Choosing front doors for a country house

Having received the keys to the long-awaited country house or cottage, the happy owners put a lot of effort into making their home as convenient, comfortable and safe as possible. Any house or apartment begins with the front door, and if we are talking about an individual country house, then its choice should be carefully considered. The role here will be played by the preferences and financial capabilities of the buyer, the design of the building, the purpose of the private house (summer or permanent residence) and its location.

It is advisable to start choosing an entrance door for a private house or cottage by determining its type. You can choose according to the purpose, the method of opening and the material of manufacture.

Differences in purpose may be as follows.

• Armored. They are used in case of possible penetration into structures and premises by strangers, the danger of an armed attack. The peculiarity is the ability to withstand the effects of firearms and explosives. Outwardly, they do not differ from ordinary ones, they can look simple, or vice versa, have the most sophisticated design. An armored structure is made of strong grades of steel (armor plates), has a double box structure, and is covered from the outside with decorative materials. The hinges are mounted hidden, and the awnings have an anti-removable design. In terms of their characteristics, the structures are similar to burglar-proof ones. A subspecies of such doors are bulletproof, their feature is the presence of a bullet-retarding fine mesh inside the canvas.

• Burglar-proof. Resistant to burglary and penetration into the room by strangers. They differ among themselves in terms of resistance classes to external damaging effects of various tools for a certain period of time. They are resistant to stabbing, sawing and burning burglar tools. The structure is equipped around the perimeter with special locks and locks made of alloys of strong grades of metal, protected by linings and anti-removable pins (anti-cuts) that prevent removal from the opening if hinges and locks have been cut.

• Fireproof. This type is intended for localization of fire and containment of the spread of fire and poisonous combustion products into premises. It is advisable to install them in places with the highest probability of fires, with a large number of working electrical appliances. Unlike an ordinary one, such a door will not jam during a fire, its lock will not heat up to high temperatures and will allow you to touch it if necessary.

• Sealed, heat and sound insulating. The noise-insulating and sealing layer is designed to absorb sounds, moisture, unpleasant odors and cold air coming from outside, for which, at the production stage, special materials (polystyrene foam (expanded polystyrene), polyurethane foam, mineral wool and similar materials) are evenly placed between the layers.

1. Expanded polystyrene - the cheapest material, but it is low in density and belongs to the I group of flammability.
2. Expanded propylene, urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde materials are denser and less prone to fire, but when heated, they emit volatile toxic compounds.
3. Mineral stone or basalt wool is durable and has good performance, but sags over time and is a source of carcinogenic compounds and therefore is not used by reliable manufacturers from Germany and the European Union.
4. Poor quality doors are often completed as an insulating material fire hazardous and unreliable corrugated cardboard.

The best insulating material is currently recognized as polyurethane foam, which has a high density and hygroscopicity, IV group of flammability and resistance to loads, temperature and humidity changes, does not emit hazardous substances, has a minimum thermal conductivity and high sound-absorbing properties. The highest quality boxes are considered to be where the polyurethane foam is injected in a foamed state, thus filling the entire space of the box.

When choosing a cottage door, buyers pay attention to its appearance. In addition to the choice of finishes for the outside and inside, you need to decide whether this door will be with or without a window, what is the size of the glass and whether additional reinforcement of the glass area with gratings is required. It is recommended to choose the type of triplex (laminated glass made by pressing) or armored glass. Such glasses are suitable for external glazing, withstand strong mechanical stress and provide a good view.

Manufacturers offer various types of raw materials: metal, wood, combinations of materials with MDF, chipboard and fiberboard. It is worth considering that the one-piece coating of the canvas is more reliable than with seams. If seams are present, then their execution must be of the highest quality, otherwise they will become vulnerable points.

One of the main advantages in this case is visual appeal, especially if valuable tree species are used in the production, for example, oak, which is particularly durable, or mulberry, which has high heat-saving properties. Pine is an option that is affordable, but quickly deteriorates. Another advantage of wooden products is their convenience for decoration and the ability to harmoniously fit into the countryside surroundings.

However, a good warm wooden door is an expensive pleasure, and cheap options quickly deteriorate and are suitable only for a summer house where the owners do not store valuables.

The convenience of plastic lies in the possibility in an industrial environment to give it the required shape and individual size. In the manufacture of a plastic frame, an aluminum profile is used, which makes the product more durable and resistant to external influences, atmospheric phenomena. The aesthetic appearance will not change over time and has a long service life.

The advantages also include tightness, good noise, hydro and heat insulating properties, easy installation and maintenance, ample opportunities in choosing a color scheme and an average price category, no condensation and icing. Reputable manufacturers offer products with anti-burglary characteristics.

It is considered a strong and durable material and is widely used in production. The quality of the metal paintwork will require special attention. The consumer will have to face condensation due to the temperature difference between the street and the house.Metal structures finished with MDF panels can imitate natural wood, stone carvings and many other materials.

In comparison with wood, MDF is cheaper, lighter and not so capricious, while outwardly it is no less beautiful, especially when laminated with polymers. To comply with the insulation technology, the panels should not be glued, but installed on the guides.

Regardless of the type of door, log houses and houses from a bar require attention, where installation must be carried out taking into account the shrinkage of the structure. Shrinkage can occur quickly and unevenly, and if you do not take into account this circumstance and fix the frame in a beam, the door inevitably loses functionality, does not enter the doorway, or, on the contrary, hangs freely in it. To prevent such a situation, a shrinkage board is placed in the opening of the box.

