How to choose entrance doors to an apartment? Each of us has our own idea of products. But everyone considers reliability, quality and design to be the main qualities. You can secure your apartment from intruders with additional actions: carry out security, arm the apartment and install it. These are additional costs that can be avoided. However, there are nuances that affect reliability. It is heat and burglary resistant. To select the best product, we conducted a market analysis and compiled a rating of entrance doors to the apartment and consumer reviews to help make the right decision.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the material used to make the doors. Wood or metal is most often used in production. Let's look at the features of each. High-quality wooden entrance doors to an apartment are expensive. They are quite reliable, and it is precisely such products that create prestige for their owners. Not every wood is suitable for making quality construction. Better to use:
- ash;
- mahogany and ebony.
Products made from other types of wood are significantly inferior in strength and performance characteristics. In this case, it is better to purchase doors made of metal. Price category different. We will tell you further how not to get confused and know what to look for when choosing.
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Main technical parameters of entrance doors
The front door must meet two criteria - reliability and security. Therefore, when choosing, it is important to consider the thickness of the base and outer sheet. It is important that the structure has stiffening ribs. It would seem that the higher these parameters, the better. Excess weight will lead to wear on the hinges due to rapid inertia when opening.
Let's consider the main characteristics of metal entrance doors to an apartment in more detail.
Sheet thickness
Not every metal is suitable for entrance doors. Medium-carbon and medium-alloy alloys are considered optimal. You can check the thickness of the sheet in technical passport, you should know the basic classification:
The optimal weight of the product should be within 70 kg. Structures weighing about 100 kg are installed in cans.
Canvas design
The canvas consists of a frame rectangular shape with two steel sheets. Manufacturers sometimes replace the inner panel with MDF or veneer. If, you should choose a completely metal structure, since temperature changes and humidity will quickly lead to wooden panel into disrepair.
It is mandatory to install steel casing and vestibules that will hide all areas and protect the premises from unauthorized entry.
Stiffening ribs are installed between the sheets. The minimum set is 2 vertical and 1 horizontal. As their number increases, the reliability and weight of the structure increases.
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Castles
When selecting a product, it must meet the following criteria:
- The quality of the lock must match the door. A model assembled from cheap materials will not protect even the most expensive design from burglary. And, conversely, it is useless to install a premium lock on Chinese products;
- The front door requires a mortise lock; overhead models are not suitable. A latch is required;
- Manufacturers install 2 locks. This is necessary to protect against burglary, because opening two locks for a burglar is much more difficult and takes longer. There is another reason - reinsurance. If one breaks down, you can use the second lock during repairs;
- locks must be selected from different designs. It is recommended to install a lever and cylinder lock.
You should choose a lock only from reliable manufacturers. They guarantee high quality and reliability of the models.
Hinges and trims
For urban conditions or private houses, installing 2-3 loops is sufficient. They must be supplemented with ball bearings. This increases their service life. Elements can be hidden or external, which are attached to the stand and canvas by welding. External loops spoil the appearance of the product, and they can be easily cut off. Hidden ones are much more reliable. However, they have their drawbacks:
- the price of the door increases;
- the hinges are hidden in special grooves, this reduces the opening of the structure;
- smaller opening angle.
The hinges are closed with a platband, which makes it difficult to break the door.
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Design
The main thing when choosing is the design of the canvas. The finish must be practical, resistant to mechanical damage and weather conditions. This is especially important for private houses and cottages. Vandal-proof powder coating meets these requirements.
The inner fabric should fit harmoniously into. Manufacturers offer designs with removable internal panels, which can be changed if necessary.
How to choose the right entrance door to your apartment
Many manufacturers are engaged in the manufacture of structures. How not to get confused and choose the best steel entrance doors for an apartment in terms of price-quality ratio? We have compiled several rules that will make it easy to navigate this market segment:
- The base should be made of high-strength steel, sheet thickness 2-3 mm. In addition to reliability and durability, it has additional noise and heat insulation.
- Finishing can be made of MDF, powder coating, wood.
- When choosing, you should know in which direction the door will open and the location of the handle.
- Moisture and moisture criteria.
- You should pay attention to what materials the heat and sound insulation is made of.
- Addition of locks to the design, degree of burglary resistance.
- Door fittings: hinges, chains must be good quality, otherwise they will quickly fail.
- When choosing a product, it is important to choose a model from well-known manufacturers. They will provide a long warranty period not only for the canvas, but also for the accessories.
- Installation should only be entrusted to professionals.
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Additional functions of entrance doors
A high-quality door must not only meet the requirements of reliability and safety, but also perform additional functions. For city apartments, it is important that outside sounds and smells from the entrance do not penetrate into the room. Therefore, you should pay attention to these parameters.
Metal entrance doors to an apartment with sound insulation
Sound and heat insulation of the entrance door is made with mineral wool, polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam. In addition, they will protect the room from external sounds. According to professionals, the best design is one filled with polyurethane foam. In addition, to ensure sound insulation, it is necessary to maintain a tight seal between the canvas and the frame. To do this, you need to install 2 rubber sealing contours around the perimeter of the frame. You can, if necessary, check with the seller how additionally front door made of metal in the apartment.
