Well, forgive me for being blunt, but approximately 95% of people who are faced with choosing interior doors actually know nothing about them. Indeed, what’s so complicated about it, and if you want to thoroughly understand the types, models, prices, then why not ask the Internet for help.
Many people think so, and they are wrong. Do you know why? Because the vast majority of sites are of a selling – not informational – nature. The maximum that they will teach you is to choose a door solely from the point of view of external attractiveness. In principle, if you need a beautiful shell, you can stop there. A real owner will definitely dig deeper, because he knows that the external gloss can dissolve in a couple of months. We want to teach you a different – expert – approach to choosing an interior door, and as an intrigue, try taking a short test to check the level of your knowledge in this area.
Having answered at least 4 questions correctly, you don’t have to be afraid that some irresponsible seller will deceive you and pass off a cheap, poorly processed structure as an expensive moisture-resistant fabric.
You will find answers to the test questions in the material below.
If you have problems with the choice, you have doubts about the sizes or materials, you cannot decide on your own which option of interior doors is better - contact the online store of interior doors “Into the House”. Specialists with extensive experience will definitely suggest the right solution.
Inexpensive doors remain one of the most popular among the population and commercial structures.
To learn how to distinguish high-quality products from doors made “in the garage,” let’s sort it out one by one, examining two main components of the price: the type of construction and the type of exterior finishing.
The inexpensive segment is represented by three types of structures: panel, milled and drawer. Each of them has already been tested by time and has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Panel doors
Smooth panel doors are the cheapest available. Consists of a frame and two sheets of MDF. The frame is usually made of pine timber. MDF cover gives the frame rigidity and stability geometric dimensions. This is the simplest and therefore cheapest design. The service life of such a product will depend on how the frame is made and how thick the MDF is. If the canvas is strong and monolithic, it means that its geometry will not change, the gaps will not disappear over time, and the canvas will not touch the box, therefore, the likelihood of peeling off the outer coating is less.
There are no special ways to check the quality of a design in a store. Since cheap doors are purchased quite often, you can find many reviews about products in this category on the Internet. Be sure to check them out. This will save you from buying a door that won't last long.
The most inexpensive panel doors are made with a coating of melamine paper - these are the so-called laminated doors. This material has no relief and vaguely resembles natural wood. To somehow improve the design, glass inserts of various shapes are made into the smooth canvas.
Panel door with glued glass and eco-veneer finish
But there are absolutely smooth doors that look very stylish and without frills. The quality and beauty of the external coating are precisely those characteristics of such doors that attract buyers. Usually these are doors lined with eco-veneer or other modern films. To add some variety to the minimalist design, use decorations in the form of metal moldings.
Another trend – metal edges – will help get rid of the main drawback of panel doors. Basically, the destruction of their outer coating begins precisely from the edge.
Panel interior door with aluminum edge
Milled doors
Not everyone is interested in smooth doors, so manufacturers began to look for ways to make the product not only durable, but also visually attractive. For example, reliefs. The easiest way to obtain them is by milling a smooth blade. Depending on the milling depth, some modifications to the conventional frame design will be necessary. This can be achieved in two ways:
- Using thicker MDF;
- Backfill under MDF in places where additional bars are milled.
Milled door with a classic design under a white PVC film
In fact, milled doors are a type of panel doors, because... have the same monolithic base (frame and two sheets of MDF), only usually more durable and beautiful. Manufacturers use almost all modern film materials to cover such doors, but not paper based, because the latter cannot be “stretched” onto the relief. In the inexpensive segment, you should pay attention to doors lined with PVC film.
Drawstring or prefabricated canvases.
Tsar doors– that’s a completely different story. The canvas consists of parts that are assembled onto ties and tongues. But their main advantage lies not in this, but in the fact that each part is wrapped before assembly facing material separately, thus the canvas has no edges or visible joints. This means that nothing will come off and moisture will not get into the inner layers of MDF.
All three canvas designs have internal cavities. To improve performance, these cavities need to be filled with something. The most inexpensive doors use honeycomb cardboard. At first glance, a simple, cheap material, but with its advantages:
- Does not allow MDF sheets to sag as a result of pressure (honeycombs with a cell diameter of 45 mm have a strength of 500g/sq.cm);
- Retains sound: if you evaluate sound insulation on a 5-point scale, cardboard can be given a solid three;
- Reduces the cost of goods;
- Virtually does not add weight to the canvas.
In more expensive canvases, insulators in the form of plates are used. The material is more expensive, but also more interesting in its properties. In addition to good sound insulation, low thermal conductivity is added. Doors with such filling have much better characteristics.
Attention! To understand what type of filling the manufacturer uses, knock on the door sample. If the sound resonates like a drum, then a honeycomb is used. A dull and quiet sound is a sign of the use of a high-quality insulator.
And also, if the manufacturer claims that it uses slabs to fill internal cavities, we recommend asking for certificates for this material. Cheap material may contain harmful additives that will cause fouling.
Types of external finishing
The choice of finishing material in the inexpensive segment must be approached with special care. This is due to the fact that for approximately the same money you can buy doors of very different quality.
You usually have to choose between different types of film coatings, the most inexpensive smooth doors with Fineline veneer veneer, and entry-level painted doors.
Let's start with the films:
PVC based films
They were one of the first to appear on the market. They are very durable, difficult to scratch, and can even be washed with detergent. Initially, they did not look very much like natural wood and looked cheap. Now we have learned how to make films with very attractive patterns and relief. We advise you to take a closer look at the now popular single-color films that imitate painting.
Doors lined with PVC film with a glossy effect
Some companies are trying to replace polyvinyl chloride with more modern polypropylene, arguing that the choice is toxic. There is an opinion that PVC in its normal state releases harmful chlorine into the atmosphere. In reality, this is nothing more than a marketing ploy. The fact is that the polymer does indeed “emit” toxic hydrogen chloride, but only during the combustion process, or when it is in a state of fine dust, which only occurs in factories where the material is produced and processed.
NB: it is not the polymer that is toxic, but the substances used for decoration: dyes, plasticizers to give relief, bleaches, etc. d.
Polypropylene (PP) films
More widely used. It costs a little more than PVC because it is more advertised. It goes on sale under different names:
- Acrylate;
- Siplex;
- Cortex;
- Nanotex.
