Pendulum doors: pros and cons

During the renovation process, each owner seeks to think through all the decor elements to the smallest detail. One important detail that plays a huge role in the overall interior design is doors - a functional component that can give the right accent to a room. There are many popular door types nowadays. Pendulum designs are especially popular, the features of which will be discussed in this article.

Pendulum doors have become popular relatively recently, although they have been used in public places with frequent traffic for quite a long time. They are now being installed with great success in offices and residential areas.

This type of door is one of the types of swing doors, the only difference is the ability of the swing systems to open in both directions. This property is due to the presence of special awnings, which differ from conventional fittings in a certain design and attachment point.

Also, pendulum-type doors have single-leaf and double-leaf designs, in this case they are classified based on the number of leaves. If the width of the door opening is less than a meter, then a single-leaf leaf is installed, since two leaves will look ugly. Single-leaf designs are a suitable option for interior doors.

Regardless of the number of leaves, the doors can open inward and outward by 180 °. Designs in all possible options provide for the installation of a closer and a return mechanism. Sash sizes are made depending on the width of the doorway, the system can be supplemented with fixed side panels or a transom from above.

Doors are also classified according to the place of installation:

• outdoor - entrance or balcony. In this case, it is better to use doors made of reliable materials that ensure complete safety;
• interior or interior are made of various materials, which should be chosen based on the general stylistic direction of the room.

In places requiring compliance with a certain temperature regime, as well as with a high intensity of use, special elastic PVC swing gates are installed. This type of door is relevant for warehouses, sales areas, cold rooms, etc.

The door leaf material is the main distinguishing characteristic of the products of this system. When choosing a material, you should be guided by personal preferences, features associated with the location of the structure and the design decision. Currently, pendulum structures are made of glass, aluminum, PVC, wood.

Glass doors installed in apartments, office buildings, supermarkets, metro, etc. Glass is used with a thickness of 6-12 mm. For frameless swing doors, only tempered glass or triplex is used. Double-glazed windows are usually made with a plastic frame and are used only as an interior option.

As for wear resistance, glass is a durable material that does not lose its original appearance and practically does not scratch. Such doors are quite practical and undemanding to maintain. With the help of tinting, you can eliminate excessive transparency, and it is recommended to use patterned, matte, colored or acrylic glass for decorating interior structures.

Pendulum doors with aluminum frame are a structure made of combined materials - an aluminum profile filled with either glass, plastic, or wood. In terms of their aesthetic characteristics, doors made of this material are inferior to all-glass doors, but at the same time they have a lower price.

Pendulum systems PVC are an inexpensive and practical option, which makes them quite popular among the population. The PVC profile can be filled with a double-glazed unit, there are also options for filling with a sandwich panel. The latter option is rarely used in residential premises, mainly used in public institutions. Doors made of such material have a long service life and are easy to clean.

Pendulum doors made of wood are a little less common, although the demand for this material always remains at a high level. Such designs have an excellent appearance, they can be either blind or combined glass inserts. Among the disadvantages is the requirement of certain conditions for the premises of the installation, excluding high humidity.

Today, almost every manufacturer will manufacture custom-made pendulum structures. Given the specifics of the use of such door systems in public places, in enterprises or in office buildings, there are no strict parameters. Most enterprises specialize in a certain type, and, accordingly, the purpose of swing doors, have their own standards and norms.

As for doors in living quarters, there used to be standards for double-leaf doors 130 cm by 230 cm - 65 cm wide for each leaf. Currently, each owner wants to show his individuality, so most make pendulum systems to order.

The color of the pendulum structure depends on the color of the frame. On the modern market there is a huge palette of colors of high-strength plastic or painted metal. The technology of glass inserts uses a different color palette with a wide range of shades, with a variety of relief patterns. Materials provide partial diffusion of light, limit through visibility. A huge number of colors are presented in the catalogs of wooden door manufacturers.

When choosing a swing door, you need to understand that in the modern market for such structures there are a huge number of different models, and the choice of the right option depends on personal preferences and individual characteristics of the room.

• First of all it is necessary decide on the material of manufacture, which characterizes strength and durability, value for money. For example, all-glass doors are a reliable and rather sturdy option, structures with glass inserts in an aluminum profile are inferior in strength to frameless ones, but much cheaper.

• An important detail is choice of type of loops - gravitational or spring. In both cases, the devices assume an easy door opening, but smooth closing, independent of the angle of rotation. It is necessary to initially decide on the method and place of installation of each of the doors, that is, the frame design.There are options for mounting on a partition or on a load-bearing wall.
• Sealant - an important detail when choosing a swing door, since the ability of the structure to maintain the temperature regime of the room and prevent the penetration of drafts and odors depends on its quality.
• Color, appearance and fittings - important characteristics for giving an accent to the design of a room, and even the view outside the window is sometimes worth considering.

All pendulum structures have a spring-axial mechanism built into the lower and upper parts of the doorway. The axis of rotation of this device allows the door leaves to open in both directions. Some swing doors can rotate 360 ​​degrees in different directions. Axial canopies can be equipped with or without closers. Closers are installed in the upper and lower hinges, each of which ensures smooth door closing in a given direction.

Thanks to modern technologies, pendulum structures are manufactured according to drawings of a variety of design ideas. The use of a movable system will be a suitable option for installation in all popular room styles.

A wide variety of glass canvases, the richness of their colors and various variations of decor will allow you to easily choose the necessary model that matches the style. The effect of the unity of the interior will be created by a wooden pendulum door, matched to a certain stylistic direction.

Pendulum structures have a number of advantages:

• absence of a door frame, which facilitates the installation process;
• the ability of the lower axis to take a sufficiently high weight;
• the ability to open the door leaves in any direction;

The disadvantages include:

• reduced level of soundproofing;
• high price;
• the need for additional free space on both sides of the door.

Maintenance of swing doors is quite simple. The main rule is to regularly clean the cloths from dirt using special detergents. The leaves are wiped with a soft cloth, having previously moistened it in a detergent solution and wrung out thoroughly. Do not use abrasive powders or pastes. Maintenance of door structures also includes regular inspection and maintenance of door fittings, in particular hinges and locks, which must be systematically lubricated with silicone grease.

Many domestic manufacturing companies are engaged in the production of pendulum door systems.

The most popular among them are:

• Muovilami Group of Companies - these are enterprises with 50 years of experience that produce high quality fiberglass doors "Lami". Over the years of their existence, they have won recognition in the world market.
• Irbis company - one of the leaders in the domestic market, providing guaranteed reliability and quality of pendulum systems. Many hypermarkets and agricultural holdings use the products of this company, which is an indicator of quality and reliability.
• TM "Titan" has a lot of positive reviews about its products, in particular about pendulum structures.

Consumers who have managed to evaluate the products of these firms speak positively about their purchases. As buyers say, the doors have been reliably serving for more than one year. No complaints about the quality of door opening / closing were found. They also have a positive effect on the appearance of the products. Thanks to the wide range, you can easily choose the right option.

Obviously, pendulum systems are an excellent option not only for installation in public and industrial premises, but also for installation in residential apartments.

Glass pendulum doors are a good choice for homes, they will decorate the entrance to the pool or bathroom in an original way, will be an excellent choice for a bath or sauna and will give a feeling of freedom.

Admirers of true beauty and lovers of modern styles will definitely appreciate the combination of a metal profile with transparent glass. These structures will look most advantageous when entering a terrace, winter garden or balcony.

You will learn more about swing doors in the following video.