Another important parameter is the thickness of the door. It must be at least 60 ml, then the product will meet all the required characteristics.
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Entrance metal doors to an apartment with a mirror
Entrance door designers have developed a completely new model with mirror cloth. In addition to the fact that it is convenient to have a full-length mirror, it does not take up space and visually increases the space. Such products can be divided into several types:
- with mirror panel, which is attached using a special adhesive composition;
- with built-in mirror – mirror surface partially covers the panel.
You should know this! The only drawback of the designs is the inability to install a peephole. If necessary, a video peephole can serve as an alternative.
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Rating of steel entrance doors to apartments and customer reviews
You cannot skimp on the safety of your home. The front door must fully meet all the requirements of modern life. To better navigate the models, we have compiled a rating of the best manufacturers of 2017-2018. in different price segments.
Manufacturer: Forpost
The products first entered the market more than 17 years ago. In addition to manufacturing steel entrance doors to apartments, they produce locks. The product is in great demand thanks to high quality and reasonable price.
The manufacturer offers 3 types of designs:
- standard− designed for installation in apartment buildings;
- reinforced− recommended for private houses;
- construction– for installation during the construction of houses or.
All models have hidden hinges, which increases their safety.
Advice! If you need to remove elements, you should contact the manufacturer directly or a service center.
As proof of the above, here is a consumer review of Forpost products.
xumuk032 Russia, Bryansk, door “Forpost” 228: Advantages: durable coating, good insulation, looks decent.
Disadvantages: the keys to different locks are almost the same in shape and color.
This steel door with metal thickness outside 1.5 mm. The inside is also metal, but a little thinner. Filling: polyurethane foam. And also a bunch of locks.
The outer side is made of steel 1.5 mm thick with weather-resistant coating. That is, this one is suitable for installation directly on the street. The interior of the canvas and the box is coated with polymer. Which is also very successful, because... when installed between the street and a heated room, there will be condensation, and polymer coating is not harmful, unlike MDF....
More details on Otzovik: http://otzovik.com/review_2983317.html.
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Manufacturer: Torex
The company produces metal structures more than 25 years. The product range can be divided into 3 categories:
- for private houses. Expanded polystyrene is used as insulation. You can also choose doors with a thermal break, this will help save heat;
- for apartments in high-rise buildings;
- fire protection They are able to hold open fire until 6 o'clock. In addition, they are equipped with an “Anti-panic” mechanism, with which the doors can be opened from the inside.
Here is one of the many reviews about the models:
Hela, Russia, metal entrance door “Torex”: Advantages: no noise or smell.
Disadvantages: none.
We bought the entrance door to the apartment with sound insulation from Torex. These products are not very cheap, but quite high quality. The door cost us 24,000 rubles. It has 2 locks, 1 latch. There is a peephole. True, we ordered a metal curtain for it. I like the door hardware. Everything works quite reliably, and it looks normal...
More details on Otzovik: http://otzovik.com/review_1405347.html.
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Manufacturer: Elbor
The history of the Elbor manufacturer begins in the 70s of the last century. The following series of doors are currently produced:
- luxury;
- premium;
- standard products;
- Optium with minimum set functions;
- economy class.
High quality sets the product apart from the market of similar products.
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Manufacturer: Guardian
The manufacturer first began production in 1994. The products are highly expensive, which is not surprising. It has been awarded the highest awards for quality and durability. Products have a certificate fire safety. Currently, the market offers products of different designs in a wide price range, but if funds allow, you should choose the premium class. On the manufacturer's website you can see photos of entrance doors in different price ranges.
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Manufacturer: Condor
This manufacturer produces doors in a good price-quality ratio. Mineral wool is used for thermal insulation. The design is resistant to external influences, the canvas is painted with a special varnish composition. Doors can be installed. No obvious shortcomings were identified, and therefore it is worth paying attention to the product when choosing.
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Manufacturer "Stal"
Metal doors from the manufacturer "Stal" are similar to those produced by the Elbor plant. The only difference is the model range. The manufacturer does not produce premium models; the main production is designed for the average consumer. The products are made from sheets with a sheet thickness of 2 mm, a profile is used complex design, which increases the strength of the doors.
The choice of entrance door is not the best simple task, which not every homeowner can handle, but from decision taken Not only the safety of property will depend, but also the health of the people living in the house. Therefore, the choice of an entrance door must be approached with full responsibility.
Criteria for choosing an entrance door for a house
The main functions of the front door are to ensure the safety and security of the property in the house. Therefore, when choosing an entrance door suitable for a country house or townhouse, you should take into account many requirements that the product must meet.
Otherwise, the door leaf will not only not be able to ensure the safety of property, but its service life will be several times lower than that of branded analogues. This is unacceptable, especially if you are purchasing a door that is comparable in cost to well-known products. brands.
Entrance metal doors provide high level reliability, especially in comparison with wooden analogues
The basic requirements that any entrance door must meet include the following:
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In fact, these are the main criteria, taking into account which you can choose a high-quality and durable product. If desired, the list can be expanded to include the manufacturer’s company, price segment and type of door, but for most ordinary buyers this is enough. If necessary, you can always read people's reviews. They are easy to find on the Internet on specialized sites.