They are polymers with identical composition. Unlike PVC:
- More modern - innovative;
- WITH high accuracy repeat the drawing natural wood;
- More expensive.
Advice: if you have a choice between PP or PVC covering options, pay attention to the thickness and aesthetics. The first criterion characterizes the strength of the product according to the principle “where it is thin, it breaks.” The second is expressed in a variety of textures, reliefs, shades: most companies try to expand the range in this way. As a result, each door looks different, although they have the same coatings and do not differ much in price.
How to apply PVC and PP films
The canvas is placed in a special chamber with a vacuum press, pre-lubricated with synthetic-based glue. A film is laid on the surface. In the chamber are created necessary conditions to initiate the diffusion process. As a result, a very strong connection is formed - in fact, the canvas and coating become one. The advantage of polymers is that they stretch well, so they can be used to cover textured surfaces. Inexpensive milled doors are covered with just such films.
Recommendations: Of the pronounced shortcomings, we will name one - the vulnerability of the door at the butt joints of the film coatings. Therefore: be sure to look at how the door is made, what the joints of the covering look like. Find out what the edge is made of, and if there is glass, pay attention to the presence of a seal.
Laminated doors
Nowadays, when they talk about laminated doors, everyone imagines the cheapest doors with paper trim. But in fact, there are different options for this coating. They differ in the number of layers and have unequal strength.
The most budget-friendly coating option is melamine paper. First, a design is printed on it. For greater stability, the base is impregnated with resins and covered with a protective layer. Doors with such a coating can only be considered as a temporary option.
An improved version of lamination is the use of laminate. The film production technology looks something like this:
- The paper is glued in 2 layers;
- A drawing is applied to the surface (printed);
- Treated with special protective compounds;
- Apply to a non-woven backing during heating under high pressure.
The non-woven backing allows the material to be applied not only to flat surfaces, but also to bend around certain radii. This finishing method has one drawback: the thicker the material, the worse it bends. Unlike PVC and PP films, which are applied in a vacuum, it is impossible to cover the relief surfaces of panels with laminate, which imposes restrictions on the design of door leaves.
In general, doors with such a coating should be inexpensive and resistant to household damage, but again, be sure to check the thickness of the material and the edge before purchasing.
Finish films
Otherwise they are called films with a finish effect on a thick paper base. A pattern imitating natural wood, stone, and minerals is applied to a flat or textured surface using printing. To protect against external factors, the surface is treated with resin. The last layer is applied with varnish.
Due to their low cost and low mechanical strength, such coatings are used to decorate cheap canvases. The advantage of finishing films is their maintainability: if a defect appears on the surface, it can be easily removed and a new one pasted on, thereby updating the structure.
Eco-veneer
One of the most popular and modern coatings. Eco-veneer varies in cost and quality; it is produced in Europe, Japan and Russia. As they write in advertising brochures, in order to make a synthetic film as similar as possible to natural wood, even to the touch and in relief, natural wood fibers are added to it. Those. They take wood waste, crush it, bind it with polymer, roll it several times with a press with the desired relief, paint it and get an eco-veneer.
In practice, eco-veneer is very similar to embossed paper with a layer of polymer on the surface. There is a cheap one, with a very thin outer layer, which is practically no different from melamine paper. But accordingly, there is also a high-quality, thick, expensive one. Eco-veneer bends, but does not stretch. This means that there are no milled doors with imitation panels covered with eco-veneer.
Eco-veneer can only be wrapped, so the drawbar system is considered the ideal design for using this type of finishing. As we have already said, their advantage is that each element is wrapped separately before assembly. It turns out that there are no edges, and the joints remain inside the canvas.
fineline veneer
The most inexpensive of natural materials. We will talk more about its properties later. Here we will say that the cost of such material goes beyond budget models. But the simplest panel doors, smooth doors lined with such veneer and varnished, can be purchased for a price of 3,000 rubles. For those who value naturalness on a limited budget, pay attention to these models.
Painted doors.
High-quality painting, like natural veneer, is expensive. But there are inexpensive doors, powder-coated, which cost between 3,000 and 4,000 rubles. The paint gives a durable, beautiful finish. Moreover, doors with any relief can be painted. But inexpensive technology, within a small budget, involves the use of edges, because... Only the facades are painted. If you like this kind of door, be sure to pay attention to how the edge is made.
Even at a low cost you can find beautiful, comfortable and modern doors. And the low price (from 1500 to 4000 rubles), in this case, is not an indicator of poor quality, but is adequate to the cost of the base materials used, finishing and the use of inexpensive processing technologies.
Middle price segment. Should I choose veneer or solid wood?
Traditionally, classification is based on 2 key characteristics:
As you have already noticed, all three structural types of cheap doors are also present in the middle price segment. Indeed, they are produced using a similar technology, but they use materials that are a level higher in strength and wear resistance. An ordinary buyer can distinguish them from models from the “junior” category, for example, by weight. Honeycomb cardboard is not used to fill such doors. The line includes models made from solid pine, chipboard, and MDF, which do not have cavities inside. They are more massive because they consist of denser, and therefore heavier, material.
To strengthen drawer models, instead of pine, some manufacturers use larch or birch plywood: this will significantly increase the strength of the door, while replacement will increase the cost slightly.
We'll talk about the coverings of structures a little later - now let's figure out which doors are called molded and paneled.
Molded doors
Characteristic features:
- The load-bearing function is performed by glass inserts;
- On the sides the glass is framed with molded wooden posts;
- Very durable laminated glass is used - usually triplex (two layers of glass glued together with film);
- Glass of different colors, with a transparent, matte texture, mirror inserts, stained glass, engraving, chemical etching, etc. are used.
Options: instead of glass, it is allowed to use a panel or an additional molded stand, which will divide the canvas into 5 segments.
Paneled doors
Classic models. Consist of two elements:
- Bearing frame (frame);
- Panel: internal inserts, the edges of which extend into the frame. The quantity varies - from 2 to 10 (canvases in the form of a chocolate bar).
Structural parts are made from different materials. The panel is made of MDF or glass for lining using solid wood and MDF. Covered with high-quality film or natural veneer. The most expensive models in this price category are represented by solid wood structures.