Before going to the store, you need to find out the exact dimensions of the opening. As a standard, doors are single-leaf or one-and-a-half-leaf, less often double designs are offered. One-and-a-half structures consist of a main standard cloth and a narrow second cloth, which has a more decorative function and is rarely opened, if necessary.

This service is provided everywhere by manufacturing firms. Standard Russian sizes are determined in accordance with SNiP and GOST, and the standards differ for wooden and metal structures.

Today the market offers products not only from domestic, but also from foreign manufacturers that use their own standards and measurement systems in their production. The most common are the English system of measurements in feet and inches and the metric system of measurements adopted in our country, based on SNiPs.

The color scheme for the entrance is chosen depending on the selected material. After the main characteristics of the canvas and the material from which it will be made are determined, the manufacturer will offer ready-made solutions and tell about additional custom-made items. It can also be exclusive color solutions.

Manufacturing technologies allow today to experiment with color for any material used. This is partly a matter of finance, but there is always a solution for budget models. The choice of color should be based on a harmonious combination with the walls and roof of the house.

Platbands, masking the space between the door and the adjacent wall, protect from drafts, moisture and give a finished look, have an aesthetic component. The blade is supplied with built-in locks, bolts and latches.

Locks can be overhead and mortise, have special burglary protection systems. When choosing a door, it is better to immediately pay attention to the quality and class of protection of the lock.

Quality doors are equipped with anti-removable pins. In the absence of such pins, the door can be cut off the hinges or knocked out with a blow of a special tool. The number of pins is selected depending on the weight and design features.

It is worth paying attention to the door handle, to decide on its appearance and material. A closer mechanism can be installed to extend the life of the door and hardware.

The choice of the buyer depends largely on the design decision, the design idea may require the installation of glass, decor with patina or wood carving, both real and artificial leather, leather, lining, laminated panels, MDF and micro-wood fiber and many other materials can be used. An inexpensive but high quality door can look nice and tasteful without the use of expensive materials.

When finishing with plastic panels, a significant advantage is the ability to replace the decorative coating of the panels one by one during the operation of the product. Wood trim always looks beautiful and appropriate outside the city.

The steel door, with a vinyl leather finish, which exactly repeats the structure of natural leather, has a presentable and sophisticated appearance. Vinyl leather cladding can be both from the inside and from the outside, the choice of colors and embossing patterns will satisfy the most demanding demand. Lack of material - instability to mechanical damage, scratches and cuts. More aesthetic products of premium and elite level.

Among other exclusive options for entrance doors, the following decor methods are common.

• Airbrushing and painting on canvas;
• Forging on a metal frame and glass opening;

• Metal sheet with glass inserts;
• Finishing with an array of noble woods.

Hammer paint is an interesting and relatively new way to decorate a front door from the street side. The technology is such that, after drying, the paint imitates the texture of "hammering" due to the presence of silicone resin and metal pigments in the composition. The paint dries quickly and is easy to apply and maintain.

Choosing a door should be done in specialized stores, seeking advice from professionals, taking into account the reputation of the manufacturer and relying on the well-known saying: "A miser pays twice." Regular promotions in hardware stores, when the product is offered at a low price, should alert the attentive consumer.

The entrance door to the country house separates the premises from the street. Unlike interior doors, where design is not limited by anything, and ordinary high-rise buildings, where the door opens onto a staircase, street doors must be durable, weather resistant and protect the house from intruders.

Metal 3-4 mm thick is a good material for your own country house, especially if hardened or improved steel is used. You can choose thinner and, accordingly, cheaper options, but it is better to avoid metal with a thickness of up to 1.5 mm, since it is easy to crack it with a simple cutting tool.

For the more northern parts of our country, frost-free thermo-doors with a multilayer structure are suitable, which will help keep warm air inside. In any case, special attention should be paid to fire safety issues.

To protect yourself from frost, condensation and other delights of the weather, it is better to install a second, inner door or, if the room allows, a vestibule device, preferably providing additional heating of the room. For the same purposes, it is better to provide for a canopy or visor.

Decorative lighting and street lamps will help to decorate the structure. Symmetrical lighting on both sides of the entrance looks advantageous.

Many well-known domestic and European manufacturers are represented on the domestic market. Buyers decide which door is better. Among consumers, German products are in special demand when choosing any categories of goods. Germany has always been associated with reliability and quality. Modern German manufacturers carefully preserve the traditions of their people and the world name, while using the latest technologies. Entrance doors from Germany are characterized by consistently high quality and reliability, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of positive reviews.

The main points noted by buyers are as follows.

• Durability and declared quality are unrivaled;
• Beautiful appearance even for budget models;
• Good terms and conditions of the guarantee.

Quality doors for a country house look beautiful. Regardless of the materials used, whether frost-resistant or armored models are used, you want to make the entrance to the house from the street as comfortable and elegant as possible.

For houses made of logs, products with the use of forging, deliberately rough metal, and elements of hunting decorations are especially suitable. As a decoration and a doorbell, you can use a hammer that sends us back to the old days or a decorative mallet. Such hammers can now be found in almost any style and shape; they can be engraved with the name of the owner or the slogan of the family.

As a decoration, it is suitable to use a beautiful bell or an illuminated hi-tech style bell instead of a bell. The door handle can be the same style with a knocker, bell and light. It looks very stylish and will not leave your guests indifferent.

Additional comfort will be given by lighting the path to the door. You can also hang a cute mailbox, lay a rug with hospitable inscriptions at the entrance.

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