When an architect or homeowner pictures a 10 or 12 foot entrance in Miami-Dade or Broward, the first question is usually about construction: what is the door actually made of, and will it hold up here? At Custom Doors, the answer is marine-grade mahogany, engineered and tested as a complete system. Here is why that combination works for oversized Florida entrances, and what to look for in any manufacturer you consider.
An oversized entrance is an engineering problem first
A door this size is not a standard door made larger. Wind pressure acts over a much bigger surface, the pivot hardware carries more load, and the opening around it has to be built to match. In the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, the door also has to pass large-missile impact and cyclic pressure testing before it can be approved for use.
That is why the approval matters more than the material name. Our oversized impact pivot is covered by Florida Product Approval FL#28370, tested under TAS 201, 202 and 203 with a design pressure of +65/-65 PSF (read the approval’s conditions for your project), and a maximum size of 81″ x 147¾”. Our classical outswing doors are covered by FL#16326, also rated +65/-65 PSF. Whatever door you choose, ask for the approval number and check the size limits against your opening. For a deeper walk-through, see What Architects Need to Know Before Specifying a 12-Foot Entrance in a Florida HVHZ Project.
Why marine-grade mahogany
We build our entrances in marine-grade mahogany. It is a dense, stable wood chosen for exposure to humidity, sun and salt air, which is exactly the environment of coastal Florida. On a tall door, stability matters: the panel has to stay flat and operate smoothly for years, not only on delivery day.
Mahogany also gives an entrance something that is hard to reproduce: real depth, warmth and grain, with a finish that can be matched to the architecture. For a statement entry, that is often the point of the project.
Weight, pivots and the opening
An oversized door in this class can weigh approximately 900 pounds. That weight is carried by precision pivot hardware and transferred into the structure, so the opening, the header and the anchoring need to be planned with the door, not after it. We recommend the architect, builder and our team confirm the opening details early, before the door is released for production.
One honest note
Custom Doors builds wood doors only. We do not manufacture aluminum doors, so we cannot speak to aluminum products or their approvals, and the approvals above apply only to our own doors as tested. If you are comparing options, ask every manufacturer for the Florida Product Approval number, the tested sizes and the installation requirements, and compare those side by side.
Timeline
Plan for approximately 9 to 12 weeks after CAD approval. The drawings and opening details are confirmed first, and then the door goes into production. Early coordination with your contractor is the best way to keep the schedule on track. For the full picture, see From Quote to Installed Door.
Planning an oversized entrance?
If you are specifying a large entrance for a Florida project, our team can walk you through sizes, approvals and opening requirements. Request a quote from Custom Doors to start the conversation.
