Stop guessing on exterior doors. Start building with confidence.
The Custom Door Guide walks you through every decision — material, energy performance, security, style, and hardware — so you can spec your exterior doors like a seasoned pro, not a first-time buyer at the mercy of a showroom rep.
My job isn't to make you a door expert — it's to make sure you never feel like the least-informed person in the room when it matters most.
— Straight from the Slab with Duane Holloway
What you'll learn
What you'll be able to do
- Identify the right door material — wood, fiberglass, or steel — for your climate, budget, and aesthetic goals
- Read and compare manufacturer specs for energy performance ratings (U-factor, SHGC) so you never overpay or under-insulate
- Evaluate security features including multi-point locking systems, frame reinforcement, and glass placement
- Match door style, finish, and hardware to your home's architectural design language with confidence
- Avoid the 10 most costly specification mistakes custom homeowners make during the door selection process
- Communicate clearly with contractors, architects, and suppliers using the correct terminology and asking the right questions
How it works
A school that adapts to you
This isn't a set of static videos. Every lesson is generated live and tuned to where you actually are.
We learn your level
A quick placement check tailors your starting point so you're never bored or lost.
Lessons adapt as you go
Each lesson is written for your pace and your goal, adjusting as your skills grow.
Your AI coach keeps you moving
Checkpoints, feedback, and gentle nudges turn progress into a real result.
The curriculum
What's inside your school
6 modules · 27 lessons
How Exterior Doors Actually Work
Builds the foundational vocabulary and mental model every custom homebuilder needs before evaluating a single door.
- 1.1The Anatomy of an Exterior Door SystemIncluded
- 1.2Door Configurations and Opening TypesIncluded
- 1.3The Language of the IndustryIncluded
- 1.4How Doors Are Specified on Plans and in SchedulesIncluded
Choosing Your Door Material
Gives you a clear, climate- and budget-aware framework for deciding between wood, fiberglass, and steel.
- 2.1Wood Doors — Beauty, Maintenance, and Real-World Trade-offsIncluded
- 2.2Fiberglass Doors — Performance, Versatility, and ValueIncluded
- 2.3Steel Doors — Security, Durability, and Energy EfficiencyIncluded
- 2.4Matching Material to Your Climate and BudgetIncluded
Energy Performance — Reading the Numbers
Teaches you to decode manufacturer performance specs so you insulate correctly, meet code, and never overpay.
- 3.1U-Factor, R-Value, and What They Mean for Your HomeIncluded
- 3.2Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) — Friend or Enemy?Included
- 3.3Glass Packages, Low-E Coatings, and Gas FillsIncluded
- 3.4ENERGY STAR, NFRC Labels, and Code ComplianceIncluded
- 3.5Comparing Manufacturer Specs Like a ProIncluded
Security — Building a Door You Can Trust
Equips you to evaluate and specify the security features that protect your home without compromising design.
- 4.1How Exterior Doors Fail — Common Attack PointsIncluded
- 4.2Multi-Point Locking Systems vs. Single-Point DeadboltsIncluded
- 4.3Frame Reinforcement, Hinges, and Strike PlatesIncluded
- 4.4Glass Placement, Impact Glazing, and Smart Security Trade-offsIncluded
Style, Finish, and Architectural Harmony
Shows you how to match door design, color, and hardware to your home's architectural language with intention.
- 5.1Reading Your Home's Architectural StyleIncluded
- 5.2Door Profiles, Panel Patterns, and Glass DesignIncluded
- 5.3Exterior Finish Options — Paint, Stain, Cladding, and Factory FinishesIncluded
- 5.4Hardware — Handles, Locks, Hinges, and Finish CoordinationIncluded
- 5.5Sidelites, Transoms, and the Full Entry SystemIncluded
Avoiding Costly Mistakes and Buying with Confidence
Arms you with the specification skills, vendor questions, and decision checklists to buy right the first time.
- 6.1The 10 Most Costly Exterior Door Specification MistakesIncluded
- 6.2Rough Opening Sizing, Tolerances, and Coordination with FramingIncluded
- 6.3Lead Times, Supply Chain, and Sequencing Your OrderIncluded
- 6.4Questions to Ask Contractors, Architects, and Showroom RepsIncluded
- 6.5Your Complete Door Selection ChecklistIncluded
Who it's for
Is this you?
Custom homebuilders
Wants a reliable, structured framework for guiding clients through door selections without having to reinvent the wheel on every project.
Owner-builders
Managing their own build and needs the practical knowledge to make confident spec decisions without leaning entirely on contractors.
Design-forward homeowners
Has strong aesthetic instincts and wants to ensure style choices hold up against real-world performance and security requirements.
First-time custom builders
New to the custom build process and wants to understand door systems well enough to avoid costly rookie mistakes before they happen.
Detail-oriented planners
Loves understanding the 'why' behind specifications and wants to decode energy labels, security ratings, and manufacturer data independently.
Mid-project homeowners
Already in the thick of a build and needs fast, focused guidance to validate decisions before orders are placed and lead times begin.
Questions
Frequently asked
Your teacher
A note from your teacher
Straight from the Slab with Duane Holloway
Exterior doors are one of the most permanent decisions in a custom build, and most people make them with almost no real information — just a showroom rep and a catalog. I built this course to change that. My background is in building science and residential construction, and I've distilled everything that matters — material selection, energy performance, security, style coordination — into a practical, no-fluff guide you can actually use on your project.
— Straight from the Slab with Duane Holloway
Start your journey today
Get instant access — learn at your own pace with an AI coach in your corner.
$39/mo
Recurring billing · cancel anytime
Secure checkout · Instant access
- 6 modules, 27 lessons
- AI-adaptive lessons tuned to your level
- Quizzes & checkpoints to lock in progress
- Your own AI learning coach
- Learn on any device, at your pace
- Full access for as long as you're subscribed