Colonial Doors

A colonial door — also called a colonial French door — has an additional horizontal rail (the “lockrail”) positioned partway down the door that separates the glass section above from the wood panel section below. This design adds a degree of privacy by blocking visibility through the lower portion while still letting light in through the top. Colonial doors are a versatile choice for entryways where you want glass for natural light but don’t want full visibility from outside.

The Lockrail

The lockrail is the wide horizontal bar in the middle of the door where the lock hardware is typically mounted. Above the lockrail is the glass section — either a single pane or divided lites. Below the lockrail is the panel section — one or more solid wood panels. The lockrail ties the stile and rail frame together structurally and provides a solid mounting point for hardware.

Panel Section Options

The lower panel section can be configured in several ways:

Single panel — one large solid wood panel below the lockrail
Multiple panels — two, three, or four panels divided by intermediate rails
Crossbucks — rails forming an “X” across the panel section, creating four triangular panels — a distinctive decorative option

Wood Species

We build colonial doors from solid lumber in your specified species — Douglas fir, clear pine, mahogany, white oak, red oak, and others. Panels are made from solid wood.

Glass & Divided Lites

The upper section can be built with a single pane or divided lites in any pattern. Insulated glass with Low-E for Title 24, or single-pane for historic work. True divided lite (TDL) or simulated divided lite (SDL).

Hardware

Colonial doors accept mortise locks, cylindrical locks, or multipoint locking systems. The lockrail provides a solid mounting surface for any hardware choice.

Matching Existing Doors

For additions, remodels, and historic renovations, we can replicate existing colonial door profiles, lockrail placement, glass layout, and panel configuration so the new door matches the original — even if the original manufacturer is no longer in business.