Doors in the mid-price segment by type of coating:
- Natural veneer;
- Fineline veneer;
- Inexpensive array;
- Enamel.
Natural veneer covering
The most expensive variety on the market. It’s time to compare it with the properties of solid wood – in design and moisture resistance. It is a thin slice of wood. Elite varieties and not very valuable materials are used. The most common:
- Ash;
- Anegri;
- Mahogany;
Precisely preserves the structure of the array, its design and color. Depending on the direction of cutting, it can be radial or tangential.
How to attach
The veneer is glued onto a pre-prepared frame. To obtain a stable connection, the hot pressing technique in a vacuum environment is used. The last step is to varnish the surface to protect the veneer from sunlight and scratches.
Signs of quality veneer:
- Very smooth surface;
- Chemical odors are present, but not very pronounced;
- The surface pattern is unique and beautifully chosen;
- The tinting is uniform without defects.
Fine-line veneer (reclaimed veneer)
Such designs are sold at a price of 3-6 thousand rubles. fineline is the same natural veneer made by thinly cutting the surface of wood from fast-growing, inexpensive species. Popular options:
- Poplar;
- Aspen;
- Maple.
The manufacturing process boils down to cutting layers, tinting, gluing and re-cutting. In the end the material looks like continuous coating with a pattern in the form of longitudinal lines.
Used in the production of inexpensive veneered doors. The downside is low mechanical strength. To enhance the protective functions, the models are coated with a thick layer of varnish.
Inexpensive array
In the middle price segment, buyers often prefer doors made from 100% solid wood. These are mainly paneled canvases. Oak, ash and beech are not available for this money, so doors are made from the following species:
- Pine, it is varnished, tinted, translucent coatings, wax or paint are very popular
- Pine inside, alder outside. This is done to increase surface hardness and strength;
- 100% alder. Due to the inexpressive pattern of alder, it is often heavily tinted or covered with a completely opaque coating, such as enamel.
The properties of each material will be discussed below.
Enameled
One of the most practical and variety of options used for finishing doors of any of the 5 above listed designs, as well as for expensive models from natural wood.
Advantages:
- The technology provides very strong mechanical resistance and prevents from any damage occurring in everyday life;
- High moisture resistance and, as a result, the possibility of installation in bathrooms and kitchens;
- Wide choice of colors.
In the first two points, doors coated with enamel are superior to their veneered and film counterparts. Under the enamel layer, the natural texture of the material is not preserved, although this does not detract from the underlying aesthetics. Common decorative options are artistic painting with durable paints and filigree application of patina.
The strength of the doors is ensured by the use of complex technology for applying the composition. The process takes place in a paint booth. Experienced craftsmen are allowed to work.
A comparative table will help summarize the description of the characteristics of methods for finishing interior doors:
Type of coverage | Laminate | Veneer | Eco-veneer | PVC |
Parameters for comparison▼ | ||||
Environmental friendliness | "4" Depends on the quality of the substance with which the paper is coated |
"5" Slightly superior to other options |
"4" Depends on the quality of the polymer |
"4" The composition contains chloride, but its toxic properties are relative |
Strength | “3” (if laminate is used) | "4" | "4" | "5" |
Moisture resistance | “3”, well protected, but will deteriorate if a defect appears | “4”, may peel off, but only if the paintwork is damaged | "4", not sensitive to moisture | "5", absolutely moisture resistant |
Difficulties of care | “5”, wet cleaning is allowed, the textured surface makes cleaning difficult | "4", special care | “5”, difficulties are associated with the relief surface | “5”, not susceptible to water and special detergents |
Price | Cheapest coverage | Highest | Costs less than veneer | Low price (depending on the type of film) |
What to choose, natural veneer or solid wood?
Solid wood is durable, beautiful wood with all that it implies, and veneer is just a section of it no more than 2 mm thick, which is glued to inexpensive MDF or chipboard.
The presence of many points of contact forces comparisons to be made between these materials. Veneered doors are just as natural, reproducing the texture of wood with perfect accuracy, therefore, just like their expensive counterparts, they are classics. The designs are similar in surface pattern and in some performance qualities, but have a price gap, sometimes quite significant.
If the main selection criterion is appearance, you can hardly give preference to veneer or solid wood. A layman will hardly notice the differences. This can be done, for example, by comparing the weight of identical structures: veneer is lighter. For interior doors, where anti-vandal protection and strength are not the most important qualities, low weight is a plus, just like a low price. If we talk about eco-veneer, add moisture resistance and minimal sensitivity to temperature changes to the box of bonuses.
As a summary: solid wood and veneer are related textures. If you don’t want to overpay, choose inexpensive veneered models. Well, elite oak, wenge or mahogany in their original form are for those who need to match their status.
Doors made of 100% wood. Which array is better?
There are 5 main options:
- Pine;
- Alder;
- Ash;
The conditional distribution of doors made from the listed materials by price segment looks something like this:
- Low: solid pine;
- Medium: solid alder;
- Expensive (elite): solid oak, beech, ash.
Pine
The wood is not dense, loose, with a porous structure, therefore it has no heavy weight.
Alder
Deciduous is not a valuable species. Less common than pine, it still has a wide habitat, so the wood is considered accessible and inexpensive. Positive characteristics:
- Not much more expensive than pine;
- The drying technology is not so complicated;
- During the drying process, a lower percentage of cracking and warping is observed;
- Approximately 20% harder than softwood;
- It is well processed with stains and other compounds due to its high hygroscopicity (for the same reason it is not used in its raw form);
- During operation, due to changes in humidity and temperature, a slight tension is created inside, so cracks appear extremely rarely.
Oak
Valuable, expensive breed. It grows slowly, mainly lives in the Caucasus and in regions of Russia lying on European territory.
Advantages:
- High density (achieved due to the close arrangement of fibers);
- The surface has high hardness, which increases over the years;
- Provides products with mechanical strength, beauty and durability.
The disadvantages of the breed are associated with high hygroscopicity. Doors are coated with protective compounds and are practically not used in their untreated form. Neglect of operating rules, especially if the drying technology has been violated, the wood will crack.
