Tips for Different Doors Types
If you are buying a new door, most door choices come down to which style looks the best! A door is a vertical welcome mat and because it’s such a visible fixture, it only makes sense to want something that looks fantastic. But all doors aren’t created equal so it pays to understand how they’re made and the differences among them in order to make the right choice.
Doors play different roles which determine the materials they’re made from and how they’re built. The basic types, not counting the garage door, are interior, exterior and patio doors. Closet doors fall into the ‘interior’ category.
Here are the different types of doors to gain a better understanding.
Exterior/Entry Doors
Exterior doors have to stand up to the elements so they’re made from several different types of materials.
Wood has been the main material for entry doors but other materials like steel and fibreglass offer benefit over wood. The location of the exterior door is something to consider when making choices. Front doors are a good place to spend a little extra on good looks like a distinctive wood craftsman door or some other type that suits your style.
On the other hand, entrances that are not as noticeable like garage and back entrances might do with less distinctive doors, allowing you the opportunity to save some money. Regardless of the type you choose, try to get one that has the best insulation value available for that style and material.
Patio Doors
Patio doors are a bit more unique in that they’re an exterior door but usually wider and they typically contain more glass. In that sense, they’re somewhat like a window and choose one with good energy performance.
Patio doors come in a wide variety of styles and two main configurations: sliding and hinged. Some hinged styles are actually french doors, with both doors hinged at the right and left sides of the frame. Other styles offer the look of a french door but only one of the doors opens, the other is essentially a window that looks like a door.
Considerations to think about with patio doors is the difference in space-makeup between the sliding and hinged varieties. Sliding doors don’t swing out into a room and take up less space. Hinged doors open into the room and require enough space for the door swing.
Interior Doors
Interior doors come in many shapes and styles running the gamut from builder grade hollow-core to beautiful custom-made wood doors. Interior doors are typically made from either wood or MDF (medium-density fibreboard), an engineered wood-based product.
Doors can be constructed of many different materials, from the common wood door to the newer UPVC and fibreglass models which are currently finding their way into homes across Australia. Getting the choice right for the material, especially on exterior facing doors like the front entryway, is critical for the longevity and appearance of the door.
MDF doors don’t have any grain and are usually painted. Because they’re an engineered product, they’re very stable (less likely to warp/twist) than solid wood. They can be routed, machined and formed easily which allows for the application of intricate designs or to mimic the look of traditional rail and stile doors. Solid doors are made from solid wood (usually of stile and rail construction) or a real wood veneer that’s layered over an MDF or some other form of hardboard core.
UPVC or vinyl doors
UPVC can be used to construct solid, lightweight doors, but it’s more commonly used as a strong, cost effective framing material for things like glass doors.
Mirrored doors
Appearing almost exclusively as sliding wardrobe doors, mirrored doors help create the illusion of more space in bedrooms.
Hollow core doors
Cheaper and more lightweight than solid core doors, hollow core doors are often used for internal doors to keep costs down. Hollow doors transmit noise more easily than solid ones and while they may be less expensive and feel flimsier.
UPVC or vinyl doors
UPVC can be used to construct solid, lightweight doors, but it’s more commonly used as a strong, cost effective framing material for things like glass doors.
Steel doors
No material on the market is tougher than steel. Steel offers outstanding security, and is commonly used in the construction of screen doors and grilles.
Fibreglass doors
Fibreglass doors are a relatively new addition to the market, offering excellent strength, waterproofing, soundproofing and insulation.
Glass doors
Glass doors look fantastic, although their performance in terms of things like insulation and strength depends very much on the way they’re constructed.
Leadlight doors and stained glass doors
Lead lighting and stained glass aren’t cheap, but they can add a tremendous amount to a home in terms of character visual appeal.
Garage Doors
Garage doors make up the largest doors in your house and are actually the most complex. This can be a manual opening or an electric one. Depending on your budget, there’s a wide variety of styles and types of construction and choosing the right kind for your house takes a little understanding of what to look for. Since the garage door is usually one of the most visible parts of your home it makes sense to choose one that looks great and complements the style of your house. However other considerations include which materials to choose, making sure the right safety features are included and whether to install it yourself or have it done professionally.