Adding Security Features to Wood Doors in Office Construction

On Jan 23, 2020 |

Wood doors lend themselves to all kinds of design scenarios, sometimes simply adding beauty and style to a space, and other times performing as part of a complex safety protocol. Office buildings tend to fall into the latter category, as security is usually a high priority. Office construction clients need to think not only about the safety and security of their personnel but about expensive equipment and sensitive information.

The state of physical security has ramped up with new technology like biometrics and AI, but wood commercial doors—themselves a timeless design feature—can adapt to most client needs. Below are some ideas to consider when specifying wood doors for offices. Modern office doors have to do it all.

1. Security for Modern Office Doors

A commercial wood entry door presents many options in terms of construction. Add hardware and electronic access control, and you have a whole array of moving parts that must work together.

Some offices rely on electronic locks which are activated by RFID devices like keycards. However, many companies are moving beyond this once popular technology since they worry cards being lost, damaged or hacked. Some newer offices use “smart doors” that interact with employees’ smartphones and with a centralized security hub, which may or may not be on the premises. These allow a user to lock or unlock a door from anywhere.

Also growing in popularity are biometric scanners, which scan fingerprints or faces.

Alarms remain an important element for office doors, of course. An alarm might be used to signal when someone tampers with a locking apparatus or if a door is left open too long.

While it’s possible to retrofit existing doors, new construction or remodelling presents an ideal opportunity for a company to install all new doors with up-to-date security features.

2. Security Features for Commercial Office Doors

An advantage of wood is that it is relatively easy to custom cut to accommodate any security additions. Whether you need them designed for traditional locks and deadbolts or for cutting-edge security scanners, they will serve each need.

Experts expect the adoption of biometric tools to increase in the 2020s. These can be installed to work in conjunction with electric strikes to permit entry for authorized users. Electric strikes, used in place of traditional strike plates, work well for wood doors but wouldn’t work as well with, for example, glass.

Another trend affecting work space design and construction is the rise of coworking spaces. These locations cater to gig workers or remote employees by providing a place they can use at their leisure. As you can imagine, security is a big concern when many people have access to a building. Wood doors can provide the hip, modern look that these facility owners often want while also accommodating keypads and smartphone scanners.

The bottom line is, wood architectural doors are versatile enough for any office or mixed-use application, balancing appearance and performance. Talk with your customers about their security needs, and
contact Masonite Architectural for help specifying the ideal solution.

Masonite Architectural – Want help?

Our expert field of Territory Sales Managers can help guide you through the process. We’ll make sure you get the perfect doors to delight your clients on opening day (and for years to come).

We can apply our expertise of wood type, grain, stain and door design to complement your space. Often, designers give door hardware more consideration than the door itself. Masonite Architectural knows the whole opening matters. We offer a wide selection of veneer options and available material choices.

If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com

Variations of Authentic Wood Veneers for Doors

On Jan 9, 2020 |

Wood makes durable, long-lasting and beautiful architectural doors. It functions well in high-traffic settings like schools and hotels as well as upscale projects like high-end office buildings. The best part about choosing wood doors for a commercial design and construction project is the range of options. In fact, the number of choices available in wood veneers for interior doors can make it hard to decide. Here, we break down information on various species, cuts, stain colors, and other considerations so that you can specify interior wood doors with confidence.

1. Choosing a Species for Wood Veneer Doors

In general, wood doors, windows, molding and other touches add a sense of warmth and natural beauty to a space. However, the species and color of the wood can convey a variety of different styles. The look of wood varies significantly from one tree species to another and even within a species. Look for a color and texture that matches your design aesthetic.

Maple Doors

A classic choice, maple is strong, dense wood that makes doors built to last. Its smooth texture and light natural color respond well to paint or stain. It’s a good choice if you’re pursuing a traditional design aesthetic.

Birch Doors

Birch wood has a light-toned color not unlike maple. As such, it takes paint and stain colors well. It tends to feature a straight grain and uniform texture.

