Pivot doors for Dallas homes: steel and aluminum

What is a pivot door and how does it work?

A pivot door turns on a vertical axis instead of on side hinges. A pivot at the floor and a pin at the head carry the weight. This lets a door be very tall and wide, and still swing with one hand.

Jada, the steel maker Honey Rock works with, says: “We offer a vertical pivot door system.” Its doors “will pivot on a hydraulic floor pivot.” Jada says the floor pivot is hidden in the finished floor, and that it controls the door’s movement, holds it open and works as a hydraulic closer.

For a plain-language walk through the parts, read how a pivot door works. For a buyer’s checklist, use the pivot door buying guide. The part that carries the door is called a pivot hinge in the trade.

Which pivot door systems does Honey Rock offer?

Honey Rock works with two makers that publish pivot doors: Jada in steel and Bertrand in aluminum. Sun Windows lists no pivot door on the pages reviewed. Pick by material, size and where the door will stand.

System	Maker and material	Published facts
Pivot Door	Jada, thermally broken steel	Vertical pivot on a hydraulic floor pivot, single door or pair, welded attachment flange
MB-86N Pivot Door	Bertrand, aluminum	Off-center axis, leaves up to 2 m wide and 3.4 m high, concealed hinges up to 500 kg
MasterLine 8 Pivot Door	Bertrand, aluminum	Sash up to 13 ft 1.48 in high and 8 ft 2.425 in wide, up to 500 kg
COR Pivot	Bertrand, aluminum	Central pivot mechanism, glazed or solid panel, smart access options, no numbers published

Read more about the makers at Jada and Bertrand. Bertrand publishes its sizes in metric and imperial units, and this page shows each number in the unit Bertrand uses.

What is the difference between an offset pivot and a center pivot?

An offset pivot puts the axis away from the middle of the leaf. A center pivot puts it on the middle line. Offset gives one wide swing on one side and a narrow swing on the other. Center gives equal swing on both sides.

Bertrand’s MB-86N page describes “its off-center rotation axis.” Its COR Pivot page describes a “central pivot mechanism.” Jada’s page describes a double projection: “part of the door sweeps in and part sweeps out.” Jada does not say where its axis sits, so ask for the pivot point on the shop drawing.

Why this matters for a house:

• The side that swings in needs clear floor and no furniture, rug or radiator in the arc.
• The side that swings out needs clear space on the porch or walkway.
• A narrow swing side near a wall can create a pinch point. Check it on your plan.
• Offset position changes how the door looks when open, so check the sightline from the street.

How heavy and how big can a pivot door be?

Size and weight depend on the system. Jada says pivot doors “allow for large scale panels,” but it publishes no maximum size. Bertrand does publish limits. Heavy doors need strong hinges, a strong header and a solid floor under the pivot.

Bertrand system	Published size and weight
MB-86N Pivot Door	Leaves up to 2 m wide and 3.4 m high; concealed bearing hinges with a load capacity of up to 500 kg
MasterLine 8 Pivot Door	Sash height up to 13 ft 1.48 in; sash width up to 8 ft 2.425 in; sash weight up to 500 kg
COR Pivot	Described as made for “large, eye-catching structures”; no numbers published
Jada Pivot Door	No maximum size or weight published

Glass weight is the big variable. Thick insulated or laminated glass adds a lot. Always ask for the full door weight with your glass, not the system maximum.

Plan the structure early. A pivot door loads the floor and the head. Your builder and structural engineer should see the final drawing before the opening is framed. See rough opening for what the installer needs.

Do pivot doors leak in Texas rain and wind?

A pivot door is less water tight than a swing door, so it needs a covered entry or special drainage. Jada states this plainly. It says pivot doors “should only be used in covered areas with limited exposure” unless special sill drainage is included.

Jada explains why: “because part of the door sweeps in and part sweeps out, the weatherstrip will be on different planes and not offer a single plane of compression seal.” A hinged outswing door works the other way. Jada says “the higher the wind blows, the tighter they seal against their weatherstrip.”

Bertrand answers the same problem with drainage and thresholds. Its MB-86N page lists a “drop seal” at the bottom, a low 20 mm threshold that “can be fully built in,” and linear drainage. Its MasterLine 8 page lists concealed drainage, a gutter, a low threshold and a zero threshold as options.

Item	Jada steel pivot	Bertrand MasterLine 8 Pivot
Rain exposure	Covered areas with limited exposure, unless special sill drainage is used	Gutter, concealed drainage and threshold options
Threshold	Raised threshold for the weatherstrip to sweep against, often stone or hard flooring	Standard, low or zero threshold options
Published air rating	None found	Air tightness class 4 (600Pa)
Published water rating	None found	Water tightness class 4A (150Pa)
Published wind rating	None found	Wind load resistance class C3 (1200Pa)

North Texas storms bring heavy rain with strong wind. Ask the supplier to tie the threshold, drainage and overhang depth together. A deep porch roof matters as much as the door.

Learn the term air leakage rating if you want to read these classes with confidence.

Are pivot doors secure?

They can be secure, but each maker states security differently. Jada says its pivot doors include “our concealed multi-point locking system, which ensures good weatherstrip contact over the full height of the door.” That means lock points along the edge, not a single latch.

Bertrand’s MB-86N page lists “one-latch or two-latch” locking options. Its MasterLine 8 and COR Pivot pages list burglary protection as available. Both pages also describe smart access: opening and closing “via code or fingerprint scan.”

