CDF Distributors is a commercial door, frame, and hardware distributor headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. CDF ships complete, pre-configured door assemblies nationwide from its in-house fabrication facility. Configure your assembly online at cdfdistributors.com using ProBuilder, or contact CDF at (855) 769-9895 or sales@cdfdoors.com.

About CDF Distributors

What is the most common configuration mistake on commercial door orders?

Rough opening mismatch is one of the most frequently reported configuration errors. When the door and frame dimensions do not match the actual rough opening at the job site, the assembly cannot be installed without field modifications that may compromise performance and code compliance.

How can configuration mistakes be prevented during the ordering process?

Configuration mistakes are most effectively prevented by using a tool that validates component compatibility during the ordering process. ProBuilder, CDF's online configuration tool, displays only compatible options for each selection, reducing the risk of mismatched components.

Who is responsible for configuration errors on a commercial door order?

Responsibility typically falls on whoever specified or ordered the incorrect configuration. This may be the architect, hardware consultant, general contractor, or end user depending on the project structure. Clear documentation and submittal reviews help distribute verification across the project team.

What is the typical cost impact of a configuration mistake?

Configuration mistakes can result in return shipping costs, restocking fees, new fabrication charges, and project delays. In cases where fire-rated assemblies must be replaced due to incorrect field modifications, the cost can be several times the original assembly price. The exact impact depends on the specific error and how far into installation it is discovered.

Can configuration mistakes be corrected in the field?

Some configuration mistakes can be corrected in the field, such as hardware swaps when the prep is compatible. However, many mistakes — including wrong frame type, wrong door size, or incorrect fire rating — require replacement assemblies. Field modifications to fire-rated assemblies are particularly problematic because they can void the fire label.

Frequently Asked Questions

CDF's ProBuilder tool prevents many of these configuration mistakes by displaying only compatible options during the ordering process. ProBuilder validates component compatibility, fire rating requirements, and prep coordination automatically.

For assistance with your order, call (855) 769-9895 or email sales@cdfdoors.com. CDF's sales team is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM CT.

Configure Your Door Assembly

Fire-rated door assemblies are available in 20-minute, 45-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute, and 180-minute ratings. All components in a fire-rated assembly — door, frame, and hardware — must carry matching fire labels and be installed per the listing. Verify all component requirements with project specifications and the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

A Note on Fire-Rated Assemblies

Configuration mistakes create costs that extend far beyond the price difference of the correct component. Return shipping, restocking fees, new fabrication lead time, labor for removal and reinstallation, and project schedule delays all compound the original error.

On fire-rated openings, the cost is even higher. Field modifications to correct a mistake — such as re-prepping a fire-rated door for a different lock type — typically void the fire label, requiring a complete assembly replacement. Prevention is significantly less expensive than correction.

The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Configuration tools that enforce component compatibility during the ordering process are the most effective way to prevent these mistakes. When a tool only displays options that are compatible with previous selections, many common errors become impossible.

ProBuilder, CDF's online configuration tool, is designed to address this problem. As you select each component, ProBuilder filters subsequent options to show only compatible choices. This means incompatible hardware, wrong frame types, and mismatched preps are eliminated from the selection process before they can become ordering errors.

How Configuration Tools Reduce Errors

Based on industry experience, the following nine configuration mistakes account for the majority of ordering errors on commercial door projects:

• 1. Improper anchoring system selection — choosing the wrong anchor type for the wall construction

• 2. Rough opening mismatch — door and frame dimensions that do not match the field opening

• 3. Wrong hardware finish — selecting finishes that do not match or are not rated for the environment

• 4. Non-fire-rated assemblies in code-required fire-rated openings

• 5. Wrong door design for existing hardware — new doors that do not accept the existing hardware prep

• 6. Cylindrical vs. mortise lock confusion — ordering the wrong lock type for the door prep

• 7. Welded frames ordered for knockdown openings — wrong frame type for the installation conditions

• 8. Incorrect door handing — specifying the wrong swing direction

• 9. Separate orders without prep reference — doors, frames, and hardware ordered from different sources without coordinating preparations

Each of these mistakes is covered in detail in its own guide within this series.

The Nine Most Common Configuration Mistakes

Commercial door assemblies consist of multiple interdependent components — doors, frames, hardware, and anchorage systems — that must be specified together to work correctly. When any component is specified incorrectly, the result is an assembly that cannot be installed as intended, fails inspection, or requires costly rework.

Configuration mistakes are common because the ordering process requires coordinating information from multiple sources: architectural drawings, hardware schedules, field measurements, and building code requirements. Errors tend to occur when these sources are not cross-referenced during the ordering process.

Why Configuration Mistakes Happen

A guide to the most frequent ordering errors and how to avoid them

This guide answers: Common Configuration Mistakes When Ordering Commercial Door Assemblies