Big news: A mass-market door manufacturer has finally introduced a line of mid century style doors. Yes, Therma-Tru has introduced a new line of retro style front doors. The new “Pulse” line of doors — available in oak grained fiberglass, smooth (paintable) fiberglass, and steel — come in four styles: the Ari, Echo, Linea and Solei. The doors are made in Indiana, Therma-Tru told us.
Introduced in late March (2013), these mid century doors from Therma-Tru are available in several sizes, two finishes of fiberglass(wood look or paintable) or in steel and have quite a few glass options.
- Update: Since Therma-Tru introduced this door, a variety of other manufacturers have added mid century modern front doors to their lineups. For my roundup, see 14 places to Buy or DIY a Mid Century Modern Front Door.
Following is the news release from Therma-Tru on this new product launch:
Therma-Tru Launches Pulse™ Line of Entry Doors
Therma-Tru, the nation’s leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of entry doors, has introduced the bold and inspired new line of Pulse™ modern-style doors.
Accented with clean lines and crisp angles, Pulse entry doors cater to homeowners seeking to celebrate their own special sense of style. The contemporary door styles reflect four aesthetic feelings that many homeowners wish to capture in their home entry areas: Eclectically Chic, Mid-Century Modern, Retrospective and Distinctively Modern.
“These were the show-stopper doors in our booth at the 2013 International Builders’ Show,” says Derek Fielding, senior product manager for Therma-Tru Corp. “Pulse doors capture a modern feel, but at the same time bring you back to the 1940s through 1960s when door styles were simple.
“The Mid-Century Modern style is reflected in architecture, design and even furnishings found in the home from roughly 1933 to 1965. The goal during the post-war era was to bring modernism into America’s suburban areas. For homes, the emphasis was on creating open floor plans with lots of opportunities to bring the outdoors inside. A great example is the classic home found in the old Brady Bunch television show. The interior of the home was spacious, and the front entry door had a sleek, retro style to accent the home.”
Fielding also cites the simple, pure living of Distinctly Modern styles that the Pulse doors complement in the home. “Whether you’re a homeowner with a funky, personalized living space or a completely modern open style of home, these doors are ideal for you,” says Fielding. “Pulse doors deliver a unique blend of geometric glass shapes and door that can be combined to take cues from the past and future so that homeowners who crave artistic expression can select their own special door style.”
Available in oak-grained fiberglass, smooth (paintable) fiberglass and steel, Pulse doors come in both 6’8″ and 8’0″ heights. Therma-Tru offers the Pulse door line in four different styles — Ari, Solei, Echo and Linea. The doors all have four Privacy Glass options (Chord, Chinchilla, Rainglass and Granite) along with Clear Low-E and Internal Blinds. The Linea style is available with these same glass insert options plus decorative glass options of Blackstone®, Crystalline™, Sedona, Salinas®, Element, Maple Park®, Avonlea®, Saratoga™, Texas Star, Arden® and Crystal Diamonds™.
“The new Pulse product line gives design-conscious homeowners the opportunity to select an entry door that was inspired by the simple styles developed originally by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the United States and the Bauhaus design school in Germany,” says Fielding. “These influences are timeless. We’re finding that homeowners are once again embracing this upbeat living architectural movement as they make a statement on their home with a door that complements feelings of modern sensibilities, retro glamour and fashionably chic.”
Check tax credits when you buy an Energy Star door
Tip: When you’re checking on cost, see if this door qualifies for a federal tax credit related to energy savings.
About fiberglass doors
Since neither Pam nor I have had experience with fiberglass doors — and are not sure how they measure up against wood and steel entry doors — we asked Therma-Tru for info on this, as well. Kathy sent us this (excerpted):
… The polyurethane foam core [of Therma-Tru’s fiberglass doors] offers up to four times the energy efficiency of a wood door and contains no CFCs. A solid hardwood square edge for strong performance that reproduces the look of a real wood door surrounds the foam core and a wood lock stile runs the entire length of the door to add structural integrity and heft. Covering the insulation materials is a door skin. Fiberglass door skins can be made to replicate real wood (which can be stained and finished easily) or come in smooth, paintable surfaces. The fiberglass door skin resists denting, cracking, splitting and splintering. It also resists rust, shrinking or swelling with temperature changes, or warping.
JaniceW says
My contractor ordered a fiberglass Therma Tru Pulse door (Echo with three small lites), and when I saw a picture of it I was surprised that the trim around the lites was so traditional. I should have read all of these comments.
I asked my contractor if the flat trim that the Pulse brochure mentions could be retrofitted onto my door. Here is what he said after checking with the manufacturer:
“They didn’t send it with the flat trim because it is made from pvc, which can warp when exposed to the sun especially behind storm doors, so they don’t use that trim unless specifically asked for it. I told them that the sun can’t hit this door so send it out and we will prime and stain it and get the look you want.”
So if you don’t have direct sun, you can ask for the flat trim.
The other issue we’re having is that the trim won’t take stain, so he had to get a primer from Therma Tru that will allow the trim to be stained.