Cherry Doors

This medium-strength wood tends to last and resist warping. It’s a good idea to specify cherry wood interior doors away from sunlight since light can darken the wood over time. It’s sometimes associated with Shaker furniture or cabinetry, and it works well for high-end projects.

Oak Doors

Oak provides a classic look and lasts a long time. It resists water damage and cracking, so you can use it in spaces that take heavy use. The grain of white oak doors is symmetrical and pronounced without any significant knotting, which makes white oak suitable for both staining and painting. They’re great for craftsman and mid century design styles.

Mahogany Doors

The classic look of mahogany is ideal for executive offices or high-end hospitality projects. Its dark color is slightly more restrictive in terms of stain that can be used. Some clients may also raise concerns about its environmental impact.

2. Wood Doors and the Environment

Some clients selecting wood interior doors may express environmental concerns related to wood choice. For example, generally speaking, faster growing tree species are more sustainable than slower growing ones. Masonite Architectural is committed to environmental responsibility and reducing impacts by using wood fiber from well managed forests. We offer products, upon request, with wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) including 100% FSC and FSC Mix. In addition, our veneer lumber is certified Indoor Advantage Gold for indoor air quality.

FSC License Code: FSC-C005458”

3. Other Considerations for Wood Species

When you specify natural wood you might see variations in color from the same piece. Within a tree, the heartwood–closer to the center–is darker than sapwood. The difference is more dramatic in some species than others.

One of the attractive qualities about wood veneers is their unique natural surface character. They are far from uniform. Sometimes you may want a lot of variation across a project to achieve an eclectic feeling, but a manufacturer can work with you to select more closely matching samples.

4. Factory Staining Commercial Wood Doors

By combining the right wood species with the right factory stain, you can achieve exactly the look you want for architectural wood interior doors. Stain provides an added layer of protection as well as a polished appearance. Masonite offers 13 designer stain finishes. Having the stain factory applied for delivers the best results and consistency while saving time on the job site.

Opt for a clear stain to stay close to the wood species’ original appearance, or take the wood in a warmer or cooler direction depending on the design aesthetic. From an unassuming cane finish to a bold saffron, there’s an ideal complement for each type of wood and desired outcome. Not every finish works with every species, so talk with a distributor to select exactly the right combination for your project.

Get started now and download a brochure of our complete designer stain collection.

Masonite Architectural – Want help?

Our expert field of Territory Sales Managers can help guide you through the process. We’ll make sure you get the perfect doors to delight your clients on opening day (and for years to come).

If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com

Explaining the Value of Quality Commercial Solid Wood Doors

On Dec 13, 2019 | admin@freshy.press

6 Tips to Help Commercial Construction Clients Understand the Value of Quality Architectural Doors

Quality Solid Wood Doors Never Go Out of Style

While doors comprise only one small portion of a commercial construction budget, their quality affects the finished product in multiple, important ways.

First-time property owners might look at every line in a budget for places to trim costs. When they do, they may find the costs of architectural and commercial solid wood doors surprising. That’s because, if they’re more familiar with residential doors, architectural doors seem expensive by comparison.

To help them understand the importance of their investment, share the following points with them.

1. Architectural & Commercial Doors Take a Lot of Abuse

Remind your client how much traffic they hope to see through their restaurant, hotel, medical office, or whatever kind of business they own. Doors get used constantly, often by visitors or clients who aren’t as conscientious as one might hope. They may kick doors open, bump into them with luggage carts, let their children bang on them, or worse.

Solid core wood doors are durable, especially those with impact edges or factory finished paint. Stile and rail doors are particularly sturdy—and stylish—and can last a long time, saving the client money in the future.

2. Architectural & Commercial Doors Must Meet Stricter Code Requirements

Commercial clients may not be aware of the many different code requirements for interior and exterior doors, in the various parts of a building in their industry. Hundreds or thousands of people’s lives may depend on a door’s fire resistance, for example, so those codes are in place for a reason. They might need to consider ballistics or lead lining as well, depending on the nature of their business.

