Some production home builders offer an upgrade for home buyers to have 8 foot tall doors in their home instead of the standard 6 foot 8 inch doors.
Builders sometimes install 8 foot tall doors just downstairs in homes, but some higher end builders will install them both upstairs and downstairs.
Taller doors can make a home feel more grand, however that is not always the case.
There are many factors that you should consider before deciding to do this upgrade.
photo courtesy of Bill Wilson flickr.com/photos/okchomeseller/25781307248
Proportion
When deciding the height of doors in your home, you should definitely also consider the width.
Front doors are typically the widest door in a home at 36 inches wide.
The wider front door works well with a taller height.
Doors that are less than 36 inches wide can look out of proportion with a taller door - like a circus performer on stilts with really long pants.
Consider the width of all the doors in your home......bathroom, pantry, and closet doors tend to be less wide and might look odd with a taller height.
Also consider any skinny double doors in your home and decide whether they might look better as one single larger door.
photo courtesy of Bill Wilson flickr.com/photos/okchomeseller/18684583331/
Door Trim
When a taller door is selected for a home, a wider door trim usually looks better.
The wider trim looks more grand and keeps in proportion with the taller door.
Builders typically charge more for wider trim, so make sure to account for that in your budget.
Ceiling Height
Ceiling height is very important to consider when deciding on a taller than typical door height.
An 8 foot tall door definitely will not work with an 8 foot tall ceiling height, and might look a bit out of place with a 9 foot tall ceiling height.
Taller doors work best with ceiling heights 10 foot tall or taller.
Cost
Using a taller door will cost you more money than a standard height door.
The cost of installing a door is typically half labor and half materials - the labor to install a taller door will probably be slightly higher than the cost of a standard size door and the price of the actual door and hinges will be more.
Interior doors should not cost more than 20% more for a taller height, however front doors might cost upwards of 50% more since there are fewer options available.
Most 6 foot 8 inch doors use 3 hinges, however 8 foot tall doors typically have 4 hinges.
Warping
The possibility of warping is more of a concern with taller doors.
Some installers might also have this concern and thus charge more because of the potential for warranty call backs.
To be safe, go with a more quality constructed door if your door is taller than typical, however that will cost more money in materials and labor because of the additional weight of the doors.
Architectural Changes
Speak with your home builder about any architectural changes that will be made if you select taller doors before deciding on door height.
If your home's floor plan calls for a window above your front door, that window will typically not be installed if you select a taller door. Fewer windows might make your home feel dark, unless you select a front door with glass.
Kitchen Cabinets
You need to consider how your taller interior doors will look with your kitchen cabinets.
Will the interior doors (and door trim) be taller than your upper cabinets?
Will the taller doors make your kitchen cabinets look shorter and your kitchen feel smaller?
Windows
What is the height of your windows?
The top of your windows should be about the same height as the top of your doors.
If your windows are not as tall as your doors, then the room might feel out of proportion.
Compromise
If you have doors that are not very wide in your home, you might decide not to use taller doors.
As a compromise, consider just using a taller 8 foot tall door as your front door, but keep the interior doors the standard 6 foot 8 inches tall.
This taller front door will make the entry feel more grand but the interior of your home feel more in proportion.
photo courtesy of Bill Wilson flickr.com/photos/okchomeseller/18684583331/