Design features of the door leaf
A frame metal door is the most commonly used type of door leaf, which is installed in private homes and country buildings various configurations. The power frame structure provides rigidity and reliability to the door leaf, and the possibility of installing several technological layers provides additional performance qualities.
Any metal door has vertical or horizontal stiffeners
Before purchasing a door, we strongly recommend that you study the structure of the door leaf, as well as the materials and components used in its manufacture and assembly. This will allow a more professional assessment of the doors being sold, which is especially important for small towns, where the choice of products and retail outlets extremely limited.
Wooden and metal-plastic doors are less reliable than their metal counterparts, so it is irrational to consider them as an entrance door. It makes sense to use wooden doors only as a street door when styling to match the facade of a building is required. In this case, the second door, for example, located in the vestibule, must be a metal door.
Metal-plastic door leaves are best used as doors on the second and subsequent floors of the building. For example, to access an open or closed terrace.
Frame and cladding materials
Structurally, a metal entrance door consists of a supporting frame and casing, which is attached on both sides and is used for protection. insulating materials and locking mechanisms. And the cladding also serves as a surface for applying and fastening decorative materials: paint, panels, mirrors.
For the manufacture of metal entrance doors, profile pipes 40x25, 40x40, 40x50 mm and sheet steel are used, which is obtained during the hot or cold rolling method. Profile pipe cut to the required dimensions into blanks of the appropriate length, which are welded into a single frame. Sometimes used to create a frame steel angle or channel.
General arrangement of a metal entrance door from the budget segment
To strengthen the structure of the door leaf, stiffeners are used, which are vertical and horizontal elements welded at a certain pitch. In some door models, the ribs are welded both vertically and horizontally, and at an angle, which makes it impossible to bend the door leaf when breaking.
Sheet steel obtained during hot rolling is more affordable and has dark color. Cold-rolled steel alloy is light-colored and similar to regular galvanized sheet, but its cost is noticeably higher. For the production of cheap doors, only hot-rolled steel is used, which makes the products more susceptible to corrosion.
Doors from the middle and luxury segments use only cold-rolled alloys, which is optimal solution in terms of price-quality ratio. Products, especially after appropriate treatment with paint or spraying, withstand moisture and low temperatures.
To determine what kind of steel was used in the manufacture of the door, you need to find markings in the instructions for compliance with GOST. Cold-rolled steel corresponds to document No. 19903, and hot-rolled steel – No. 19904.
The main elements in the design of a metal entrance door include locking system, loops and observation
The thickness of the door trim is regulated in accordance with regulatory documents. IN Russian Federation- this is GOST 31173–2003, according to which the thickness of the front cladding of a metal door should not be less than 1.5 mm.
Taking this into account, we can distinguish the following classification of metal doors according to the thickness of the skin:
- 0.8–1.5 mm - products made in China or in handicraft production. They do not belong to the class of entrance doors, although the manufacturer labels this product as such. In fact, doors with lining up to 1.5 mm are suitable for outbuildings or country houses, where in addition to furniture, dishes and gardening tools nothing more valuable is kept;
- 1.6–2.5 mm - typical entrance doors with hot-rolled casing sheet metal. They are used as doors leading from an apartment to an entrance room, corridor or vestibule for several apartments. Door leaves with 2.5 mm thick cladding can already be considered as a second entrance door in private house leading directly to the living space or hallway;
- 2.6–4 mm is the optimal cladding thickness for street entrance doors intended for use in private houses, cottages, mansions, etc. For houses where people do not live permanently, it is better to install doors with the maximum possible thickness. Especially if the building is not located in a suburban cooperative, but away from other houses.
The greater the thickness of the supporting frame and cladding products, the more weight and the door leaf will have a cost. Moreover, the point is not only in the final volume of material used, but also in the assembly technology, which is necessary to create a reinforced door frame. In addition, a heavy door requires the use of high-quality and more expensive hinges. The standard weight of a metal entrance door varies from 50–70 kg depending on the manufacturer.
Door frame, ledges and platbands
The reliability of the front door depends not only on the rigidity, strength and massiveness of the door leaf, but also on door frame, the quality of which directly affects burglary resistance.
The door frame may have different shapes depending on the materials from which it is made, as well as the design of the mounted door
The door frame can be made from the following products:
- steel corner - size from 50x50 mm. The wall thickness of the product is at least 3 mm. A door frame made from a corner is the simplest and smallest, but when installing doors in an apartment, it is practically not used due to its unreliability. This option is best used for utility buildings;
- profile pipe - cross-section 40x25, 40x40, 50x25 mm and more. The more massive the door, the more durable pipe required to make the box. Unlike the first option, a pipe frame allows for full insulation, which increases the sound and heat insulation properties of the door. More often this box is used in cases where it is necessary to save as much as possible on door installation;
- bent steel profile - a bent-welded box made of a special profile made on sheet bending machines. The thickness of the walls of a bent profile most often does not exceed 1.5 mm, since increasing the thickness of the sheet significantly complicates the bending technology. Most often, this type of frame is used when installing entrance doors to an apartment, where it is possible to expand the doorway.
