, doors and jambs, for butt hinge placement and then take the jamb apart for shipping. Once received, the jamb is re-assembled, installed and ready for the doors to be hung.
Jambs come fabricated to the depth that you need for your opening (i.e., 2×6 construction typically has a 6 9/16” standard jamb depth).

13. What hinges should I put on my doors?

For a set of doors up to 12’ wide (each leaf 60”W) we will provide heavy duty, ball-bearing butt hinges. Doors over 12’ wide would require using either strap hinges (half surface or full surface) or pivot hinges. You may certainly use strap hinges on smaller doors. All of the strap hinges that we sell are a commercial grade and functional.

15. What is the best way to finish my doors?

We suggest that you consult your local professional paint store for their recommendations for your area.

16. Do you offer automated openers for carriage doors?

We have two automated openers available for carriage doors, meant for vehicular use only. The Franklin Autoswing opener has two motors that mount above each door and can be operated by one control panel. Our Fremont Opener installs, much like a traditional overhead opener, on the ceiling with push rods attached to the doors for outswing function.

17. What if I want to operate my carriage doors manually?

You may operate the doors manually with an entryset for the active leaf and cane bolts or drop bolts for the inactive door to secure it.

18. What kind of door hardware is available?

Entrysets can be: Tubular | Mortise | Multi-point

Tubular entrysets: The most common found on residential and commercial doors. They have two holes bored in the door; one for the latch and a separate one for the deadbolt. This single point locking system does require keying the deadbolt when exiting.

Mortise entrysets: More secure and have a combined latch and deadbolt in one cassette that slides into the mortise pocket on edge of the door. This does not require a key to lock the door when exiting.

Multi-point hardware is the most secure offering three locking points with shoot bolts on the top and bottom and one at the center of the door. Therefore, this is an excellent choice for tall doors and double patio style doors.

19. Do you finish the doors to my specifications?

We ship doors raw, ready for light sanding and finishing when you receive them.

20. What if I have an existing opening?

Whether you have an existing opening, or new construction, we will work with you to build doors to fit your needs! If you have an existing opening, we can build to those dimensions. While if you have new construction, we can build to the rough opening dimensions that you give us. Especially relevant, if you have a particular custom door size, we will let you know what the rough opening needs to be.

21. Will you work with my contractor?

We will work with either you, your contractor, builder, designer or architect! Everyone receives the same pricing!

22. How difficult is door installation?

We provide an installation manual for easy reference.

23. Can you ship to my location? If so, what is the cost?

Real ships doors throughout the US and Canada. We are available to assist if you require marine transportation. Shipping is based on crated weight and delivery zip code. We can also provide an estimate based on the doors you are interested in.

24. How will the doors ship?

Doors come crated; jambs in one crate and doors in the other. They ship via common carrier to your local service center. Once you have the tracking number, you may set up the delivery of your doors! In most cases, the truck will have a lift gate, but you are responsible for removing the crates from the lift gate. If it is a large order with multiple doors, you may want to have a forklift available.

25. Do you have distributors?

We do not have distributors. Every door is custom built by skilled craftsmen in our Gig Harbor, Washington shop.

26. May I buy the hardware and build my own doors?

Hardware is only available with a door purchase.

27. What is your lead time?

Lead times vary (8 weeks up to 16 weeks) depending on the size of the door order. We let you know the production time with your quote. The actual production time is based on when the shop drawings get approved and returned.

1. Do you offer sliding doors?

We offer a variety of custom sliding doors (interior or exterior use), barn doors and barn door kits (for interior use only). Real fabricates and offers hardware to hang doors as small as 15” wide to large doors as wide as 8’. With weights under 100 pounds and upward of 3200 pounds.

2. Do you have sliding hardware for the sliding doors?

Flat Track sliding hardware and the Architectural Series hardware can accommodate single sliding doors, as well as bi-parting doors. Box rail hardware can be mounted to a ceiling or side mounted and used with single doors, bi-parting doors, or bypassing doors. We also offer Soft Stop closures for interior doors.

3. Can sliding doors be automated?

Yes, sliding doors can be automated with the Edison sliding door opener. Single doors, bi-parting and bypassing doors may all be automated. Please call our sales team to discuss openers.

4. Can I use your sliding hardware with my own door?

Yes, you may use RealCraft Sliding Hardware. Check out our collection.