Chaukhat (door frame): plan it together with the door

Most people spend weeks choosing the door and a few minutes on the chaukhat. But the chaukhat is what holds the door. It is fixed into the wall, it carries the door's weight through its fixings, and it is the edge you see around the doorway every day. A good door cannot make up for a chaukhat that is weak, twisted or badly fixed.

Why the chaukhat needs planning early

The chaukhat usually goes in while the house is still being built, before plaster and flooring. The door is hung much later. So the frame is decided early, and it is hard to change afterwards. By the time you are looking at door designs, the chaukhat may already be in the wall.

Decide these with your mistri or thekedar before the chaukhat is fixed:

• The door height and width, and whether it is single or double.
• Which way the door will open.
• The wall thickness and the frame section size.
• Whether you also want a jali door on the same frame.
• The floor level after tiles or stone are laid, so the door does not rub on the floor.

Wood and rebate

NordWood chaukhats come in three woods: Kapoor sal (kapur), Malaysian sal and desi sal (sakhu). Each guide explains what to check in that wood.

The rebate is the step cut along the inside of the chaukhat. The door closes against it.

• Single rebate: a step on one side, for one door.
• Double rebate: a step on both sides, so that a second shutter, such as a jali (mesh) door, can be hung on the same frame.

If you are not sure which one you need, tell us how the doorway will be used and we will suggest one.

What to check in a chaukhat

• It is straight, with no bend or twist along its length.
• There are no deep cracks, especially near the joints and where hinges and fixings will go.
• You know the finished size, not just the rough size. Planing removes wood.
• At fitting time, the frame is checked for square and plumb (straight up).
• The bottom of the frame is protected from moisture where it meets the floor and the brickwork.

The bottom of a chaukhat sits close to the ground, where water from floor washing and building work collects and where deemak can get in. Ask how it will be protected.

If you are keeping the old chaukhat

If the existing chaukhat will stay and you only need a new door, send us:

• A photo of the full frame, and close-ups of the bottom corners.
• The inside height and width, with units.
• Whether it has a single or a double rebate.

Check the old frame for deemak, rot at the bottom and twist. A new door hung on a damaged frame will not close properly. Your mistri should confirm the door size that suits the frame.

Make the frame match the room

The chaukhat is a line around the door that you see every time you look at the doorway. Look at the other edges in the room, such as window frames, skirting and shelves. Decide whether the frame should match them in wood colour and polish, or stand out on purpose. Using the same polish shade on the door, the chaukhat and nearby window frames usually makes a room look neat.

Say clearly what you are ordering

In your enquiry, write whether you need a door, a chaukhat or both. Photos on websites, including ours, often show a door with its frame and fittings. That does not mean the frame, hardware or fitting comes with the door. Confirm exactly what is in the order before you pay.

With NordWood, door fitting is free. Chaukhat fitting is available on request for a small charge. You can see all our chaukhat (door frame) prices online.