Front door defects are rarely caused by a single mistake. More often, they come from small coordination gaps between trades that compound over time. By the time the client moves in, the result is a door that rattles, leaks, binds or feels awkward to use, even though each individual trade technically did their job.
This article looks at how builders can reduce front door defects by tightening coordination around one of the most exposed and highly used elements of the home. It builds on the principles introduced in the builders pillar at Air Flow Doors for builders: reducing callbacks, simplifying installs, improving outcomes and focuses specifically on trade sequencing and responsibility clarity.
Why the front door attracts defects
Front doors sit at the intersection of
- Structure
- Cladding or brickwork
- Waterproofing
- Flooring
- Hardware and locking
When a door is treated as a standalone item, these interfaces are often resolved late or informally on site. Common defect triggers include
- Door openings framed without reference to the final door system
- Brick or cladding work completed before door tolerances are confirmed
- Security screens added later, drilling through finished surfaces
- Locks installed without coordination with door clearances
Each step may seem minor, but together they increase the likelihood of rework and callbacks.
One system, one responsibility
One of the biggest advantages of a multi-function entry door is responsibility clarity. Instead of splitting the entry across a door supplier and a screen installer, builders deal with a single integrated system.
From a coordination perspective, this means
- One set of tolerances to allow for
- One installation sequence to plan around
- One point of reference when something needs adjustment
This simplification reduces the grey areas where defects usually emerge, particularly at handover when it is no longer clear who “owns” the problem.
Setting out openings with intent
Many front door issues start at framing stage. Openings are often set out generically, with the assumption that the door supplier will “make it work”.
Better outcomes come when builders
- Confirm door type and size before framing is finalised
- Allow for realistic tolerances, not theoretical ones
- Understand where adjustment is possible and where it is not
The detailing logic in detailing multi-function entry doors in wall systems is particularly useful here. When openings are framed with the final door system in mind, downstream trades have clearer constraints and fewer surprises.
Coordinating finishes at the threshold
Thresholds are a classic coordination failure point. Flooring, waterproofing and door installation are often handled by different trades on different days.
Defects typically arise when
- Finished floor levels are not clearly set before door installation
- Waterproofing membranes are cut or compromised by later fixings
- Door thresholds are treated as cosmetic rather than functional elements
By using a single, integrated door system, builders can lock down threshold details earlier and avoid the late-stage improvisation that leads to water ingress and client complaints. The construction risks around this are explored further in avoiding threshold failures at front doors.
Clarifying handover responsibility
Clients rarely understand the difference between a door problem and a screen problem. They just see “the front door”.
A coordinated approach allows builders to
- Explain operation clearly at handover
- Reduce confusion about locks, ventilation modes and maintenance
- Avoid being the default problem-solver for issues caused by third-party add-ons
This directly supports smoother handovers and fewer post-completion calls.
A coordination checklist builders can use
Before locking in a front door solution, builders can run a simple check
- Is this entry being treated as one system or several
- Are opening sizes and finishes aligned with the actual door being installed
- Are threshold details resolved before flooring and waterproofing begin
When coordination is handled deliberately, front doors stop being a defect hotspot and start behaving like any other well-resolved part of the build.