3. Quality Solid Wood Doors Never Go Out of Style

Most businesses feel the need to redecorate and rebrand frequently these days. For example, most hotels get a facelift every six to eight years. For many restaurants, it’s even more frequent. The timeless beauty of a stile and rail door outlasts any fashion trend. The combination of durability and a classic look make it a smart long-term investment.

4. Beautiful Wooden Doors Make a Statement

Doors make a strong impression on customers, whether they notice consciously or not. When a patron arrives at a business and move from one space to another inside, they interact with doors a lot. A gorgeous, unique door can make a strong impression of the business’ brand and quality. Plus, their functionality affects the overall experience. Different kinds of people, of different ages and abilities, all need to use them effortlessly. Quality doors are worth the customer experience.

5. Clients Trust Brand Names They Know

Your client might ask about the brands of the products you spec for their building. If you can assure them that a particular brand of commercial wood doors comes with your personal seal of approval, as well as a long history in business, they may show more willingness to foot the bill.

6. Clients Care About Warranties

You can reassure your clients about their investments in high-quality wood doors with good warranties. They are making a sizable investment and taking a leap of faith by starting a business or moving one to a bigger, better space. Recognize that they might feel nervous about encountering problems down the line. Many consider lifetime warranties on architectural doors and the other component parts of their building worth the investment.

At Masonite, Aspiro doors come with a lifetime warranty, while Cendura doors carry a limited lifetime warranty.

Even if your client is less familiar with the range of commercial brands available, some will know the name Masonite from the residential market. You can also assure them that, with Masonite, they will not have to choose between performance and appearance or use doors as a place to cut costs. When they arrive at work each day, they too will see those well made doors you specified and will appreciate the beauty and reliability.

Masonite Architectural – Want help?

Our expert field of Territory Sales Managers can help guide you through the process. We’ll make sure you get the perfect doors to delight your clients on opening day (and for years to come).

If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com

Tips for Specifying Wood Veneer Doors

On Jun 4, 2019 | admin@freshy.press

Three Ways to Ensure You Get Project Vision Follow-thru – From Spec to Install

Imagine spending over 12 hours of your design time picking just the right wood veneer doors for your project.

You looked through the product lines finding a species and finish you liked.
You ordered samples from the manufacturer.
You sat down with the interior designer to make sure you were on the same page for other finishes in the project.
You reviewed the options with the client to make sure they're happy with it.
You spent a few hours editing the wood door spec to get it just right.

Then at the end of construction, you show up for the punch list to find a building full of doors that are a far cry from what you’d envisioned. It’s too late to change now. You approved the shop drawings and the owner needs to open for business next week. So you’re stuck with a bunch of doors that don’t quite flow with the rest of the interiors. You’re not happy. The interior designer’s disappointed. And the client is wondering what went wrong.There will likely be a lot of finger-pointing and blaming, but there has to be a better way to get in front of this potential nightmare.

Where did it go wrong, and how can you avoid it happening to you? The following offers a few tips to help keep you on track.

Knowledge is Key

Early in your project, you should work with your wood door distributor. Let them know your design intent, your budget, color and grain requirements, and the total size of the project. Using their resources helps you enhance your knowledge and help your clients.

You’ll also find a wealth of resources throughout our website. Go to our Educational Content Page where you’ll find downloadable PDFs on various wood veneer topics. You’ll also find descriptions of the many CEU presentations we have available.

Specifying wood veneer doors can be a challenge. It’s important to know the wood species, their veneer availability, and how to use those veneers. Then you have to clearly communicate your ideas or intent, to end up with your initial vision.

Clearly define your design intent

At some point it may be necessary to hand your project over to someone else to care for during construction. You may have other projects or other responsibilities pulling you away. Or your firm may have designated staff to handle the construction administration.

Whatever the case, you want to ensure the design intent is clear to anybody who comes along. One way to do that is with design reference samples.

Having a design reference sample is a great way to ensure your design intent is clear to all parties.