Dense rock conducts sounds and heat well. Such doors should not be taken into account if you want to achieve ideal silence and thermal insulation (standard requirements for entrance doors, therefore, to improve the insulation level, thermal break technology is used).
Ash
Peculiarities:
- In terms of strength and hardness it surpassed those of oak;
- Shows high flexibility and elasticity;
- More moisture resistant;
- Grows faster;
- Cheaper than oak.
Wood is negatively affected by the atmosphere; under the influence of the sun, water, and winds it is destroyed, however, these criteria must be taken into account when designing entrance doors, and therefore are not considered by us as a disadvantage.
Beech
In terms of hardness, elasticity, and density, it has similar indicators to elite oak. Thanks to its homogeneous structure, it lends itself well to processing - polishing, grinding. The result is a flat, smooth surface without splinters.
The only drawback of wood is its high hygroscopicity (higher than ash and oak). Therefore, it is difficult to dry it without causing cracking and warping. Requires special processing and operation in compliance with the main physical indicators. Due to its capricious nature, few producers work with beech.
Which wood is more beautiful:
Pine | A very interesting, pronounced pattern with many streaks of contrasting color. In order not to disturb the beauty, colorless compositions are used for protection. Pine for some European design schools – standard option |
Alder | The monotony and lack of expression of the design is associated with barely visible growth rings and rays. Suitable for tinting and finishing with enamel, which also reduces its hygroscopicity and increases moisture resistance |
Oak | The beauty of the drawing is achieved by large stains. Oak can easily be confused with ash - the species are similar to each other. Therefore, in the production of interior doors they are considered relatively interchangeable. Moreover, in some respects ash compares favorably |
Ash | The surface is covered with streaks, like oak, but does not have light stripes located in a chaotic order across the growth rings, which is why it differs from its elite counterpart |
Beech | The growth rings are clearly visible, appearing on the surface in the form of parallel or wavy lines. The wood has a fine texture |
The cuts of tree species are unique. Based on this feature, you can learn to distinguish them from each other. Doors made from solid wood that grows in our country are more suitable for installation in the homes of our citizens. They are superior to imported analogues in price because they are cheaper and are more adapted to our climate. Some will say - what about the exotic? Studying the demand for these and other designs, we have to admit that Russians are more willing to install doors made of oak and pine, and are in no hurry to decorate their houses, for example, with foreign ebony wood.
How array characteristics affect the scope of application:
Criteria | Where and when to use | Varieties |
Moisture resistance | For installation at the entrance to the kitchen, bathroom | Alder, pine, ash, oak, beech (subject to appropriate processing). |
High risk of defects | In a children's room, in an apartment where there are pets | Oak, beech and ash are the most durable |
Formation of persistent aromas of freshly cut wood | In a country house, in a country house, in an apartment (eco-style) | Pine: has a pleasant woody-resinous odor, emits phytoncides that have preventive and medicinal properties |
For silence and warmth | For rooms that require silence and good thermal insulation | Pine is the best, that’s why they are used in saunas |
For a spectacular appearance | At the entrance to the living room, bedroom | The most beautiful texture is found in oak, ash, and pine. |
Economical options | On a limited budget | Pine, alder |
How to choose bathroom doors, which doors are susceptible to moisture
When choosing methods of protection against humidity, experts take into account that this negative factor affects furnishings in two ways:
- When air humidity changes, wood products tend to reach equilibrium with the environment in terms of this indicator, therefore they either absorb moisture if the atmosphere is saturated with it, or, on the contrary, release it if the air is dry. At the same time, the dimensions of the product itself change, although if the door is made with high quality and the protection is correctly selected, this does not in any way affect its functionality;
- When the structure is installed next to the water supply point, for example, in the same bathroom. Water drops often fall on the surface, and in the absence of exhaust ventilation, the canvas becomes covered with dense condensation.
The first factor is easier to deal with: you just need to foresee where the door will be installed and choose a moisture-resistant model, carefully treated with varnish, enamel or coated with film. It is worth paying attention to the joints and taking a closer look at the ends of the product: if there are defects at the edges, and the dense upper part remains unprotected, they can become conductors of moisture. Over time, the door will swell if manufacturing flaws are not corrected.
Which doors are more suitable for installation in a bathroom - consider the common options:
Array | Installation is allowed if the entire canvas is varnished and there are no chips or cracks on the surface. Due to its natural resin content, pine is sometimes placed untreated. |
Veneer | Similarly: if there is a continuous undamaged varnish coating, water is not dangerous |
Film doors | Not always suitable option, depends on how the joints of the coating are made, the edge and what kind of film |
Eco-veneer | Folding doors with high-quality eco-veneer can withstand high humidity |
PVC | Record holder for moisture resistance if production technologies are not violated |
Laminated | The vulnerable areas are the edges, and the coating itself can simply swell |
Enamel | The most acceptable option for installation in the bathroom |
What does sound insulation of interior doors depend on?
Any door is soundproofed, but they differ in the degree of protection. As a rule, in the production of inexpensive interior doors this factor is given secondary importance, therefore, in order to reduce the noise level of hollow doors by 5-10 dB, cellular cardboard is used as an insulating pad. More expensive doors use foam insulation materials.
The glass insert has the greatest impact on the reduction in insulating properties.
!!! This is interesting:Examples of common noise sources and their indicators:
Whatever soundproofing option you choose, you should remember that the level of protection must match or be lower than the degree of sound insulation of walls, ceilings and windows, because it makes no sense to install a “quiet” door in a room with “cardboard” walls.
The formation of a stable insulating cordon is carried out in four directions:
- Choice of material.
- Application of sealant.
- If there are glass inserts - thermal break technology..
- Achieving a tight seal between the canvas and the box.
If all options have been exhausted, and the sound insulation level is insufficient, you can use the so-called “Smart Threshold” of the guillotine type. This device cuts into the lower end of the canvas, and into closed position the interior door closes the bottom gap.
What they say technical specifications? Russian SNiPs do not have standards for soundproofing interior doors. Manufacturers adhere to European standards - 27 dB (according to DIN 4109).
How things really are:
Please note that simply by setting the threshold at the input, you will reduce the noise level by 2-3 dB, which is not small in conditions of strong audibility.
