Choosing entrance doors

If earlier a good high-quality front door was a luxury item, indicated the status and position of a person, today it has become largely an element of security. Protection from burglary and preservation of personal property, this is why a person chooses a strong and thick expensive door. What should you pay attention to when choosing.

You can distinguish between different groups of entrance doors according to certain criteria.

So, first of all, all entrance doors can be divided according to the place of installation. There are street or outdoor options, as well as interior ones, which are installed either at the entrance to the room, or are used as a second inner door in conjunction with the outer one.

Doors can also differ in the material from which they are made.

The most common materials for the manufacture of entrance structures are:

• metal;
• wood;
• plastic;
• glass;
• aluminum.

The second most popular material is, oddly enough, wood, although it is inferior in strength to metal, it still has a beautiful appearance, which to this day attracts the consumer. In addition, there are combined options - metal-wood elite doors. Such doors have an inner frame made of metal, usually it is a fairly dense metal sheet, but from the outside the door is sheathed with a wooden covering, thus, this door has the strength of a metal and the appearance of a wooden door.

In addition, the external entrance groups also differ in purpose.

The following main types of door structures are distinguished:

• shockproof;
• bulletproof or armored;
• fireproof;
• sealed;
• soundproof.

Any door with high strength rates is called shockproof; today, almost any manufacturer assures the buyer of the shockproofness of their goods. Armored and fire-resistant models can provide maximum protection. Usually, such doors undergo special treatment with fire-fighting solutions, which means they exclude melting when exposed to high temperatures.

The opening method also determines various types of entrance doors, hinged and sliding options. Usually, in typical apartments, it is the swing type of opening that is used, since sliding models require special preparation of the opening and walls.

However, their use as interior options is quite common. In addition, this type of door is often used to frame the front porches in private houses.

There is also a division by the number of flaps. So, the most common options are single-leaf doors, when one leaf is installed. One and a half models are less common.

This option includes two canvases, one of which is noticeably smaller in size, and also opens only if necessary, for example, when it is necessary to transfer some sufficiently large objects, and one sash is not enough. For private houses or places with high traffic, such as shopping centers, double-leaf models are used, they have two equivalent doors, both of which have a functional purpose.

Each material has its own special characteristics and features that will be important when choosing, therefore, it is worth first of all to give a brief description of each type of materials.

The most popular material is by far metal. It is great for making sturdy front doors. Models made of this material provide sound and heat insulation, have an attractive design, and are also equipped with different degrees of burglary protection. Such options are produced in a huge number of colors, and thanks to the use of a different number of metal sheets in the frame, you can choose a model that fits any opening.

The second popularity is, of course, wooden models, it would seem that they are less durable than metal ones, however, due to their neat appearance, they do not lose their relevance.

Wooden entrance structures are usually cheaper than metal ones, unless, of course, these are elite options made of expensive types of wood or solid wood, but they are quite reliable, and many different finishes and colors allow you to choose models for any interior.

If the choice is made for the interior decoration of premises and the installation of interior doors, you can pay attention to the analogs of wood, which look no less aesthetically pleasing, but their cost is noticeably different. So, for interior models, MDF is often used, as well as PVC laminated panels. The door frame is sheathed with these materials, and the consumer receives a sturdy door with high aesthetic qualities for installation in doorways in the room.

Plastic and aluminum entrance groups are most often used in private houses, as well as public places such as shopping centers and various leisure establishments, educational centers. Such doors are able to protect from drafts and noise, but such a door most likely will not protect from burglary.

Also, glass is often used to decorate the entrance group in private houses. Glass inserts in door structures always look very impressive and stylish, but such doors are quite expensive, since it is necessary to use special armored glass that will resist burglary.

When choosing a material for an entrance door, it is imperative to take into account some aspects:

• The place where the door will be installed, it is better to use metal for the entrance door to the apartment, in a private house metal or wood, inside the room MDF and PVC are perfect.
• Price. The quality and type of material will certainly affect the cost of the final product, so the amount a person is willing to spend on a purchase will also determine the type of material chosen.
• Reliability. Of course, metal is a more reliable material, but wood is inferior to it quite a bit, especially since today manufacturers offer combined options that combine the properties of all materials used.

• Sound and heat insulation. In this case, you can choose almost any material, since modern manufacturers create designs that meet the user's needs.
• Lifetime. Different materials have different service lives, however, it is worth considering that correct and competent installation can extend the service life of any material, as well as violation of installation technology and operating rules can kill any material.
• Ingress protection. There are different classes of burglary, which are inherent in different materials, when choosing it is necessary to pay attention to this factor as well.

