Can a door turn a demanding client into a satisfied customer? It can if the door fits their precise needs and wants. And since no two customers’ tastes are exactly alike, door manufacturers have broadened their offerings exponentially.

From traditional to modern and from practical to whimsical, the choices are numerous. While universal design and weather resistance continue to grow as top concerns, homeowners still crave luxury, individuality and customization.

Accessibility is Within Reach

“Universal design features are becoming more popular as homeowners are planning to stay in their houses as they get older,” says Elizabeth Souders, Jeld-Wen product marketing manager. “This means more requests for wider doorways to accommodate special needs and pocket doors for space saving and ease of operation.”

Jeld-Wen offers a multislide door system in IWP custom wood or fiberglass as well as premium aluminum. These door panels operate on a multiple track system so the doors disappear into a pocket in the wall, or stack in front of each other when open. The doors have weatherstripping on both the doors and their frames to add extra protection and energy efficiency.

“Univrsal design will become an important and more visible trend in 2008,” says Lance Premeau, product manager for Kolbe & Kolbe Millwork Company. “Kolbe offers a universal design program that contains products and options for the customer to deal with accessibility issues in the home. The program groups items such as larger levers and handles for window operations and sills that are suitable for ADA-compliant (Americans with Disabilities Act) applications.”

Top Options

“In the current market, fewer homes are being built, but many opt to do some remodeling and that has prompted some interesting options,” says Franco An, president of Plastpro. “For instance, adding an addition or remodeling a patio entrance is a popular trend. We actually find that full-lite glass doors with enclosed mini-blinds are popular when it comes to reinventing a drab patio entryway or the door to an outside deck.”

Plastpro recently introduced wrought-iron glass and wrought-iron-frame accents to its Rustic Door collection. The wrought-iron frames are customized by hand to complement the range of cutouts in the Rustic Series. In addition to resisting rust and corrosion, the wrought-iron frames come with a powder-coat finish. For the wrought-iron glass, which is available in Priscilla and Camelia designs, the decorative ironwork is placed between glass panes that have a textured appearance for maximum privacy. Priscilla is matched with bubble glass, while the Camelia accent is paired with waterfall glass.