Be sure to note, it’s more than just a simple swatch of veneer and finish color. Your design reference samples should include all of the following important material and construction details:

Develop a system of checklists

We’ve mentioned it in other blog posts, and you may have seen it on our website. One of the best ways to make sure you stay on top of your project’s door selection and design is to download our Specification Checklists.

With these checklists, you’ll have reminders of what you can do at each phase of your project. You’ll have a great system in place you’ll find flows into other areas of your design as well.

One more thing…

One last bonus tip: Aesthetics deals with subjective issues like color, grain character and scale. And one key element of your specification is the face grade veneer.

Define your project’s spaces where higher aesthetics are most important. Focus on them for the Grade AA door finish, and define other areas where Grade A is acceptable. Make sure these different zones are clearly defined in the specs and, if needed for clarity, on your drawings.

You’ll save the project (and your client) time and money.

Masonite Architectural – Want help?

Our expert field of Territory Sales Managers can help guide you through the process. We’ll help make sure the doors you specified are the ones you see on opening day.

Our goal is to be your valuable resource and help you get the perfect doors to inspire and delight your client.

If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com

Opening Your Client’s Doors on Time

On Jan 16, 2019 | admin@freshy.press

How to Ensure Your Client's Doors Open on Time

Three keys to reduce lead times on your next project’s doors

Surely you’ve heard (and experienced) Murphy’s Law, “If anything can go wrong, it will.”

In the building industry, everyone has had projects where it seems no amount of planning could avoid the delays coming out of left field. Whether it’s a strike, protest, weather event, or holiday that causes major traffic and delays to the delivery of your products, anything can happen.

With over 80 years serving the industry, Masonite Architectural knows the impact these small disruptions can have on your project’s critical path and final completion. After all, we share the same goals: we want your client’s new doors open on time, so they can serve their customers and end users.

We can’t help you solve every project issue that can pop up, but we can offer a few key points you should follow to ensure your doors arrive on site and on time. Follow these three steps to reduce the lead times on your doors:

1. Sit down with your distributor early in design

As Stephen Covey famously wrote, “Begin with the end in mind.”

Great advice for life and business, as well as design. And when it comes to choosing the perfect doors for your project, it’s a critical first step. That’s why an early meeting with your area Masonite Architectural rep helps you and the interior designer set the stage for a successful project.

Your local distributor can review your design intentions and point out veneers or designs with extended lead times. Knowing this up front helps everyone plan for delays and adjust accordingly. Alternatively, you might find ways to meet your design intent in veneer options with shorter lead times and lower costs for your client.

Be sure you add this step to your early design to-do lists to avoid unnecessary stress down the road.

2. Early finish sample matching

After going through your design with your area rep, Masonite Architectural works with you to find the perfect door finishes for your project. If you have samples you want matched, ask your distributor to collect them so our team can create sample matches for you to review.

Otherwise, we will send a range of finish samples so you can identify and select the perfect one for your project.

The earlier you begin collaborating with us, the sooner you and your interior designer will have an established design reference that you’ll be able to specify and design around. Plus, you’ll have confidence that your doors will have the right look and feel to shape your building’s spaces.

3. Submit through design reference samples

Consider this important note:

Today’s wood veneer doors have several subtle variations that can make a huge difference in the final appearance and cost of your doors. If you haven’t already, please review our webpage on different veneer cuts, grades, color and matching.

Once familiar with the terminology and differences surrounding wood veneers, you can provide a thorough description of what you want for the final look of your doors. By providing a design reference sample as part of the project specifications, you’ll remove the guesswork and save time.

When you’re ready, your design reference sample(s) should include these important material and construction details:

Veneer grade
Veneer species
Veneer cut
Veneer leaf match
Face assembly match
Stain color, if applicable
Stain type, if applicable
Transparent finish, if applicable
Opaque finish, if applicable

You can also browse Masonite’s step-by-step, DoorSelector to design your door.

Final thoughts…

By adding these three simple steps to your early design process, you’ll reduce lead times and save a few headaches for your next project’s doors.