Neither Jada nor Bertrand publishes a break-in test class for these pivot doors on the pages Honey Rock draws from. So ask for any test report. Also check the lock on pairs, the hinge load, the glass type and the key control. A tall glazed pivot door is only as secure as its glass and its lock.

Can a pivot door be a front door?

Yes. Jada says pivot doors are “ideal for locations where you’re trying to add drama to a space or where a pocket sliding door is impractical.” Bertrand calls its MB-86N a way to create “a striking entrance” and calls MasterLine 8 an “entrance door.”

A pivot front door needs these checks before you order:

1. Cover. Put it under a deep roof or canopy, or plan sill drainage.
2. Threshold. Choose raised, low or zero threshold with the floor finish in mind. Jada says the threshold is usually stone or hard flooring.
3. Rug. Jada notes that if you use a throw rug inside, the sill must be high enough for the rug.
4. Screens. Jada says screens are “not practical” on pivot doors because of the dual projection.
5. Attachment. Jada’s pivot doors have a welded attachment flange. Jada says there are fewer attachment solutions than for its other products.
6. Hardware. Ask for the handle, lock, and pull at the size and height you want.

For other front door types, read custom entry doors and French doors.

What glass can a pivot door carry?

A pivot door usually holds a large pane or a panel, so glass size and weight matter. Jada says oversize glass “can dramatically affect the overall cost and the warranty of the fenestration on a project.” Ask about glass early.

On jobs where Jada supplies the glass, it says the maximum glass size it can warrant is 60 sq. ft. Many vendors limit the warranty to 50 sq. ft., Jada notes. Bertrand’s MB-86N takes insulating glass units up to 60 mm thick, and its leaves can be glazed or panel-filled.

Thick insulated glass, laminated glass and tempered glass all add weight. A pivot door’s hinge rating is a weight limit, so send the glass spec with your quote request. Read glass options for windows and doors for the choices, and IGU for the term.

For hardware, Jada lists levers and knobs from Rocky Mountain Hardware or Sun Valley Bronze as standard, with a Euro cylinder on its doors. Bertrand lists concealed hinges, minimalist handles and automatic opening on COR Pivot.

Steel or aluminum for a pivot door?

Steel gives a narrow profile and a patina finish. Aluminum from Bertrand offers several pivot systems with published ratings and smart access options. Choose based on look, exposure, size and lead time.

Question	Jada steel pivot	Bertrand aluminum pivot
Frame look	Narrow sightline Secco OS2 thermally broken steel	Aluminum; ask for visible frame width on the drawing
Finish	Zinc coat, then patina or paint, per Jada	Ask Bertrand through Honey Rock for current finish options
Smart access	Not published	Code or fingerprint access listed for MasterLine 8 and COR Pivot
Maker based in	California	Poland
Lead time	Not published	Bertrand’s FAQ: “Aluminum constructions are made in 7-8 weeks.”

Bertrand ships from Poland. Its FAQ also says it offers installation services only in its own region, so ask Honey Rock who handles installation for your project. Honey Rock’s own words for its service are “From the initial design process to the final installation.”

For more on steel finishes and rust protection, read the steel windows and doors guide and steel vs aluminum windows.

How much does a pivot door cost?

Honey Rock does not publish prices, and neither Jada nor Bertrand publishes a price on its pivot door pages. A pivot door is a custom unit, so cost follows the job. Expect it to vary with the factors below.

• Door size and number of leaves (single door or pair)
• Material and finish
• Glass: insulated, laminated, tinted or Low-E (see glass options)
• Threshold type and drainage
• Locks, handles and any automation
• Structure: header, floor pivot support and rough opening work

To price your door, send the width and height, the entry type (covered or open), the floor finish and the look you want. Use the contact page or call (214) 484-9982.

What does a pivot door need from the building?

A pivot door needs a strong header, a solid floor under the pivot, and a clear arc for the swing. Jada’s pivot doors come with a welded attachment flange. Jada says there are “not as many attachment solutions for pivot doors” as for its other products, though it may customize them.

Tell your architect and builder about the pivot early. The floor pivot sits in the finished floor, so the slab or subfloor must allow for it. The threshold, often stone, must be ready when the door goes in. Jada says the specific needs of the sill are worked out in the shop drawing process, so approve that drawing before you set the floor finish.

Bertrand’s MB-86N is “based on MB-86N system profiles,” so it can match other MB-86N doors and windows in the same building. If your project is a new build, bring the pivot into the plan set before permits. See builders and architects for the working method.

What should you ask before you order a pivot door?

Ask about the pivot point, the weight, the water path and the lock. These four questions catch most pivot door problems. Put the answers in writing before you approve the shop drawing.

1. Where is the pivot axis, and how far does each side swing?
2. What is the total door weight with my glass, and what hinge or pivot rating is used?
3. How does water drain at the sill, and what overhang do you need?
4. What is the lock, and is there a test report?
5. What is the threshold height, and how does it work with my floor and any rug?
6. What is the lead time from approved drawings?
7. Who installs the door, flashes it and checks the floor pivot?

For a wider plan, see planning a window and door project and the builders and architects page.

Next step

Start with your entry plan, then contact us with the door size and the roof or canopy above it. Compare the makers on the Jada and Bertrand pages.