I hope this is worth it. I have a big problem with my current door letting cold air in, so I’m hoping the fiberglass door and a new storm door remedy that.
Janie-Bean says
Now if we could only get these impact rated for us Southern Florida residents 😉
pam kueber says
Agreed!
sarah says
I am in Phoenix AZ and ordered this door via a door supply house (DoorsWest) vs the pain of dealing with HD/Lowes again.. that’s another story. The order process was easy. I was replacing a very recently installed “craftsman-ish” style door that prior owner had installed.. totally not suitable for the mid cent period of the house. But, as the frame had already been installed, trimmed out and spray-foamed in place, I decided to order only the “slab” vs pre-hung with the whole jamb. In order to do this, you need to take extremely precise measurements for dimensions (including thickness, bore, dap (hinge settings)). I took my time with this process, checked it three times, and fired off my order worksheet. Door was $260 (slab only), for the Linea Offset with clear glass in smooth fiberglass, white. They delivered it along with other doors I ordered, and I was able to install it on my own without any help (thankfully my measurements were correct!).. took me about an hour including removing the old door and switching the handle set from the old to new door. But then again I’m pretty darned handy if I do say so. It looks great, I haven’t noticed any stamp on the glass but maybe with this linear design its less noticeable, its probably at the bottom but not visible unless you get down that low. I’ve yet to paint it, but from prior experience with these kind of doors, the “wood grain” / raised / trad trim around the glass will end up being barely noticeable once it has a couple coats of paint on it. I have obsessed about such details in the past, but my experience has been that once it’s painted you really don’t notice it in the overall scheme of things.. and for the massive $ saving I can live with it. 🙂
On a previous CA home we did a Crestview “lite kit” on a wood slab door, that turned out really well also, but I think the fiberglass door is more durable/ better efficiency in more extreme climates. Also I don’t think Crestview is selling their lite kits anymore since their price structure changes.
Overall, very happy with the Therma Tru product, I think it fills an important gap in the market. Affordable and good quality. Design is a 4 out of 5 stars (one star off for the traditional surrounding trim).
mikeD says
Just thought I would throw my two cents in on the Therma-Tru pulse doors.
I do not own one but was about to order when I found out that the frame around the glass insert has fancy detail and is very traditional looking. I was told that was the only option for the trim in those types of inserts. In addition, the trim also has a faux “wood grain” in it. I personally think that really takes away from the mod look and I am considering different options now
Going back and looking at different online images of the doors, I can now see that detailed trim, as it is not apparent in computer images unless you know it is there.
Just a heads up for those that it might bother so that your not surprised when the door arrives
I currently have two Crestview door inserts for my front and back doors and their trim around the glass is just the simple straight edge, no fancy detail.
pam kueber says
mikeD, we have stories on other makers of such doors, see them in the Exteriors category https://retrorenovation.com/category/exterior-design/mailboxes-house-numbers-other-accessories/
Mitch Toews says
Hi Scott! Great insight – thx – no hush req’d.
As an FYI, when we order entry doors from Simpson or Lynden Door Canada (steel insulated) and other suppliers, we can specify to have all “temper bugs” positioned uniformly throughout the entire project, if needed. In the case of Therma-Tru, as the distributor, we actually stock and install all Therma-Tru lites into doors ourselves – so we control it and we are sensitive to this need. On the topic of custom, Alliance Door Products has extensive custom abilities, including the capacity to reach out to Alliance branches in other regions.
Our belief is that enthusiastic Mid2Mod homeowners are particularly mindful of details, and we want to match that diligence. Thanks again.
Mitch Toews says
@ Scott, RE: @ PAM: “the one issue i have heard about with the therma tru’s – and it’s covered in the comment string, i believe — is that the glass has the therma tru name imprinted, ugh”
Like many major window and door makers, TT glass lites are imprinted because it is part of the rules under which a fenestration manufacturer can rate and label products. This is per the National Fenestration Rating Council and is a matter of consumer protection, rather than a marketing initiative. The “bug” ID’s tempered glass. Ugh factor is offset by phew! factor 🙂
Therma-Tru reports that there have been no complaints for privacy (obscure) glass. Clear glass is more obvious and I can see where, on a multi-lite door, the bugs could be distracting. I will post here again once I get an answer on the issue and possible solutions. Thank you for pointing this out. I am also getting the answer for the same question from Simpson door. Cheers – Mitch
pam kueber says
Ah! That makes sense. Still sounds… not pretty. Thanks for this info! I really appreciate it!
Mitch Toews says
Hi! The “bugs” must be in place as a certification that safe, shatter-resistant tempered glass is being used. Multi-lite doors may be ordered with the bugs all located in the same position (bottom right, inside – for example). Bugs are not an issue on privacy glass, according to our vendors Therma-Tru, Simpson Door and Lynden Door Canada (a steel door maker).
Scott says
Hi Mitch. Yes, I could have lived with the discreet tempered glass markings, it was the larger manufacturer markings and the willy-nilly placement I had the problem with. In direct contrast to what you were told the TT distributor for my region told the Lowe’s installation desk “I was lucky four of them were aligned the same way as they just grab them and stick them in, they make no attempt to align them.” Realignment of the single odd pane was not as option after the build, in fact they offered no options at all. Thank goodness for Lowe’s great customer service.