Some types of entrance doors can be equipped with rebates, which are most often characteristic interior doors. The manufacture of the vestibules is carried out at the stage of attaching the front cladding in the form of a sheet of metal. To create a rebate, the size of the trim is increased so that a “rebate” is formed around the perimeter of the door, covering the joint between the door leaf and the frame.
The following materials are used for the manufacture of door frames: solid wood, MDF, PVC, metal. The specific type of platbands is selected strictly at the request of the home owner. It is ideal if the extensions and platbands match the color or contrast with it. The material of manufacture does not play a special role, but for street doors It is better to choose products made of metal or PVC - they are more durable.
Types of insulation used
The void in the frame of the front door between the casing must be filled with some kind of insulating material. At the door from Chinese manufacturers They use pressed cardboard or corrugated cardboard, which does not have outstanding characteristics, which makes these doors completely unsuitable for use in homes located near a busy highway.
To insulate budget metal doors, mineral wool is used in slabs 5 cm thick
In branded doors from quality manufacturers The following types of sound and heat insulating materials are used:
- felt (0.047 W/ (m*K)) – natural insulation made from wool. It has excellent thermal insulation qualities, but is very hygroscopic, which requires the use of additional layers of reflective insulation;
- mineral wool (0.048 W/ (m*K)) – traditional look insulating material used both for insulating facades and walls of houses, and for insulating entrance doors. Like felt, mineral wool absorbs moisture, vapor and condensation well, which does not in the best possible way affects the durability of the front door;
- expanded polystyrene (0.047 W/ (m*K)) is a modern and modernized analogue of foam plastic, used for insulating various surfaces. It has a low thermal conductivity coefficient, does not absorb moisture, does not rot, which makes it one of the best materials for insulating door panels;
- polyurethane foam (0.035 W/ (m*K)) is a synthetic sound and heat insulating material characterized by high insulating qualities. Perfectly fills free space, practically without forming “cold bridges”, does not absorb moisture, does not rot, does not burn. Is optimal material for insulating doors.
When listing materials, the thermal conductivity coefficient was indicated in parentheses. In addition, as vapor barrier material Insulation based on foamed polystyrene with a reflective foil surface is used. The material is laid over the main insulation on both sides of the door.
It not only helps to increase the insulating qualities of the door leaf, but also significantly extends the service life of the insulation inside the door, preventing moisture from penetrating directly into the material.
Which loops are best to use?
Hinges are one of the important elements of fittings, the quality of which determines not only the durability of the door leaf, but also the comfort of daily use of the door. Creaking, extraneous noise when opening, door sagging, problems with closing - all this is a direct consequence of incorrectly selected and installed hinges.
Hiding the hinge significantly increases the final cost of the front door
According to GOST 5088–2005, metal entrance doors must be equipped with one of the following types loops:
- simple hinges without bearings are not used for installing entrance doors to apartments and private houses due to their high wear resistance. In addition, over time, the door begins to creak and sag. Typically used for installing doors to technical rooms and similar types of buildings;
- hinges with internal ball bearing - classic version door hinges, consisting of two frame “wings”. Between the steel fingers of the “wings” there is a ball that acts as a support. This element makes it easier to open and close the door leaf, as it reduces friction between the hinge fingers;
- hinges with a bearing - inside the hinge cylinder there is a radial support bearing, which minimizes the friction of the hinge fingers when moving the door leaf. As a result, wear of the hinges is almost completely eliminated, even with a lack of lubrication inside the structure.
Based on the installation method, hinges are divided into external and hidden. Both types are used to install entrance doors, but door leaves equipped with hidden door hinges, much more expensive. Due to the design of the hidden hinges and their fit into the door frame, there are several disadvantages that will have to be taken into account when installing the door.
For example, doors with hidden hinges reduce the doorway by about 5–7 cm. The standard door opening angle is 90°, so difficulties may arise when bringing large and bulky objects into the house. Internal loops have a shoulder. During opening, a force moment is created, which, if the door leaf is moved carelessly, can lead to deformation of the door frame.
External hinges are practically free of drawbacks. The only thing is that they are located outside at the top and bottom of the door. This allows an attacker to easily access them. However, most metal doors from branded manufacturers have hinges made of high-strength steel, which makes them much more difficult to cut with a grinder or other power tool.
Features of locking mechanisms
Locks for metal doors are distinguished by a variety of designs, but when choosing a suitable locking mechanism, you should focus strictly on its workmanship, declared service life, strength and reliability in accordance with regulatory documents.
Lock manufacturer special significance does not have. The main thing is to remember that the quality of the lock directly determines its cost. The higher the burglary resistance class, the higher the cost of the lock. This is true for all locks from well-known brands.
Guardian mortise lock 21.12 T with protection against burglary and drilling
The resistance class of a lock to burglary is determined according to the following principle:
- Class 1 - burglary time ≈ 5 m;
- Class 2 - burglary time from 5 to 15 m;
- Class 3 - burglary time more than 15 m;
- Class 4 - burglary time more than 30 m.