Sit down early with your distributor to decide on door finish and design.
Request finish sample matching as early as possible.
Establish and keep a clearly defined design reference sample.

Masonite’s goal is to be your valuable resource and help you complete your projects on time, with doors that inspire and delight your client.

Masonite Architectural – Want help?

If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com

Doors and Your Room’s Acoustics

On Nov 5, 2018 | admin@freshy.press

Are Doors the Weakest Link in Your Room's Acoustics

When silence is golden…

There’s no question – Good acoustics create better spaces to live, work, and play.

Proper noise control and acoustical performance are vital to the healing process. Healthcare facilities need rooms designed for patient recovery and privacy.

Appropriate acoustics are an essential component to guest satisfaction in the hospitality industry. Hotels need quiet rooms to provide the best overnight experience for their guests.

Superior sound isolation creates a better learning environment. Schools need classrooms to keep students focused and engaged.

Acoustical design considerations are crucial in these commercial settings and beyond. Making acoustics a cornerstone of our ability to enjoy life. Careful design and detailing of a room’s wall, floor and ceiling can provide good acoustics. But room acoustics are only as good as the weakest link. And without proper care, the door is often that weakest link. This article digs a bit deeper into the importance of acoustics in a few of these building markets. Then offers some ideas on how proper door selection can improve your design

Creating an optimal healing environment

Hospital Design 101 tells us surfaces in a hospital need to be easy to clean and sanitize. It’s a basic rule of infection prevention and control. This means you have hard, non-porous surfaces reflecting sound instead of absorbing it. Creating some challenges from the acoustics standpoint. Managing acoustic issues can be challenging, but it’s critical to healthcare environments. For many reasons:

Acoustics are also playing a larger role in a healthcare facility’s success. Studies show quieter environments produce higher patient quality-of-care ratings. And hospitals with high patient satisfaction scores were also the most profitable. Why is that?

To improve quality of care in hospitals, the U.S. government now links reimbursement rates to patient satisfaction. They measure this through a patient satisfaction survey called HCACPS. Now, patient satisfaction scores account for 1 1/2 to 2% of government reimbursements. STC-rated doors control noise in patient rooms, corridors, and other areas. Think about the number of doors in a hospital. Imagine the effect STC-rated doors, combined with the other STC-rated assemblies, could have. You’d raise the acoustical performance of that facility.

The gift of a calm, good night’s sleep

So how can STC-rated doors help in the hospitality industry?

Behind Wi-Fi concerns, noise is one of the top complaints from hotel guests. If not addressed, poor acoustics can impact guest satisfaction and affect hotel revenue. A J.D. Power study showed only 50% of customers with noise complaints complained to management. The other 50% may voice their complaints on social media or a travel site. That’s negative feedback hotels cannot afford. Another study shows a 43% yearly increase in guests checking online reviews before booking a hotel.

Once again, guest satisfaction is key. A well-designed door solution decreases disruptive noises generated from hallways or adjacent rooms. Designing a room with an STC-rated door helps you address the #2 complaint in hotels.

As noise goes up, test scores go down

Quality acoustical design improves education and is essential to a healthy learning environment. A study by The Acoustical Society of America shows students had a lower reading test score in classrooms with a higher background noise. They found similar declines in language achievement test scores.

Designing for good acoustics improves student/teacher communication, test scores and educational quality. Like healthcare facilities, school walls and floors are hard surface. But durability is the top priority for the materials selected in these halls. Once again, sound bounces off walls and finds any opportunity to find its way into the classrooms. And that opportunity is usually the doors.

Specifying STC-rated classroom doors keeps kindergartners’ laughter down the hall where it belongs. And keeps the other students focused on learning.

The noise stops here

Excessive and repetitive noise isn’t just annoying. It can also be a health hazard, impact your ability to concentrate, and increase your stress level. In all building types, attention to acoustics enhances the experience in many ways. Doors are often the most direct sound path and can compromise an otherwise excellent design. The acoustics performance of a room is only as a good as the weakest link, and the door can certainly be the weakest link.

