In an era of cookie-cutter home designs and prefab floor plans, customization makes a bold statement. An arched double-entry with decorative wrought iron. A sunny home office with floor-to-ceiling glass. From Spanish Colonial designs to sleek contemporary styles, custom-made windows and doors add a dramatic touch and can turn a residential home into a showpiece. Such embellishments also require artistry and skill, which is where Durango Doors excels.
“We are a made-to-order company,” says Scott Pereth, co-owner of Durango Doors, which has been making custom steel doors and windows for nearly two decades. Founded in 1999 by local resident John Gibbs, the company was still a start-up when Pereth bought into the business in 2002, helping to launch operations in Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. In 2005, Durango Doors opened its first showroom in the DFW market on West 7th Street in Fort Worth. Three years later, the steel door and window maker moved down the road into its current 24,000-squarefoot space at 4015 West Vickery Blvd.
Durango Doors of DFW now has 14 employees and works with a select group of manufacturers to craft a range of products for different architectural styles, from thin profile bi-fold steel and glass panels to grand steel entries with elaborate decorative iron scroll.
The company manages each project from start to finish, using cutting-edge technology and premium-grade materials to engineer products that are as energy efficient as they are beautiful. Whether part of a new construction plan or an enhancement to an older home, custom windows and doors can add dramatic curb appeal. Homeowners who visit the Fort Worth showroom frequently want to make a quick update, notes Pereth, and Durango Doors is happy to deliver. The company offers turnkey replacements, measuring the original entry and installing a door from its Wrought Iron or Millennium lines for a brand-new look in just a day’s time.
Durango Doors can also complete more involved projects with ease. The company recently fabricated and installed a five-panel Millennium bi-fold door system along with modern stationary and casement windows for a new-build project in Highland Park. “A lot of times, we’ll deal with a homeowner who has a contractor and they want to open up the back of their house, for which our Millennium line is the perfect solution,” says Pereth.
Key to Durango Doors’ success is its commitment to white-glove service, helping customers manage the upkeep on their customized entries and windows. “When you sell a high-end product and you don’t have service after the sale, you don’t win repeat customers,” Pereth says, wryly. He notes that countless happy clients have used Durango Doors for multiple custom installations, whether in the same residence or for several homes throughout the metroplex.
“I have one homeowner for whom I replaced an entry door and transom in their house in Arlington back in 2006. They bought another house in Southlake, and we replaced their doors there. Now they bought a new home in Southlake and we’re doing the whole house,” he says.
In addition to working with homeowners, contractors and custom homebuilders, Durango Doors also specializes in commercial projects. Most recently, the company finished installing steel windows, bi-fold doors and the main entry for the new CRÚ restaurant in Fort Worth’s stylish Shops at Clearfork. “The first one we did was in Dallas,” says Pereth, noting that the restaurant owners found they could increase revenues by utilizing the outdoor patio space. “We have a lot of nice days in Texas where you can open up the doors and have indoor-outdoor dining.”
Since warmer temperatures last well into October, early summer can be an opportune time to meet with a design specialist at Durango Doors and explore the options for a home makeover. With dozens of styles to choose from and countless options for customization, replacing an entryway or adding a wall of windows can add drama and character, and make even the humblest home look extravagant.
Leslie J. Thompson is a Dallas-based freelance writer with a passion for interior design and international travel.