The stability class is determined according to GOST 5089–2003 and GOST 5089–2011. For example, the simplest lock from the leader in the production of metal doors in the Russian Federation, the Guardian company, has class 2 resistance. Most of the products from this manufacturer are class 4.
Second important point When choosing a lock, it means secrecy. Many sellers deliberately mislead buyers that a lock, even with low security, is almost impossible to crack.
In fact, the secrecy of a lock is a collective concept that includes both the number of combinations, protection against burglary using a master key, reliability, and the probability of a key match. You should only choose locks with high security. This will provide an additional guarantee that the product will not fail at the right time.
The last thing to consider when choosing a lock is the installation method and the type of locking mechanism. According to the installation method, locks for metal doors are divided into mortise and overhead. The first ones are easy to install, but are less resistant to burglary, since an attacker can get to the lock by cutting off the door trim.
The Guardian rim lock 20.05 has class 4 burglary resistance and a 5-year warranty
Overhead locks are more reliable, but require a strong door frame and reinforcement of its attachment point. After installation, the lock is located on the side of the apartment, which makes access to it impossible, but due to its installation technology, they are not used as often as mortise locks.
Types of locking mechanisms are divided into lever and cylinder. From the consumer's point of view, there is no fundamental difference. Both types of locks must be manufactured in accordance with GOST, which guarantees their high burglary resistance. For example, the same Guardian company has locks with both types of locking mechanisms.
Video: how to choose a lock for the front door
External control elements
External control elements mean the presence of special products and devices that allow monitoring the territory or area near the front door. This will allow you to verify the identity of the people to whom the owner of the home opens the door.
A video peephole for the front door is the optimal solution, especially if it is equipped with a Wi-Fi module for image transmission
The basic devices that should be installed on the front door of a private house include the following:
- door peephole - this can be either a regular optical peephole or modern electronic peepholes with a separate display, Wi-Fi module and a special application for a smartphone. The second devices are more preferable, but their cost is an order of magnitude higher;
- surveillance camera - one or more video surveillance devices installed in front of the door or in the immediate vicinity of the porch of the house. This, as mentioned above, allows you to identify the identities of people and their number when they want to get into your house or come to visit.
If you use a regular peephole when installing the front door, then it is strongly recommended to buy a product with armored safety glass. Otherwise, the peephole will sooner or later be broken.
When choosing external surveillance cameras, it is not necessary to use professional equipment, which is used to protect warehouses, specialized buildings and government agencies. If there is Internet in the house, then you can use several IP cameras that will record what is happening directly on hard drive computer. It's simpler, more convenient and cheaper. In addition, you can install them yourself using just the user manual that comes with the kit.
How the door frame and front door are attached
Installation of a metal entrance door is carried out according to the technology provided by regulatory documents and the manufacturer. Typically, most door manufacturers have their own installation instructions, which are attached to the door leaf with all additional elements.
The door frame of the entrance door is mounted in a pre-prepared doorway
To carry out the work, you will need to prepare a grinder with a metal disc, a small sledgehammer, a hammer with comfortable handle, drill with a set of drills, screwdriver with a set of bits, level, square and pencil. And you will also need polyurethane foam, fasteners and tools personal protection. Installation work should be carried out by two people.
The general installation technology consists of the following steps:
- The old door leaf is removed and the door frame is dismantled using a grinder with a metal disc. If necessary, use a sledgehammer.
- The doorway is cleaned of dirt, old plaster, and protruding sections of brick. If the size of the opening is insufficient, then it is expanded with a handy tool and a grinder with a disc for concrete.
Attaching the door frame to the wall doorway performed using steel rods
- The new door frame is installed in the doorway and aligned with a plumb line or level. For fixation in the opening, small spacer wedges made of wooden blocks are used.
- From the hinge side, mounting holes are drilled at the top, bottom and in the middle of the rack. For this, an electric drill with a Pobedit drill is used. The hole depth is at least 150 mm.
- The door leaf is fastened with fastening plates and pins, which are supplied in the kit. After this, you need to hang the door and check the correct operation of the lock and the tightness of the closure.
The installation of a metal entrance door should only be carried out with a partner, since the weight of the door leaf can reach 70–80 kg
- Next, the door leaf is removed and holes are prepared for fasteners at the bottom and top of the door. Fastening the box and checking the clamping density is done in the same way.
- To fill the gap between the opening and the frame, polyurethane foam, heat-insulating materials and cement mortar. The slopes are plastered with an overlap onto the box.
While the plaster is drying, be careful not to slam the door too hard. After drying, you can clean the door frame from plaster deposits and carry out additional finishing. It should be noted that doors with heavy weight, may have some nuances in installation technology. Therefore, if you are going to install the door yourself, then carefully read the attached instructions before carrying out the work.
The choice of an entrance door should be considered based on the criteria that were discussed at the beginning of the material. First of all, the door is selected based on reliability and size. The concept of reliability includes both the materials used to manufacture the door leaf and its design, compliance with required standards, burglary resistance, etc.
