Entry Doors and Exterior Doors: Helpful Terms
- By Lesli Lord
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- 07 Mar, 2018
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What's an outswing?

Looking to invest in front doors, a front entry door with sidelites (sidelights), a storm door or another type of exterior door? Here's some lingo to help you make an informed decision:
- Inswing (I/S): A door that opens inward.
- Outswing (O/S): A door that opens outward.
- Left Hand: An I/S door with hinges on the left, or an O/S door with hinges on the right. Pro Tip: (Hinge placement refers to the door when viewed from the outside looking into the home).
- Right Hand: An I/S door with hinges on the right, or an O/S door with hinges on the left.
- Lite: A pane of glass in a door.
- Divided Lite: Panes of glass that are divided,or appear to be.
- Grille: Plastic, wooden or metal details that give the appearance of divided lites.
- Caming: Strips for joining segmented glass.
- Brickmould: Molding used around a door (or window) that fills the gap between where the door and the wall of the house meet.
- Slab door: A rectangular slab of wood, composite or steel without hinges or other hardware.
- Prehung door: A complete, ready-to-install door that includes a door slab, hinges and outer frame that fits into a prepared doorway.