Dominic Anderson

When most people look at a commercial entrance, they see glass. What they may not realize is that a storefront entrance is actually a coordinated system made of aluminum framing, glazing, doors, and hardware that all work together.

Whether you're specifying a glass commercial door for a retail storefront, replacing aging aluminum storefront doors, or designing a new entrance with commercial glass double doors, understanding how each component functions can help you choose the right system for your project.

Learn more about aluminum and glass storefront door systems with the experts at CDF Distributors on YouTube.

What is a Storefront System?

A storefront system is a non-load-bearing exterior wall system commonly used in retail stores, restaurants, office buildings, healthcare facilities, schools, and other commercial spaces. Rather than consisting of a single door, the system combines framing, glass, entrances, and hardware into one integrated assembly.

The door itself is only one part

Choosing the right commercial exterior doors is an important part of any construction project. The wrong door can lead to maintenance issues, performance problems, and costly replacements down the road. The right door can improve security, handle daily traffic, and stand up to years of weather exposure.

When comparing commercial metal exterior doors, commercial exterior glass doors, and commercial exterior wood doors, many contractors focus on appearance first. While appearance matters, it's only one piece of the decision.

The location of the opening, the amount of traffic it receives, and the level of exposure to weather often have a bigger impact on long-term performance than the material itself.

In this guide, we'll compare the most common types of exterior commercial doors and explain how to choose the best option for your project.

What Makes a Door an Exterior Door?

Most people think of exterior commercial doors as the main entrance to a building. In reality, an exterior opening

Choosing the right commercial exterior doors is one of the most important decisions when designing, constructing, or renovating a commercial building. The right door impacts security, durability, energy efficiency, code compliance, and curb appeal. At CDF Distributors, we work with contractors, facility managers, business owners, and property developers every day to help them select the best door solution for their specific needs. Whether you're looking for commercial metal exterior doors, commercial exterior glass doors, or guidance on where commercial exterior wood doors fit into a project, our team has the expertise to help you make the right choice.

In this guide, we'll compare three of the most common types of exterior commercial doors: hollow metal doors, metal building doors, and storefront doors. We'll cover their similarities, differences, ideal applications, and which option is best for your project.

What Doors Are Compatible with Exterior Applications?

Several door types can

Industrial doors are designed to meet the demands of high-traffic, high-impact environments such as warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, and metal buildings. Unlike standard doors, industrial doors are built for durability, security, and performance, often incorporating reinforced materials like steel, specialized hardware, and compliance with strict safety and fire requirements.

Whether you're looking for industrial steel doors, industrial glass doors, or durable exterior steel doors, the right solution needs to balance strength, function, and long-term reliability. That's where choosing the right industrial door supplier makes all the difference.

Industrial vs. Commercial Doors: What's the Difference?

While industrial and commercial doors are often used interchangeably, there are key differences in performance expectations and application.

Similarities

• Both must meet building codes and fire ratings (read about how doors are fire rated here)
• Both are typically built

Many people assume that commercial doors and industrial doors are completely different products. In reality, the difference is often based on where the door is installed rather than the door itself.

A steel door used in an office building may be very similar—or even identical—to a steel door used in a warehouse, manufacturing facility, or distribution center. What matters most are the performance requirements of the opening, including security, fire ratings, traffic levels, and environmental conditions.

Understanding how commercial and industrial applications differ can help architects, contractors, facility managers, and building owners select the right door system for their project.

In this guide, we'll explain how commercial and industrial doors are commonly defined, where they're used, and what factors matter most when choosing a door.

What Are Commercial Doors?

Commercial doors are designed for use in public and private buildings. They provide security, durability, accessibility,

When planning a project, one of the most common questions is where to buy commercial wood doors that deliver both performance and style. The answer matters because the right partner can make your project smoother, safer, and more cost effective. CDF Doors stands out as a trusted commercial wood door supplier that delivers quality products, expert support, and reliable results for a wide range of applications.

A Trusted Commercial Wood Door Supplier

CDF Doors has built a strong reputation as a go-to source for commercial interior wood doors. From offices and schools to hotels and healthcare facilities, their doors are designed to meet the demands of high traffic environments. Each door is crafted with durability in mind while still offering the warmth and natural look that wood brings to interior spaces.

Unlike many suppliers, CDF offers full door assemblies, not just door slabs. This means you get a complete, ready to install solution that helps reduce delays and ensures everything works

Buying commercial doors isn’t something most people do every day.

And if you’re sourcing doors for a new project, replacement opening, facility upgrade, or tenant buildout, there’s a good chance you’ve already run into questions like:

• Where do you actually buy commercial doors?

• What’s the difference between a supplier and a manufacturer?

• How do you know you’re ordering the right product?

The good news is that buying commercial doors is usually much easier than it first seems — especially when you’re working with the right commercial door supplier.

When searching for where to buy commercial doors, you’ll typically come across manufacturers, distributors, and online suppliers. Some companies only manufacture specific products, while others distribute products from multiple brands and product lines.

For many buyers, working with a commercial door distributor offers more flexibility because it allows you to compare multiple door types, frame options, hardware configurations, and accessories

When planning a building upgrade, commercial interior doors are often overlooked, but they are one of the most impactful ways to improve an existing space.

This is not because you are starting from scratch, but because you are working within what already exists and trying to enhance performance, aesthetics, compliance, and tenant experience without a full rebuild.

At first glance, the decision may seem simple: glass, wood, or metal. In renovation projects, especially in occupied or aging buildings, it becomes far more strategic.

Interior office doors do more than separate spaces. They influence privacy, acoustics, durability, safety compliance, visibility, and even how modern a space feels.

So instead of asking, “What door should I pick?”, the better question is:

What issue in my building am I trying to solve, and which door solution helps me fix it most effectively?

Door swing direction is one of the most common points of confusion when ordering a commercial door. It is also one of the easiest things to get right once you know what to look for.

The challenge is that small mistakes can lead to ordering the wrong door, delaying installation, or even failing inspection. Understanding door swing direction early makes the entire ordering process smoother.

What Is Door Swing Direction?

Door swing direction refers to the side of the hinges and the direction the door opens. In commercial doors, this is classified as left-hand (LH), right-hand (RH), left-hand reverse (LHR), or right-hand reverse (RHR).

Once you understand how these are determined, identifying the correct swing becomes straightforward.

How to Determine Door Swing Direction

To determine the door swing direction, stand on the hinge side of the door. If it swings left, it is left-hand. If it swings right, it is right-hand.

• Stand on the hinge side of the door

• If the door swings to your left, it

When you see terms like steel building doors, commercial fire rated doors, or hurricane proof doors, you’re not just looking at product categories—you’re looking at solutions built for specific risks, codes, and environments.

That’s what defines a specialty door.

At CDF Distributors, specialty doors are designed around real-world performance, not just standard sizing or appearance. Each type exists to solve a specific problem that a typical door cannot.

What Are Specialty Doors?

Specialty doors are engineered for performance requirements beyond standard use. In commercial construction, doors are often part of a larger system tied to safety, compliance, and long-term durability. A standard door might close an opening, but a specialty door is designed to perform under pressure—literally and figuratively.

You’ll typically see specialty doors used when a project calls for:

• Preassembled metal building doors (commonly referred to as steel building doors) for exterior commercial structures