Masonite Architectural – Want help?

At Masonite Architectural, we’re finding ways to improve industry standards. To help you shape better environments in your buildings. We know STC-rated doors can be a crucial part of that formula. We have a complete line of acoustic-rated doors to meet your project’s needs.

If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com

Simplifying Door Selection Start-to-Finish

On Oct 15, 2018 | admin@freshy.press

Simplifying Door Selection Start-to-Finish

Imagine looking out over the Pacific Ocean from the penthouse suite of a gleaming 38-story luxury condo-hotel in Hawaii. A building of this esteem is expected to have intricate design elements and top-of-the-line finishes. That’s why the design team for the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Waikiki worked with us to specify more than 2,000 doors with various design and functional needs. Working with a single source helped ensure quality and consistency to meet the demands of this luxurious environment.

The high-end door styles for the multi-million-dollar residential spaces needed to not only match aesthetic expectations, they also needed to meet performance requirements such as fire and STC ratings.

Now, imagine working in a non-profit behavioral treatment center providing care to children with mental health issues. The design team for the Clarity Child Guidance Center was focused primarily on specifying high-performing doors that could create a warm, calming environment while also standing up to abuse and ensuring the safety of the patients and staff. Standard doors could not provide the long-lasting durability needed for this structure, which is why the design team turned to us to help create a successful environment with high-performing doors.

Choosing the right doors for your project isn’t easy — we know that. Especially when your projects span different building types and requirements. In this post, we’ll explain how we help create a simplified door specification and buying process.

Experience Leads to Simplification

In 1924, William H. Mason pioneered radical innovations in manufacturing with wood, leading the way towards modern door construction. Another pioneer in this world is one of our legacy brands, Marshfield, which has been making solid core wood doors since 1908. They’ve provided the door industry with numerous innovations in performance. Algoma, another of our legacy brands, has been known for innovations in door design for six decades and innovated distribution, which helped reduce door ordering and delivery times.

Today, Masonite Architectural is one of the undisputed leaders in manufacturing wood doors. We’re leveraging our experience to make your door selection process as simple as possible. Here are a few ways to help you start.

Identify the Market

Each project has its own unique design and certain traits shared with other buildings of its kind. We understand these market-specific qualities. From healthcare to hospitality, we have the experts to help you achieve your client’s goals for a better environment.

As you begin each new project, you need to educate yourself on the market trends, code requirements and other nuances critical to a successful design. When you understand the unique needs of your environment, you can begin focusing on the right door options for your building type.

Pinpoint Unique Design Needs

Once you’re clear on your project’s market-specific needs, look at the specific design requirements of each area and room of your building. To help ensure the environments you design provide the best possible experiences, we’ve put together solutions for your most stringent design needs, such as:

Drill Down to Specifics

Now that you’ve narrowed down the market and design needs, you’re ready to get down to door specifics to begin specifying the right doors for your project with confidence. This is when it helps to work directly with an expert partner. To help you find the perfect doors for your project, we’ve designed tools to make the process simple from start to finish.

It all begins with our step-by-step Door Selector, which helps you narrow down your door type, surface material and construction details. From there, the Product Details page will help you find the right veneer for your door. You’ll then have clear, complete door information to request samples and, ultimately, finalize your door specifications with confidence.

Masonite Architectural

Creating Successful Environments

Our experts are here to help guide you through the door selection and buying process. We’ll make sure you get openings to delight your clients on opening day (and for years to come). We can apply our expertise of wood type, grain, stain and design to complement your space. Often, designers give door hardware more consideration than the door itself. Masonite Architectural knows the whole opening matters. We offer a wide selection of paneling, veneer and material choices to meet your unique needs.

And, finally, remember to request samples of the specific species and cuts you’re considering. Experiencing the door through a sample can help reduce lead times for your project’s doors by ensuring your design choices are solved early. If you’re ready to get started on your current project, you can call 1-877-332-4484 or email us archinfo@masonite.com.