Torex entrance doors are reliable, characterized by high performance and excellent appearance
Based on this, metal entrance doors can be divided into the following segments:
- economy - price from 6 to 12 thousand rubles. Many companies have product lines in this price segment. Among the popular brands we should note the doors Stealth, Harmony, Triumph, Valberg, etc.;
- average - price from 12 to 20 thousand rubles. In this group, the choice of manufacturers is no less than in the budget segment. Among the trusted manufacturers we can note products from Titan, Bravo, Maestro, Forpost, etc.;
- premium - price from 20 thousand rubles or more. In fact, the premium segment is completely unlimited in price. Doors even for 40 thousand rubles are very different in quality from products for 70 thousand rubles. Among the manufacturers we can note the already mentioned company Guardian, Torex, Jaguar, Dierre, Persona and many others.
If you choose a door without unnecessary frills with for a long time services, we recommend that you consider purchasing products from Torex. This is very quality doors for a reasonable price. Before purchasing, read all available reviews for the selected door leaf on the Internet. This will allow you to avoid purchasing doors with a factory defect, which may appear during operation, but such cases are extremely rare.
Photo gallery: various options for entrance doors from various manufacturers
Guardian metal entrance doors
Entrance steel doors Torex
Budget entrance doors Bravo
Premium entrance doors Jaguar
Entrance doors under the Titan brand
Video: review of the TOREX Super Omega 10 entrance door after installation
The topic of choosing doors is very extensive and requires careful consideration. Before buying, it is better not to rush - you need to carefully and thoroughly study all possible information and draw the right conclusions. This will help you avoid running into unscrupulous sellers offering goods that do not meet your criteria.
Any door must be strong and reliable. And the street entrance door in particular. Great variety materials and models - makes this choice very difficult.
There are many problems with entrance doors. These are low strength characteristics, susceptibility to corrosion and condensation.
Installing a wooden front door also has several disadvantages. Surfaces require regular updating paint coating, are easily damaged mechanically. Wood is also a fire hazard.
The advantages include a presentable appearance and environmental friendliness. Only with proper processing and quality material- such an entrance door is a reliable barrier from intruders. Using solid wood is not something everyone can afford.
Red species, oak, and maple are especially valued. The most economical option is pine. If desired.
Advice! Aluminum profile will increase the strength of wooden door panels.
Metal doors
A metal front door inspires confidence in many people just by its name. It is widely believed that such blocks are the most durable and reliable. What are the disadvantages of using them and is it all that simple?
Characteristics of entrance door designs
How strong the front door will be is influenced by the following points:
- Production process
- Design qualities
It is clear that the greater the thickness of the steel, the higher the strength of the door. Good properties will have surfaces with a thickness of 1.2 mm. length 2mm. Steel ribs will increase rigidity and strengthen the structure.
Stiffener systems:
- Longitudinal ( vertical elements fortifications)
- Transverse (horizontal reinforcement elements)
- Combined (combination of several types)
A longitudinal system of ribs will protect the door from bending corners. Transverse - will make it difficult to push through the door surface. Combining both stiffener systems will achieve optimal results.
The highest strength of the canvas can be achieved by armoring. The manufacturing technology will be exactly the same as that of bulletproof safes. Filling the structure with concrete solution provides the necessary strength.
If you can work with metal and want a unique and durable door, you can make one yourself. Follow the recommendations for.
Special protection
Using reinforced hinges - good way Increase intrusion protection.
Hinge modifications:
- Regular
- Ball
- Safe
The most effective are hinges with support bearings. This type will withstand the weight of heavy metal doors. They are also used for swing gates and massive garage openings.
Anti-removal pins - bonus resistance of the block to burglary. Reinforcing passive crossbars connect the closed door leaf with the frame. The bolt is a retractable cylindrical bolt that acts as a locking mechanism. Mounted on the hinge side on the vertical profile of the box or panel. If the locks and hinges are broken, the door will not be able to be opened or removed from the hinges. The pins will hold the door in place.
Insulation of metal door blocks
To rid the door leaf of frost and ice, you will need a layer of thermal insulation. Up to 25% of heat escapes through doorways. The metal has a high degree of thermal conductivity and is prone to freezing.
Advice. A canopy or canopy over the front door is additional protection from bad weather.
Insulation materials
- Fibrous (mineral and basalt wool)
- Panel (extruded polystyrene foam)
The disadvantage of using mineral wool is vapor permeability. When exposed to moisture, the material shrinks. In this case, thermal protection will be incomplete and ineffective.
Basalt wool does not accumulate moisture and does not shrink. It has low sound permeability and good vibration resistance.
The closed structure of the foam will not absorb evaporation and moisture. At the same time, foam boards will provide good sound insulation.
Not as economical as polystyrene foam, but more effective - extruded polystyrene foam and polyurethane foam.
Issues with freezing of metal entrance doors
Control measures.
- Cut off the possibility of contact of the front door with the warm air of the living room. If the house has a vestibule or veranda, install a metal-plastic door on the side of the heated room. The low thermal conductivity of metal-plastic will prevent cold air from penetrating inside and will solve the problem of freezing of the external entrance door.
