Interior Door Construction, Frames and Trims: What to Specify
Understand the door leaf, core, frame, architrave, threshold and skirting interfaces to prepare a clearer interior door schedule.
A door schedule needs more than a picture of the leaf. The door, core, visible surface, frame, trim and hardware meet at a specific wall opening. Record those interfaces before choosing the final appearance.
Separate the parts of the door set
| Part | Decision to record |
|---|---|
| Door leaf | Model or profile, opening size, handing and intended use |
| Core and facing | The construction applicable to the selected system and its approved surface |
| Frame or jamb | Wall thickness, frame construction and how it meets the leaf |
| Architrave or casing | Profile, visible width, finish and the wall junction |
| Edge and stop details | The specified edge, stop or strip for that frame assembly |
| Skirting and floor junction | Skirting profile, finished floor level and how the trim terminates |
| Hardware | Hinges, lock, handle, closer or track where relevant |
The SNEJ trim training material shows stop strips, frame or casing profiles and skirting. Those profile illustrations are useful for asking the right questions, but a label such as 40, 45, 60, 75 or 80 must not be treated as a millimetre dimension without checking the original drawing and units. Agree a dimensioned detail for the chosen assembly.
Match construction to the door system
The website presents composite wood, invisible, aluminium-framed glass and aluminium-edge wood doors. They do not share one universal frame, core or edge construction. Choose the system first, then review its applicable model and technical details.
Some documented wood-door constructions show a 46 mm leaf and an air-exchange chamber. These details belong only to the models mapped to that technical material. The stated leaf thickness is not a default for every wood door, and an air-exchange patent is not an acoustic or purification test report. If performance matters, specify the requirement for the exact door assembly and request relevant evidence.
Material families such as solid wood, finger-jointed timber, plywood, MDF, particle board, OSB and honeycomb construction can play different roles in door manufacture. A material name alone does not establish a complete door’s sound insulation, fire rating, stability or destination-country compliance. Specify the chosen model and construction, then discuss any required testing.
SNEJ catalogue construction references
The undated SNEJ Catalog — Interior Door describes different assemblies for composite wood, aluminium-wood and aluminium-glass doors. The dimensions below belong to the illustrated catalogue versions, not every model in the door library. Confirm the current model, section drawing and hardware set before ordering.
| Catalogue assembly | Leaf thickness | Construction shown | Catalogue page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite wood door | 46 mm; customisation noted | Multilayer solid-wood skeleton; facing and surface options are listed separately | 6 |
| Aluminium-wood door | 45 mm | Aluminium frame and honeycomb core, HDF/MDF facing, PVC film and aluminium edge sealing | 27 |
| Sliding aluminium-glass door | 40 mm | 2.0 mm aluminium profile and 8 mm tempered glass | 29 |
| Swing aluminium-glass door | 40 mm | 3.0 mm aluminium profile and 8 mm tempered glass | 30 |
Sliding and swing glass doors need separate specifications. Although both catalogue examples list 40 mm leaves and 8 mm glass, their aluminium profile thicknesses differ. Specify the operation, panel arrangement, track or hinge system and selected glass together; do not transfer the sliding-door specification to a swing door.
For the composite wood assembly on page 6, the catalogue also labels 60 mm and 75 mm architrave options and a 22 mm solid-wood composite frame-board option. Frame-board thickness, architrave width and door-leaf thickness describe different parts. They do not determine the finished wall opening by themselves.
These are construction references, not evidence of acoustic, fire, moisture or destination-market performance. For a project in Australia or Canada, include the required documentation in the enquiry so the proposed assembly and supporting evidence can be reviewed together.
Confirm the opening before production
Provide the opening width and height, wall thickness, finished floor level and opening direction. Mark changes between room types. Agree whether the frame is assembled before delivery, what site preparation is needed, and how adjacent wall panels and skirting meet the casing. For sliding systems, add the track position and clearance.
Use the interior door model library to identify a visual reference. Pair it with an opening schedule, hardware choices and finish samples when you send the project brief. Free samples are available, with shipping paid by the buyer.
Keep finished openings separate from order dimensions
SNEJ’s February 2023 minimalist metal swing-door booklet describes measuring after the floor and wall finishes are complete. Its three-point diagram records width at the top, middle and bottom, and height at the left, centre and right. Record all readings, wall thickness and any difference in level or plumb; a single opening size can hide an uneven opening.
The same booklet distinguishes the clear opening from the outside dimensions of the product to be ordered. Do not label both fields simply “door size”. Have the technical reviewer confirm the assembly dimensions and fitting allowance for the selected system before production.
| Schedule field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Finished opening | Width and height readings in millimetres; identify whether finishes are complete |
| Wall and floor | Finished wall thickness, floor level and any raised sill or platform |
| Product dimensions | Agreed outside dimensions of the selected frame assembly, confirmed separately |
| Handing | Room-side labels and an agreed opening-direction sketch |
| Frame and glazing | Casing arrangement, model, colour, glass selection and hardware |
The 2023 booklet gives a particular convention for viewing the door from outside the room. Include a labelled sketch in an export brief so “left” and “right” are not interpreted from opposite sides. These instructions belong to that metal swing-door edition; other systems need their own installation detail.
Source: SNEJ Minimalist Swing Door booklet, February 2023 edition, pages 17–19. Measurement guidance is a project-review reference, not a universal manufacturing deduction or installation tolerance.
Common specification questions
Can the same trim be used around every door?
Not automatically. Frame type, wall thickness, door operation and adjacent wall finish affect the profile. Confirm the exact junction for each door type.
Does a catalogue photo show the complete construction?
No. It shows appearance. The leaf build, frame, hardware and any performance requirement need their own written specification.
Are SNEJ interior doors all the same thickness?
No. The undated catalogue examples above list 46 mm composite wood, 45 mm aluminium-wood and 40 mm aluminium-glass leaves. Those are separate assemblies. The selected model and approved drawing determine the order specification.
Which documents should accompany a door enquiry?
Send the room-by-room opening schedule, wall thicknesses, finished floor levels, operation and handing, finish references and hardware requirements. Identify any performance evidence your project needs. The catalogue helps identify a construction to discuss; the approved project documents define what will be supplied.
Source note: SNEJ Catalog — Interior Door, undated edition, pages 6, 27, 29 and 30; reviewed on 16 October 2026. Current availability and model-specific details require confirmation.