How to determine the quality of doors in a store - practical advice for the average buyer
We know how important “sound” practical advice from an experienced professional is to the uninformed buyer. We offer you a clear step by step instructions, where the signs of a low-quality door are outlined point by point.
Let's start by analyzing the problems that occur in veneered models:
Type of defect | Reasons for appearance |
Defects in the finishing coating | Elements are poorly sanded or sanding was not carried out on every intermediate layer of varnish. The result is bubbles, pores, depressions |
Leaks, cloudiness. There is a smell of chemicals in the room | Poor quality varnish was used |
Elements are different in color, the design is poorly chosen | The surface is covered with low-quality veneer with defects |
There are differences in the color of the coating on the canvas and at the edges | Edge defects. The technology is violated, because the shade on the entire surface of the structure must match, and the door itself must look like a model made from solid wood |
There are gaps in the places where the panels are attached, at the glazing beads, near the glass, the edges do not fit tightly, the parts are loose | Poorly assembled |
The sample has defects visible to the naked eye: scratches, cracks or other evidence that the canvas has been restored | Weak veneer was used or the technology was violated in the process of gluing it |
What does it look like quality door from the array:
- The geometry is broken: check the dimensions along both diagonals. An error of up to 2 mm is allowed;
- Hairiness due to poor sanding. The presence of protruding fibers, shavings are visible in the corners;
- There are small cracks in the solid wood, and large gaps are left between the lamellas.
Signs of poor quality painted doors:
- Poor assembly: large gaps appear between parts, which are especially clearly visible on painted structures. They look like large cracks;
- The front is different from the edge: a high-quality door should have all surfaces of the same color. Perhaps they offer you a door covered with film;
- There are unpainted areas. It can be seen that the edges and chips were painted over separately. Sometimes dust in the corners is hidden under a layer of paint.
Do not buy doors covered film, If:
- Already on the sample there are places with a peeling edge;
- Elements of drawer structures are movable;
- There are large gaps at the junctions of the parts;
- There are glue smudges on the surface, the seams are crooked, the seal is not installed or it is glued inaccurately and extends beyond the edges;
- With slight pressure, the canvas bends: this indicates the use of very thin MDF and emptiness inside.
A few more tips on how to choose an interior door:
- Ask for a cross-sectional sample - this way you will understand what is inside.
- The upper end, which often remains unprocessed, will tell you a lot.
- Try to estimate the weight of the product to understand whether solid canvas is used or there is cardboard inside.
- Carefully examine the surface, look at it from all angles. It should be smooth and have a uniform color.
- If the door has a glass insert, ask what kind of glass was used and how it was installed.
- Try shaking the product slightly. If you hear a rattling sound, the parts are not securely connected to each other. A high-quality door is a monolith.
We check the quality of components: box, trim, etc.
All elements of the door structure are divided into 3 groups:
- Canvas;
- Accessories;
- Moldings.
That is, everything that is outside the canvas refers to molded products. The reliability of all structures directly depends on their quality. What does this include? What to look for when purchasing?
What is called molding:
- Box;
- Additional timber;
- Platbands;
- Capitals, cornice.
Box
The same frame that is installed in the doorway. A holding element, fittings are attached to it, and the canvas is hung. There is a protrusion on the front of the box, on the edge where the door closes. This is the rebate on which the seal is usually attached. There are 2 types of boxes:
- Regular;
- Having a special groove for installing telescopic platbands with extensions.
The second model is more practical and easier to install, but costs a little more.
For ergonomic placement of the door in the opening, a hidden frame is used. As a result of installation, such a door seems to fit into the opening and becomes part of the wall. To enhance the effect, the canvases are pasted over with the same material as the adjacent surfaces. Such a door becomes visible only in the open position.
The material for the production of boxes is selected taking into account the type of canvas (you can see what it is made of by looking at the end part):
- If it is solid wood, then the box should be made of the same wood;
- If the door is covered with veneer, then the frame is constructed in the form of a sandwich, placing layers of pine, MDF and other durable laminated material on top of each other;
- Frames in inexpensive doors are made from MDF;
- Moldings for lightweight structures are calculated specifically for the weight of the product.
Additional timber
Factory door frames have standard width 70 mm. It’s good if it covers the entire depth of the opening, which is rare. In most cases, the walls are wider. To increase it to the depth of the opening, an additional beam is used (professionals call it an additional beam).
The design element is a bar with rectangular cross-section. The width is selected individually. More often, factories produce extensions of 100, 150, 200 mm. The technician will adjust the width during the installation process if 20-30 mm turns out to be unnecessary.
Platbands
Decorative elements. Place along the edges of the installed box. Hides the resulting gaps polyurethane foam, fasteners and other elements between the opening and the box. There are two types of platbands:
- Regular: standard strips different widths;
- Telescopic: have a section in the form of a corner. The front part closes the gap between the wall and the frame, and the adjacent side goes with a groove into the end part of the box. Sometimes, if the width of the platband is not enough to reach the box, an additional element is inserted between them.
Docking of platbands is carried out in three ways:
- Using square sockets;
- Butt, at an angle of 45 degrees;
- Butt joint, at an angle of 90 degrees.
To enhance aesthetic effect the platbands are made convex, carved, and decorated with grooves. They are made from the same material as the door itself.
Capitals and cornices
Decorative elements. They give the frame an elegant look. Installed instead of the top casing. In the lower part, the platbands are installed on heels, which logically turn into baseboards with a similar design.
We select fittings in accordance with the type of construction and installation method
The range of interior doors would not be so diverse if all designs were installed in one way. Of course, swing options are still considered classic and the most common. Many buyers are still forced to deviate from the standards if installing a swing model requires additional centimeters of space, and there is a catastrophic shortage of it. In other cases, the choice of a different design is dictated by aesthetic considerations or the desire to follow fashion.
We suggest finding out what methods of installing interior doors exist and which of them are relevant to you. There are 5 options - doors are:
- Swing;
- Sliding;
- Sliding in the form of a pencil case;
- Folding;
- Roto doors.
Swing doors
They have a familiar appearance - a canvas hung on hinges that are attached to the box. When closed, the canvas fits tightly to the vestibule. Models vary in size and number of doors. Entrance to most rooms is through single doors. For living rooms and spacious halls, an expanded doorway and, accordingly, doors with two leaves are often used.