- You can opt for door designs with thermal inserts made of polyamide. The material absorbs the effects of very low temperature conditions. For example, having -25ºС outside, from the room side the canvas will have a positive 10 degrees. This profile will cost twice as much as a regular one. But the castle area will still be subject to freezing.
- Electric heating system. A heating wire laid around the perimeter of the door, near the locks and inside the frame itself will be an effective barrier against ice. Additional expense electricity is a disadvantage of this method. But even with the most low temperatures the door will always remain dry.
Advice. A double, or better yet, triple insulation circuit will ensure minimal heat loss through the gaps between the leaf and the door frame.
Metal door finishing
From the outside, the front door is constantly exposed to a number of external factors. These include sudden changes in temperature, sunlight, and precipitation. Finishing coating must withstand the impact without damaging the block as a whole.
Finishes made from materials like chipboard or MDF are absolutely not suitable. Even with PVC coating, such a finish will not cope with rain and snowfall. The coating will become unusable and will not protect the metal from corrosion.
Hammer paint is a great way to finish a street-facing front door.
After drying, such paint will have an interesting “hammered” texture. Silicone resin and metal pigments in the paint will provide reliable protection against moisture. The paint dries quickly and is easy to apply. The ability to repel dirt makes the coating easy to clean. Painted metal doors look very beautiful. The color remains saturated for quite a long time. The paint is applied in several layers with a roller or spray.
Vinyl cladding. Viniplast is a non-flammable thermoplastic material. Has good strength and elasticity. Viniplast will perfectly withstand various precipitation. A serious disadvantage is poor frost resistance. At -20ºС the material becomes brittle and can crumble with minor mechanical stress.
Waterproof finishes made from shiplap panels of oak, alder, and pine will give the doors a chic appearance. The panels are made from high quality wood using moisture resistant glue. The impression of natural solid wood will cost accordingly.
Door locks
About 60% of heat loss through a doorway occurs through locking mechanisms. When choosing a door, you should pay attention to what kind of locks are installed. The best option is two different types of mortise locks. The most reliable are lever and cylinder types. Both of them are quite different high degree burglary protection. It is physically impossible to break a lever lock, and it is very difficult to find a master key for a cylinder lock. Disc and cross-shaped opening mechanisms are also quite common.
Locking mechanisms are divided into classes according to the degree of resistance to burglary. For entrance doors it is recommended to use 2-4 groups. The lock class is indicated in the product passport.
What to choose other than metal doors?
Metal-plastic doors have enough high performance in strength, durability, reliability. Of course, a steel door will exceed these characteristics. But the doorway is not the only way an intruder entering the house. So you can argue about which material is better.
PVC doors are widely used in low-rise construction. They are not subject to condensation and icing in cold weather.
Choosing a metal-plastic entrance door
There are similarities in the production technology of PVC windows and doors. But in general they differ significantly. High strength requirements for door structures allow manufacturing only from special reinforced PVC profiles.
Door block
For quality input PVC doors a profile of five cameras is used. Its thickness should not be less than 70 mm. Metal frame strengthens the structure from the inside. The fittings are located around the entire perimeter of the door. Strong fastenings at the corners are responsible for the rigidity of the frame. This frame will allow you to install powerful hinges and anti-burglary locks on the door.
Attention! When ordering a door, pay attention to the number of cameras.
Used for heat and waterproofing rubber seal. It is located on all sides of the canvas and frame. Plastic doors for country and private houses they are equipped with additional profile reinforcement. This strengthening gives additional protection from penetration.
Various options can be with finishing, triplex inserts or armored glass. Triplex is a multilayer glass made by pressing. These materials will withstand strong mechanical impact from the outside. Will provide a good view outside the door. Sometimes stained and tinted glass is found.
For reliability, give preference to models with a glazing surface of no more than a third. As a rule, upper part relegated to glass.
Doors from PVC profile may be:
- Single leaf
- Double-leaf (for wide openings to evenly distribute the load on the hinges)
When making a choice, the owner of a private house must understand that street entrance doors are not at all like doors to an apartment in a multi-storey building. The question here is reliability, materials, and the design of the door itself.
A street door should be even more reliable than an apartment door. Such a door not only protects the house from the entry of strangers, but also permanent loads external factors. In summer it is dust, sun, rain, in winter it is low temperatures and snow.
Therefore, the choice of door should be approached with all responsibility. Under no circumstances should a door intended for an apartment be installed outdoors. It will not be able to provide sufficient thermal insulation, and opening such a model will be much easier for burglars.
What types of street entrance doors are there?
Let's start with the fact that there are quite a lot of classifications of street doors, depending on the type of construction, materials of manufacture, level of reliability and additional functionality.
In terms of safety level, the second class option would be optimal. The first class, marked by the manufacturer, is too easy to open; it can only be used in entrances.
The third security class is unnecessary, because such doors can only be opened with an angle grinder. And installing such a model will require additional costs for concreting the door frame.
The second security class provides the entrance with sufficient protection without overloading the structure with additional and, sometimes, unnecessary devices.