When determining the required size, several aspects should be taken into account at once. First of all, the main dimensions of any object are the height and width, in the case of the choice of the entrance sheet, its thickness, dimensions of the doorway, as well as the parameters of the door frame are also taken into account, here it is necessary to be guided by the GOST standards.

The size range of door leaves will primarily depend on the type of design features of a particular model. So the most common options are:

• Single leaf. This is the simplest door model, it is a rectangular smooth leaf inserted into a special door frame. Usually the width of such models ranges from 100 to 110 centimeters. Various design solutions, as well as the selection of an interesting color scheme, will help to diversify the interior when choosing such simple designs;

• One and a half. Such models are distinguished by a design consisting of two sashes of different widths, the narrower part opens only in exceptional cases and serves more as a decorative element than as a functional one. The width of such models can be up to 140 centimeters;
• Bivalve. These are the widest models, in this case the model has two equivalent sashes. They are of equal width and both fulfill their functional duties. The opening, in the case of installing such a door, increases by one and a half, two times, which immediately changes the appearance of the structure.

The height of the doorway in accordance with GOST ranges from 207 to 237 centimeters. This size depends primarily on the height of the ceilings in the room.

The width must be at least 90 centimeters, and special conditions for various structures are determined. So single-leaf versions can have a width of 101 centimeters, one-and-a-half 131, 151, 155 centimeters, and double-leaf models must have a width of at least 191 centimeters.

As for the thickness of the canvas, GOST does not impose high requirements on it. However, in any case, it must be sufficient in order to fulfill the stated requirements for the doors. So, for example, for an entrance door, the thickness is decisive, it will not only protect against the penetration of smell, frost and sounds from the outside, but also protect against breaking and penetration, therefore, a large thickness is decisive in the choice.

For modern private houses and apartments in new buildings, manufacturers offer options that do not fit into GOST standards. In this case, the dimensions of the doorways can be as follows: the width ranges from 90 to 200 centimeters, but the height can reach 240 centimeters, with a minimum value of 200. A serious increase is possible only in buildings of public importance, if the overall dimensions of the building greatly exceed standard, here aesthetic considerations come into play.

When choosing a color for an entrance door, first of all, you need to focus on personal preferences, as well as on the overall design of the room. And if most of the exterior doors made of metal and wood have quite standard colors, then various experiments are quite possible for the interior space.

As already mentioned, street models are most often painted in standard discreet colors, since they should not be riveted to attention. The most common black, green and brown metal models, as well as standard wood textures for wooden models.

As for the interior entrance groups, a whole scope for creativity opens up here. The natural color of the wood will be an excellent option for classic-style rooms, also for rooms in the Baroque or Art Nouveau style.

Cool shades such as blue and gray will fit perfectly into a minimalist interior, and bright accents in the form of a yellow, purple or red door will complement the high-tech style.

A white door can expand the space, it will add air, light to any room. Will be an excellent option for a Provence style room. In addition, white doors look quite elegant and festive, and are also combined with most colors and textures of any modern interior design.

In addition, when choosing a color scheme, you can focus on the color of the flooring in the room, so a darker floor, such as wenge, will better harmonize with warm shades or with an identical color option. You can also choose the color of the door 1-2 shades lighter or darker than the floor covering.

Also, the door can be matched to the color of the walls. As mentioned, the white color will suit almost any color, and various options for wood covering also look harmonious with almost any wall design. You should be careful with bright color options, they can play a cruel joke, and the door will look like a thorn.

If the apartment has many rooms of different styles, then in choosing the color of the door it is better to focus on the style of the room, which will unite all the others, usually such a room is a hallway or a corridor.

The color of the door can also be combined with the shades of the furniture in the apartment. So today the choice of models of doors and furniture is so great that it will not be difficult to choose the identical color of these two items, but it is advisable only if frequent furniture changes are not planned, otherwise there is absolutely no point in choosing a door leaf in the color of the furniture.

If necessary, you can make a double-sided door, it is not so cheap, however, it will allow you not to think about the selection of colors suitable for all rooms and focus only on the color of a particular room.

In some cases, you can choose a door with different stickers, such options will create an additional accent. Most often they use photos of animals and landscapes.

The level of heat and sound insulation when using the front door will directly depend on the type and quality of the material with which the door frame will be insulated.

The simplest and most common insulation option is a rubber band. This type of insulation is sold in hardware stores as a self-adhesive material for self-insulation. This material is fixed in the gaps formed between the door frame and the opening. The main thing here is not to overdo it and take measurements correctly, otherwise the door simply will not close.