This option is now used in apartment buildings with different layouts. Since opening the canvas requires about a meter of free space, they are inconvenient to install in small rooms. Still, do not rush to abandon the swing door if its presence is acceptable, because these models:
- Superior to other designs in terms of noise insulation;
- Able to retain more heat in the room;
- Provide reliable protection from burglary;
- They are installed on rotary hinges, which at a low cost will last for many years.
- You will also need: a handle and a latch, if you need to close it, instead of a latch, a lock and a screw
IN lately In interior design, a minimalist trend has become fashionable, when they try to relieve the atmosphere of unnecessary objects. To echo the trends of the times, the designers came up with hidden hinges. They remain invisible after installation, allowing the canvas to completely merge with the wall, but they cost 10 times more than usual.
Sliding doors
Specifications:
- The models are installed on a sliding mechanism that allows the canvas to move along the wall;
- We save on the handle, hinges, and latch. Instead, you need inexpensive boat handles.
- There are single and double leaf;
- You can install any furnishings in close proximity to the doorway - nothing will interfere with opening;
- The service life of the sliding mechanism is on average 5 years;
Sliding doors should not be installed if the priority characteristic of the model is sound insulation. The fittings do not allow for a tight fit of the canvas to the box. A brush seal will correct the situation a little, but it will still not be possible to achieve the same performance as a swing door.
Sliding: installation “in a pencil case” inside the wall
A very profitable method in terms of saving space and at the same time the most labor-intensive installation. Installation is carried out using the same mechanism as in conventional sliding structures. When opened, the canvas does not remain visible, but completely fits into a niche in the wall. Superior regular models on sound insulation. The key advantage is the flawless design, but if the fittings fail, you will have to disassemble the wall to replace them.
Folding doors
The canvas consists of two doors, which fold like an accordion when opened. Produced in two versions:
- Doors in open form located perpendicular to the doorway;
- The doors are located parallel to the wall.
The first method is cheaper. Installation is carried out on hidden hinges. Recommended for rooms with limited space. The disadvantage of the design is the narrowing of the doorway due to the doors placed inside.
The second method is more rational in terms of free space inside the opening, and also in terms of noise insulation it approaches that of a swing door. But such a system costs about 20 thousand rubles.
Roto-doors
Otherwise they are called rotary-sliding.
Advantages:
- Models open in both directions;
- Slightly save space
- High price - from 20 thousand rubles;
- Narrowing the effective width of the opening by the width of the door leaf;
- Low level of sound insulation due to the lack of a vestibule with a seal.
As a summary...
The interior door has long ceased to be just a functional unit in the interior. Modern canvases contain a unique artistic sense and a rational design idea, which allows them to withstand high humidity, shock, and attack by reagents found in detergents.
Still, keep in mind the main rule - any door, even the most expensive and high-quality one, will cease to be one if an amateur has a hand on it. Competent installation is half the success.
Finally, one more piece of advice: a door warranty, a hardware warranty, and an installation warranty are 3 different things. Remember this when you buy and install the structure.
Of course, we did not forget about the test proposed at the beginning of the article. We are confident that after reading the material you will be able to answer all the questions, which means you are no longer afraid of careless sellers and unscrupulous installers.
Goodness and comfort to your home!
The materials and photographs for the article were prepared with the support of specialists from the online store of interior doors “Into the House”.
The choice of an interior door, despite the fact that its functions do not include protection from burglars, is no less important than. Having asked ourselves how to choose a good interior door, we expect a pleasant match in price-quality criteria. Design, harmonious compatibility with the entire interior, and structural strength are important to us. But all these concepts are not entirely concrete; they are unlikely to help us in making a choice. The following principles will help you decide.
Objective signs of quality
A good interior door is:
- Construction made from natural and environmentally friendly pure materials, the varnish coating must be safe for health. Preferred materials are solid wood, natural veneer.
- A door whose color indicates the quality of the entire structure. This means that the color should be deep, uniform, clean, without the slightest spots or inclusions of unknown origin. At the same time, we see the structure of the tree, and it should look impressive. Please note that manufacturers of cheap, questionable quality structures use a tinting method, which gives the door a cloudy, dirty tone. This technique seems to hide defects, shortcomings, and defects. In this case, the structure of natural wood will not be visible.
- Door with perfect surface. This means that it should be smooth, even, clean, warm and pleasant to the touch. The varnish on such a surface should be durable and environmentally friendly, it serves as protection and if pressed with a nail, no marks remain. Cheap varnish will allow the nail to penetrate into the wood.
- Impeccable geometry (the distances from one corner to the other are equal, maximum difference is 1 mm).
- A door in which the connection areas of frames, grilles, and baguettes do not involve any gaps or overlaps.
- Design, complete with L-platband and L-box. Modern expensive doors without these components raise many questions.
What else should you pay attention to?
- Sealant. Remember that a good door should have it in a box. The seal is of high quality if it is soft. A hard one will not allow a complete fit.
- Narthex. It should also be included in the design door leaf. The porch improves heat and sound insulation.
- Doors with tempered glass safe for humans if the glass breaks. Glass made using fusing technology is more elegant and can create a stained glass effect.
How to choose an interior door, focusing on durability as the main quality? Everything is simple here: products made from solid hardwood (wood, cherry, beech, oak) will last you longer. The canvases are from coniferous species need frequent replacement of the varnish coating.
Be sure to ask the seller what fire safety class the model you like belongs to.
Effective purchasing algorithm
The algorithm for purchasing a new interior door will look something like this:
- We draw up a budget - the upper and lower limit of the expected costs (we include the services of specialists in installing doors, or we evaluate the possibility).
- We take measurements; it is also fashionable to involve specialists in this procedure if you doubt your accuracy.
- We evaluate the design, take photographs of the doors, at least with a phone, and at home we compare whether they will “fit” into the overall appearance of the room.
- When purchasing or in advance, we ask the seller all the questions that interest us, find out about warranty periods, etc.
So, in order to choose an interior door that will last a long time, you need not to skimp on quality, do not be afraid to spend time choosing, and follow the above tips. Happy shopping!