Despite the ordeal I love and recommend the clear glass. My dogs love their new window to the world. It felt strange at first but privacy is not an issue as the windows are small and the front porch lights reflect off the glass as well.
One thing I’m not sure I mentioned that I learned from Lowe’s is that some other brands can make doors that are not in their catalog nor on their websites so don’t assume you can’t get something. Show the Millwork Manager what you are after and they will shop it around and get prices for you. Lowe’s also was able to find two brands who could not only custom design a door but could do with no manufacturer markings on the glass, just the discreet thermal markings.
I’m going to hush on this topic now, 🙂 but just wanted to be sure folks know they don’t have to settle for rainglass or a texture if they really want clear, you just have to really do your homework first.
pam kueber says
Thank you for all the fine reporting, Scott! I really appreciate it! At some point as soon as I can — I will excerpt your findings in the main story — or ask Kate to. I really appreciate it!!!
Tim says
I’m looking at the wide star escutchen plus the 5″ extender to make it a total of 7.5″ (thereabouts) for the offset.
http://www.rejuvenation.com/catalog/products/5in-backset-extender
http://www.rejuvenation.com/catalog/products/wide-star-escutcheon/items/door-backplate-mid-century-exterior-wide-star
Here are the individual items so you will have a better picture of what I’m talking about.
I think my wife is going to go to Lowe’s today and talk to them about it. Our emails to Therma Tru were answered in a generic manner, and they said any further details will need to be answered by the door supplier.
pam kueber says
fyi we also have a story nearly ready to go on mid mod doors from simpson doors – i will try to get it finished and posted tomorrow, meanwhile, you can find them on their website, i believe they are in the “contemporary” section
the one issue i have heard about with the therma tru’s – and it’s covered in the comment string, i believe — is that the glass has the therma tru name imprinted, ugh
Scott says
If the Titan is the doorset you want you can confirm with Rejuvenations what offsets are available for that style, then compare that to whatever offset options the door manufacturer you end up deciding to go with can provide. Then just be sure to specify the offset when you place the door order because otherwise the company default offset may not match the offset of your hardware.
In other words just be sure the hardware and the door get ordered with the same offset. 🙂
Tim says
We were looking at the Crestview doors, then stumbled across these. I heard a rumor that some of the trim doesn’t exactly fit the 50’s style we are looking for, could someone comment on this?
Also, anyone that has looked at these at Lowe’s or that have talked to TT, do you know if they can be drilled to accept this door set?
http://www.rejuvenation.com/catalog/products/titan
I have heard there is a new competitor to Crestview coming soon, I don’t have the name or details yet. Heard from a remodeler in our area that specializes in MCM homes.
pam kueber says
We have several other stories on door suppliers. See Exteriors category
Scott says
Hi Tim. I used the Schlage Orbit Set on my TT door. When you place the order for the door (if you go with TT and Lowe’s) you can specify a 2 3/8″ or 2 3/4″ offset depending on what hardware you have selected.
I don’t know about Titan, but the Orbit could be ordered in either offset.
Casey says
I just wanted to report in that I just had the Ari installed as a front door. We did not order it with clear glass. I would rather have clear glass, but everyone would be able to see all that happens in my living room once it gets dark. At this point it’s been so long since we picked it out with our contractor that I’m not really sure which glass we went with, but I can say it took them a very long time to build the door because the glass was back ordered. There are no logos on the glass. Maybe that’s just a thing with the clear glass?
We just went with a plain white door and plan on painting the door once its warm enough to do so (in MN). Over all thoughts after only a couple days: I love it! It’s SO much better than the off the shelf generic door from Home Depot/Menards that was there before. It lets in a ton of light too. And as a bonus, it was professionally installed, so no more chilly breeze will come in through it during in the winter months.
The Ari reads a little more modern than mid century to me, but for our home, I think it’s the right mix of the two.
Sierra says
Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. It makes our decision a little easier, and hopefully less frustrating in the long-run. We were going to order clear glass in the Echo, but will definitely reconsider based on Scott’s experience.
Casey, we are also in MN. I’m curious where you purchased yours and if the same company installed for you. There seem to be a couple of options near us, but if you had a good experience, we might forego those others. Thanks!
Casey says
Sierra,
We have a contractor that’s doing a lot of things to our house right now and that was just one of them. I know he ordered our doors from Scherer Bros. Lumber Co. They have quite a few locations (Albertville, Hopkins, Shakopee, etc.). All we did was tell our contractor what we wanted and he took care of everything, so I can’t really say how great that specific company is.
Good luck!
Sierra says
Thank you!
Shawn says
Ooooh, I am excited to come across this info! Several houses in my neighborhood still have their original 60’s doors but unfortunately mine was replaced with a newer hideous door before I bought the house. I recently found one at the Habitat Re-Store but it wasn’t correct right size. I realized that swapping doors with my neighbor while he was sleeping was probably not the best idea and the Crestview are definitely not in my budget so these seem to be a great fit. I am off to HD now!