Materials for street door
The main problem with almost all street entrance doors is freezing. Even a thick steel door can freeze at particularly low temperatures, what can we say about thinner and lighter models. There are a few things to consider here.
- Materials intended for use in warm conditions are not suitable for entrance structures: PVC-based vinyl plastic, vinyl artificial leather, MDF boards.
- Even if the MDF panel is located inside, there is a high probability of condensation appearing on its surface in winter due to the difference in temperature inside and outside the house.
- Vertical locking rods and door peepholes- points that contribute to door freezing in winter.
- The front door must have a sealing circuit, and it is better if there are several such circuits.
- A protective and decorative coating not only makes the front door attractive, but also serves to protect the door from external negative factors such as dampness or cold; it should not be neglected either.
Beauty, of course, is important, but main task front door - protect the house from the cold. That is why the design and “filling” of the model are so important.
An additional, cold vestibule helps prevent frost from appearing on the front door. In addition, the door itself must have several sealing contours and thermal insulation panels on the outside of the door leaf.
Rupture or thermal insertion is another one effective way resist the cold. Thanks to them, the temperature inside the door is no longer so low, which means that closer to the inner surface it will be closer to comfortable room temperature.
Finally, good option will organize additional heating. We already have a widespread underfloor heating system, so why not make the door warm too. The cable is laid inside the door leaf and around the lock, thanks to which the door will always remain warm, even if the streets are severely frosty.
However, such heating leads to increased electricity costs, which you should also consider when making your choice.
Street doors are called street doors because they can withstand increased loads external environment. Nice door It will protect the house from heat, frost, and moisture, and it doesn’t even care about hail.
The protective properties of the door are achieved through two main components:
- sufficient insulation of the canvas;
- protective and decorative coating.
And here we again return to the outside of the entrance, which should be both beautiful and durable. This is quite possible to achieve, fortunately modern materials quite varied and functional.
However, modern materials that are used in the manufacture of street doors do not always, surprisingly, save the door from damage.
Please note that as outer covering Powder paint, which is so popular today, is not suitable for metal sheets. Under the influence of humidity and temperature changes, such paint very quickly begins to lag behind the surface.
It's not pretty to look at: peeling paint can hardly add any appeal to something. But from the point of view of protection, not everything turns out to be smooth: the metal under the peeling paint begins to rapidly rust, which means the door becomes unusable.
Search large selection quality entrance street doors
Choosing an entrance door is a rather important moment, since the safety of all the property of the house or apartment, and sometimes the life of the owners, will depend on its design. Today, the assortment of specialized stores is formed by many manufacturers presenting their products, which have a wide range of prices - from the most modest to the very high. Therefore, you can always choose a door that will fully meet the capabilities of the homeowners.
The purpose of the front door is not only to protect the home from intruders, as it should prevent the penetration of external noise and cold air masses. In addition, there are models that can create a reliable barrier even to intense flames during a fire. How to choose a metal entrance door - advice from a professional - they are necessarily given depending on where it will be installed: at the entrance to an apartment or a private house, as well as taking into account many criteria that directly affect performance and this design.
Criteria for choosing an entrance door
To clarify all the nuances, we turned to the Moscow manufacturer of entrance doors, the ProfMaster company, where more than 80% of orders are individual production "to order" because this is the only way to choose a door without compromising on quality.
There is a list of key points to pay attention to special attention when purchasing an entrance door:
- Installation location. The door can be installed on the street in a private house or at the entrance to an apartment, that is, protected from direct external influence entrance area. The choice of insulation material and external cladding will depend on this.
- Level of protection. Several aspects can be attributed to this criterion:
- the thickness of the metal used to make the door;
— frame design;
— the number of metal layers in the door leaf;
— the number of stiffeners inside the canvas frame;
- number and design of locks and hinges;
— presence of an overview element.
- Insulation material. To prevent the door from letting in cold masses and extraneous noise, it is insulated mineral wool, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam or cardboard. Some cheap models may have no insulation at all.
- Number of seals. They can be installed on door leaf or box, in one, two or even three rows. For fire-resistant structures, sealing contours made of special materials are used.
- Door weight. Quality product It should be heavy, as it has reliable stiffening ribs and is made of high-quality, fairly thick metal sheet.
- A design solution that will harmoniously fit the door into the overall design of the facade if the door is installed in a private house.
- Fireproof qualities of materials, if you plan to purchase a door that has protection against the spread of flame.
- Vandal-proof coating is especially necessary if there are animals in the house that can scratch the door lining, or in an apartment where there is no combination lock at the entrance to the entrance.
- The door must have a quality certificate or product passport, which will indicate all its characteristics.
Assessment of the main characteristics of doors
The price of such products is quite high, but you can be sure of the safety that they will fully provide. Therefore, recently more and more apartment residents and house owners prefer this particular door option.
So, the design of the entrance doors must fully meet all the criteria for safety and comfort when opening and closing them, as well as satisfy homeowners in terms of its design. Therefore, when making a choice, you need to make a list of requirements for yourself in advance. door design requirements, and if the model meets them, then this option is ideal for a specific entrance to a building or apartment.