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Discussion:
Lana said:
We moved into an apartment where the doors to the bathroom and toilet were made of pure wood. And the girls in the rooms were old, Soviet, ugly, but I must say, reliable. We decided to change them. Bought on good prices and the seller’s noodles: they installed doors made of some kind of chipboard. As a result, in some places they have already peeled off, and they are only 4 years old, they absorb all the dirt. And it is unknown when the wooden doors were installed and to this day they look like new. In Toga, she swore off saving on things that should last quite a long time. The next doors will be made of wood.
The search for interior doors most often begins with a corresponding request on the Internet. And you don’t know what makes your eyes widen more: the number of manufacturers or the products offered. MDF, veneer, eco-veneer, metal, solid wood - it seems easier to give up and take at random. To ease the pain of choice, the TAM.BY team talked with the Deputy Development Director of the Vist company, Alexey Voitekhovich, and sorted out all the nuances.
Of course, there are tips. If we compare the modern market for interior doors with what it was like 12-15 years ago, we can safely say: now choosing doors of any color, shape, size and finish is not difficult. Previously, buyers did not have this opportunity. Therefore, there is something to talk about here.
The main thing is that the selected doors fit color scheme and the style of the room in which they will stand. Although now buyers increasingly prefer white tones. Mainly because white is a universal color. It fits any style and interior, giving the room lightness.
As for design, it is better to choose fully or partially glazed doors for the living room and kitchen. They are also suitable for children's rooms. For greater child safety, you can choose doors with tempered glass. He is not afraid of shocks and temperature changes.
IN living rooms and utility rooms often have blind doors. And the bathroom and bathroom have doors with matte or patterned opaque partial glazing.
By the way, for bathroom doors it is still worth paying special attention to the material. It should tolerate moisture well. Therefore, when giving preference to solid wood, ask the seller if there is a moisture-repellent coating on the door.
Solid wood, veneer, MDF - how to decide on the material?
Array. Everything is simple here. These are doors made of natural wood. They are durable, high quality, environmentally friendly, but quite expensive. If you spent money on renovations, you decorated the apartment in classic style, then, of course, you shouldn’t skimp on doors. But this is a special case. As for the disadvantages, doors spliced from pieces of different types of wood may have a non-uniform color, because pine, alder, oak, and ash absorb varnishes and paints in different ways. This is not a defect, but a feature of the materials.
Veneer. Veneered doors have a more complex prefabricated structure. The wooden frame is covered with MDF panels, which save it from deformation. The doors are covered on top with a thin cut of natural veneer. These doors look no worse than solid doors, but they are more practical, easy to restore and low maintenance. Another significant advantage is the wider range possible options finishes: from transparent or tinted varnishes to recently popular enamels. This allows you to use veneered doors in interiors of any style.
MDF. These doors are made from pressed small sawdust. Frame structures are hollow inside. Therefore, they are not as durable as paneled and drawer panels. The first ones are assembled from inserts in the frame of the door leaf (panels). Inserts can be made of solid wood or combined materials. Tsar doors are two vertical posts connected by three or more transverse bars - tsars.
MDF doors are characterized by low cost and a wide range of models. True, they react poorly to moisture if the manufacturer skimps on materials.
We’ve decided on the material, but what about the design?
It is better to choose the design based on the characteristics of the room. The most popular - swing. It fits into any interior, is reliable, durable, easy to use, quick to install and easy to repair. But for all their advantages, swing doors “eat up” a significant part of the space.
To solve this problem, you can install book doors or accordion doors. When opened, they fold in two or even several times. This saves a lot of space. Owners of apartments with small rooms will especially appreciate this design. Also, “books” and “accordions” are often installed in bedrooms and dressing rooms.
Another option to save space is sliding structures. They are often installed in the front area. They can consist of one sliding panel or two sliding panels. Sliding doors made of frosted glass transmit light well, visually increasing the space. These structures can also be used to zone two adjacent rooms.
Now gaining popularity roto or rotary structures. When opened, the door simultaneously swings open and moves to the side, performing a so-called rotational movement. In this case, the canvas itself does not extend beyond the doorway, but remains within it. A noticeable advantage of this design is space saving. Plus, you can open the door both towards yourself and away from you. True, you will have to spend money on installing such doors and problems may arise with repairing the complex mechanism.
Also becoming popular now hidden doors. Their basis is a metal box hidden in the wall, and the canvas itself merges with the wall, forming a single plane. There are many options for finishing such a door: from photo wallpaper and paint, to decorative plasters and cork coverings.
You have chosen the doors, but what else should you pay attention to when purchasing?
In the case of products made from natural materials or veneer, you need to be prepared for the fact that they will not be the same. Each door has its own pattern of annual rings on the cut. Also, unprepared buyers are often confused by the different shades found on the same canvas. But this is not a defect.
The fact is that the density of veneer layers or solid plates may vary. Here it is worth taking into account the multidirectional nature of the wood pattern when stitching. Also, different shades can be seen at the border of the pillars and lintels. None of this is a disadvantage. These are the features of products made from natural wood.
By the way, our expert cited Scandinavian countries as an example, where a pronounced veneer texture with numerous knots is valued more than a homogeneous one.
If you have chosen a door coated with enamel, then pay attention to the absence of chips and cracks, especially at the ends, glazing beads, and in places where fittings are inserted. Also, the enamel door must have a uniform, smooth surface, without foreign inclusions.
In the case of a door covered with PVC film, CPL-pressed plastic or impregnated textured paper, special attention should be paid to the quality of gluing of the covering material to the canvas or base of the product. We are talking about boxes, platbands and additional elements. There should be no bubbles, scuffs, or peeling. A door with such defects will not last long.
Often, when selling doors, we come across a situation where the buyer, relying on his experience, tries to take measurements himself, and in some cases even carry out the installation himself. The installation of doors, as in any work, has its own professional subtleties and nuances that are unknown to a person who is faced with this problem for the first time. Therefore, hiring specialists will ultimately help save not only time and money, but often also nerves.
It’s absolutely a good idea to ask the seller for a manufacturer’s certificate. Give preference to better-known brands and manufacturers with a good reputation. Nowadays all information is easy to find on the Internet.