When choosing a rubber band in a store, it is worth checking its restoration quality, it is necessary to crush the material, and if it straightens out quickly enough, then this type of rubber meets the stated requirements and can serve a sufficient period of time. But if the crumpled tape remains in a crumpled state, then this insulation has either a broken storage temperature regime, or the rubber has expired completely. Such insulation will not be able to fully satisfy the hopes placed on it.

And if such insulation is usually enough for a wooden house, since the canvas itself copes well with the requirements for noise and heat insulation, then for metal doors a mandatory internal filler is required.

In the cheapest models of metal doors, cardboard "honeycombs" are used as a filler, which most often do not cope with the tasks set to the required extent, and a draft and extraneous noise penetrate into the apartment.

The best options for insulation are mineral wool and foam, their cost is low, and the functionality is sufficient for high-quality insulation. You can also use expanded polystyrene instead of foam. They have the same visual qualities, but the second material is present in thinner layers and has a denser structure.

So in the case of metal doors, a layer of insulation is laid between two equivalent sheets, which most often have a thickness of about 2-4 mm, the structure is fastened, and then various decorative elements are installed on the door, for example, forging or a bell, which perform not so much functional as purely aesthetic function.

It is customary to use foam rubber as insulation in a wooden door. It allows you to create a high-quality coating that is capable not only of performing the functions of sealing, insulation and noise insulation assigned to it, but also perfectly keeps its shape and has a long service life.

When choosing an entrance door, you need to be guided by the installation site, the purpose of the door and the size of the doorway.

First of all, it is necessary to decide where the door will be installed, if this is an option for a typical apartment in a residential building, the best options are, of course, metal or combined doors, you can also use high-quality elite wooden models of high-class burglary resistance.

The metal variants, however, continue to collect customer reviews praising their functionality, quality, appearance and possible options.

In addition, when choosing a door, you need to take care of additional burglary protection. First of all, these are special hidden locks, as well as a thicker metal layer. Of course, no one is insured against burglary anyway, however, the more complex the locks and the thicker the canvas itself, the more likely it is that the burglar will spend more time opening, or may even give up his idea altogether.

When choosing a door, it is also important to choose the right insulation. After all, warm doors are a much more expedient investment than options with low-quality insulation or without it at all.

In a private house, metal, wooden, and combined options are also suitable. In this case, more room for design opens up. You can use a door with a window or a transom. An interesting design will add sophistication to the facade of the house. Of course, for the street and at home without a fence, you should not choose an attractive design, since it is he who often attracts thieves, but for a safe yard, such options are the best choice.

Apartment interior doors should be chosen based on the general design of the room, the material in this case is not as important as the design performance. Often people opt for various decorative options, for example, paneled doors, as well as models with various decorative carvings, are quite popular.

Wood, MDF and PVC are worth mentioning as popular materials for interior doors. They have a long service life, a pleasant appearance and a wide range of different designs.

Doors play an important role in interior design.They are able to act not only as a separating element of the premises of the street space and residential space, as well as perform security functions, but also perform quite useful practical functions.

The primary function of the door, after its direct purpose, is its decorative function. A correctly selected canvas can completely transform the space and tie it to the chosen style.

The classics gravitate towards simpler shapes and colors, an Art Nouveau room requires models with a drawing inside, Provence gets along well with white paneled options, and if they are still with glass, then they will perfectly fit into the country style interior.

Doors can also be used to divide a room into zones. The doorway will correspond to the extreme point of a particular zone, and the door will create isolated spaces.

In some spaces, heat and sound insulation plays one of the most important roles in ensuring functioning. So, for example, in a recording studio or rehearsal room, the right door is a major functional requirement.

The door design can also be determined by its shape. So you can distinguish between simple standard models and non-standard ones.

Non-standard models can be with several doors, different widths, also sliding. The door with an arch, which also belongs to non-standard models, is also popular. Moreover, a design solution is possible in which the arch will be exclusively a box, the door will be absent in this case. The arch can be decorated with various draperies, tulles and pendants.

Sliding door models also look good, their use becomes expedient when it is necessary to save space. It is also possible to use doors folding in the form of a book and an accordion, they are also able to save space and decorate it with an unusual shape.

Design features will also be determined by the choice of material from which this or that door will be made. For example, metal has the smallest number of colors, the colors are the calmest and most standard. Most often it is black, brown and dark green.

Choosing the right shape, design, material and color scheme for the entrance door will make any room unique, create a beautiful memorable interior that will be in harmony with the overall design of the room.

The most difficult choice is considered to be the selection of the front door in the "Khrushchev", there are usually their own laws of size, so it is not always easy to choose an option among the standard ones. However, if the choice is made correctly, and the installation is done according to all the rules, very attractive options are obtained.

For information on how to choose an entrance door for a house and an apartment, see the video.