A steel exterior door with a steel frame should be quoted as one coordinated opening package, not as a leaf price plus a frame price. Define the existing opening, wall and jamb, threshold and floors, drainage and flashing, handing, hardware, glazing, performance documents, finish, freight, installation, and exclusions before comparing totals.
The current Senmit Windows & Doors page includes French-style steel systems and custom project quoting. This article does not confirm that any exact configuration, rating, certification, installation service, or warranty is available until Senmit confirms it in writing for the project.
The 12-row steel door and frame quote matrix
| Quote row | Evidence to request |
|---|---|
| 1. Opening survey | Widths and heights at multiple points, diagonals, plumb, level, square, photos, and unknown concealed conditions |
| 2. Wall and jamb | Construction, wall depth, frame profile, throat or return, interior and exterior finish relationships |
| 3. Door and frame assembly | Single or pair, swing, handing, active leaf, frame construction, anchors, and supplied components |
| 4. Threshold and floors | Interior and exterior elevations, landing, slope, drainage, accessibility goals, and finish transitions |
| 5. Water path | Exposure, overhang, sill-pan and flashing responsibility, sealant joints, and wall-layer integration |
| 6. Hardware | Hinges, lock or latch, closer, access control, panic or other project hardware, preparation, and supplied-by-others items |
| 7. Glazing | Size and appearance, privacy, safety, energy, impact or other project requirements, and supplied evidence |
| 8. Performance documents | Project-required energy, structural, water, air, impact, fire, accessibility, or other evidence and reviewer |
| 9. Finish and trim | Color, coating, interior casing, exterior trim, masonry or cladding returns, touch-up, and maintenance |
| 10. Freight and receiving | Packaging, delivery location, access, inspection, damage reporting, storage, and replacement process |
| 11. Installation scope | Removal, disposal, repair, setting, anchoring, flashing, sealing, insulation, trim, hardware, protection, and cleanup |
| 12. Verification and exclusions | Submittals, field measurement, approvals, hold points, testing if specified, acceptance, warranty, and every exclusion |
1. Survey the opening before selecting the assembly
Measure width and height at multiple locations, check diagonals, and record plumb, level, square, wall depth, floor elevations, threshold, and finish build-ups. Photograph jambs, head, sill, both lower corners, surrounding cladding or masonry, interior finishes, and drainage conditions.
The Steel Door Institute SDI-135 specifically recommends recording multiple frame-opening measurements and notes that installation conditions affect operation. It also distinguishes nominal frame-opening dimensions from actual door dimensions. Use the project team's required measuring method and preserve the field record with the quote.
2. Define the door and frame as a matched assembly
State whether the opening is a single door, pair, sidelites, transom, or another composition. Draw swing and handing from a named viewing side and identify the active leaf. Ask the quote to name the frame profile, wall relationship, anchors or attachment concept, hinge and strike preparation, threshold, weather seals, glazing, and other supplied parts.
Do not assume any steel leaf fits any steel frame. Hardware locations, clearances, frame condition, wall construction, threshold, and project requirements all affect the combination.
3. Coordinate the frame with the real wall
Describe wood framing, steel studs, concrete, masonry, brick veneer, or other construction and identify interior and exterior finish thickness. Ask who owns embeds, anchors, blocking, concealed damage, corrosion, masonry repair, jamb extensions, trim returns, and finish restoration.
The Steel Door Institute steel-stud frame guide begins by matching the opening location, handing, size, drawings, and hardware schedule, then setting the frame plumb, level, and square. That is evidence that the frame is part of a coordinated wall assembly, not a decorative border around the leaf.
4. Resolve threshold, floors, landing, and water path together
Record interior and exterior finished-floor elevations, the landing, slope, drains, roof runoff, overhang, wind-driven exposure, and accessibility goals. Identify who designs and installs the sill pan, flashing, sealants, drainage path, and transitions to the wall's water-resistive layers.
A recent homeowner discussion about a very low threshold in a brick opening exposed the real decision: raising or shimming the door changes ordered height, floor relationship, support, flashing, and water risk. Do not assign that entire problem to a generic threshold line item.
5. Schedule hardware and glazing before fabrication
List every hinge, lock or latch, closer, access-control item, electric transfer, contact, panic device, pull, kick plate, stop, weather seal, and supplied-by-others component required by the project. For glass, state size and appearance plus any privacy, safety, energy, impact, fire, or other required evidence.
Ask who coordinates templates, wiring, power supplies, field connections, testing, and replacement access. A visually correct door can still arrive with incompatible preparation if the hardware schedule is late or incomplete.
6. Ask for project-specific performance evidence
Material alone does not prove performance. Project location, use, occupancy, exposure, wall assembly, opening size, and local review may determine which energy, structural, water, air, impact, fire, accessibility, security, or other documents are needed. Have the responsible designer or authority identify the requirement, then ask the supplier to confirm whether the proposed configuration has the requested evidence.
Do not transfer a label or report from a different size, glazing, hardware, frame, or installation condition without written confirmation that it applies.
7. Separate supply, delivery, and installation boundaries
Price packaging, freight, unloading, access, receiving inspection, damage reporting, storage, protection, and replacement lead time. Then list demolition, disposal, opening repair, setting, anchors, flashing, sealing, insulation, trim, hardware, electrical work, painting, touch-up, cleaning, testing, and acceptance.
The Steel Door Institute SDI-122 troubleshooting guide addresses common field installation problems and ties operation to frame and door conditions. Use it as a reminder to verify the completed opening, not as a substitute for the selected manufacturer's instructions.
8. Build a pre-order confirmation packet
- Project address, use, drawings, and review path
- Opening survey with multiple measurements, diagonals, wall depth, floors, photos, and drainage
- Door composition, swing, handing, active leaf, and finish intent
- Frame profile, wall interface, anchors, trim, threshold, and flashing responsibility
- Complete hardware and glazing schedule
- Required performance documents and reviewer
- Freight, receiving, installation, protection, testing, acceptance, warranty, and exclusions
How to approach Senmit
Submit the packet through the Senmit Windows & Doors page. That page currently describes aluminum, uPVC, slim aluminum, and French-style steel systems, custom sizes, project-specific glass and finishes, and U.S. project delivery. Ask Senmit to confirm whether your exact steel exterior door and steel frame configuration is within the current offering.
Before ordering, require a written project quote that names the assembly, supplied components, drawings, requested evidence, freight, lead assumptions, installation boundary, warranty, and exclusions.
All visuals were generated for planning education. They are not Senmit product photographs, approved door details, installation instructions, dimensions, performance testing, labels, certification, warranty evidence, or proof of current configuration availability.