When you compare prices, don't forget about the fittings. Locks, hinges, latches also cost money. When purchasing, do not hesitate to ask questions to the store consultant. The more information you learn, the easier it will be to choose a quality product.
Quality doors require maintenance. How to deal with this?
Firstly, you need to wipe the doors with special wipes suitable for the specific material.
doors by means. Almost all products can be cleaned with an aqueous alcohol solution in a ratio of 1 to 10. A professional products for washing can be purchased at any hardware store.
Secondly, in no case should you use powders, especially with abrasive particles. They will damage the coating.
To refresh or clean the door, first wipe it with a damp cloth and then with a dry soft cloth. No matter what the door is made of, excess moisture will most likely harm it. Don't forget about this.
If cracks and scratches appear on glossy doors, they can be masked with polish and wax.
These simple rules will help you enjoy your purchase for a long time.
Interior doors are not an excess, but a way to isolate functional areas in a room from each other. Their presence is fundamentally important if there are children in the house, a study for one of the family members, separate bedrooms, and people like to cook a variety of aromatic dishes in the kitchen.
Which doors are best placed in rooms depends on the purpose of these rooms and the requirements for tightness, insulation and aesthetic properties of door leaves.
All types of designs and models
It would seem that when choosing an interior door, no difficulties could arise, except that family members may not agree on tastes, and one will insist on a white door, and the other on a brown one. But the nuances of choice are not limited to this. There are a large number of models, the design features of which play a decisive role. The ease of use, durability and preservation of a presentable appearance depend on how well the design meets the tasks.
The door that is installed in the pantry is not capable of ensuring the security of valuables in the office, and the door to the bedroom is very different from the door to the bathroom.
The functions of interior doors are varied and have different functionality:
- They visually separate rooms in a room, be it an apartment, private house or office;
- They delimit specific functional areas: bedroom, kitchen, gym, bathroom, toilet and other types of premises for a specific purpose;
- They provide various types of insulation of rooms: they retain heat, do not allow extraneous sounds to penetrate, and do not allow condensation to form in rooms with high humidity;
- Guarantee the safety of valuable documents and things inside the premises;
- Help maintain a cozy atmosphere of privacy in intimate areas;
- Provide safety for small children by blocking access to traumatic objects in pantries or in the kitchen.
In this regard, interior doors differ from each other according to several criteria: type of construction, method of opening, purpose, materials.
Construction type is a general concept. It includes the overall parameters of the product, the shape, and features of the door leaf.
By size
The sizes of interior doors are:
- Single-leaf (single-leaf). They are suitable for standard apartments with standard doorways.
- One and a half. This intermediate size is a common occurrence in so-called “old foundation” and “Stalin” houses, where doorways are several tens of centimeters larger than the standard width and may differ in height. One-and-a-half doors include door leaves up to 110 cm wide, and anything larger is double doors.
- Bivalve (double-leaf). An indispensable option for installation in houses of old construction - the last or the century before last, when wide doorways prevailed between all types of rooms in the room. These doors are convenient for isolating a bedroom or living room or rooms in country houses and cottages, where an abundance of free space and large areas of rooms require appropriate dimensions in the interior.
According to the shape of the canvas
According to their shape, door leaves are divided into:
- Classic. Such doors have the usual rectangular shape. The width in relation to the height is 2-4 times less, this determines how narrow or wide the doors will be. They are installed in those rooms where the size of the doorway is designed for a single-leaf door;
- Arched. This design features a sophisticated line at the top edge that forms an arch. Necessary for doorways of a similar shape or maintaining a certain style in the interior;
- Swinging (stables, saloons). They cannot be called full-fledged doors, but nevertheless, this original product has a place in some non-trivial interiors. In appearance, they resemble double doors at the entrance to a “cowboy” saloon. Typically made to order custom sizes and design.
According to the design of the canvas
Depending on whether the door leaf is made of one-piece or segmented, there are blind and combined (open) doors.
Deaf
Deaf ones are divided into panel and paneled ones.
Panel- This is the most common version of door designs. As the name implies, these doors have flat front and back sides, without relief, decoration or frills. They are distinguished by their reliability and high insulating properties due to their structural features.
The structure consists of the following elements:
- Frame. Assembled from beams and stiffening ribs that increase the strength of the product;
- Filler. It fills the space between the stiffeners for better thermal insulation and sound insulation. For this purpose they are used edged boards, mineral wool, polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam.
- Overlays. They are embossed and smooth. With the help of embossed ones, a pattern is created on the door; smooth ones differ only in color or the presence of wood texture.
Paneled doors- This is a prefabricated structure, the basis of which is a wooden frame with grooves. Decorative relief elements made of MDF, chipboard, and pressed paper are inserted into the grooves. You can assemble such a “constructor” with any pattern and texture that will match the interior design.
Door panels made from panels have practically no flaws if the door is made by a conscientious manufacturer.
But there are quite a lot of advantages:
- Aesthetic appearance;
- The ability to create original decor. A special design chic is paneled doors with patina, that is, with finishing of the figured elements and door relief in a different color or material. One of the luxurious examples is white door with gold edging;
- Less weight of the canvas, since the inserts weigh less than solid wood used in panel structures;
- Long service life;
- Possibility of replacing damaged fragments;
- Reduced cost through the use of budget materials.
Combined
Combined doors include drawer and “open” doors.
- Tsar doors often called paneled varieties, since the principle of their assembly is almost identical. However, side doors have a more laconic and elegant design. The “core” of the door is filled with special plates - drawers, of different widths and from different materials. By alternating wood with other materials, such as glass, you get an interesting and easy-to-make decor.
- Open doors They are a combination of a wooden, plastic or metal base and a glass or mirror insert, which occupies a significant part of the canvas. As a rule, frosted and opaque glass is used. It can be sprayed, sandblasted, relief, or even stained glass.
To completely isolate the room, “spy glass” is used - transparent on one side and mirrored on the other.
By opening method
According to the method of opening, doors are divided into:
- Swing. This is the standard option used in most residential and all administrative premises. They differ in the number of leaves (one or two, while double doors do not necessarily have leaves of the same width) and in the opening direction (right-handed towards you, right-handed away from you, left-handed towards you, left-handed away from you). Hinged doors are considered universal and are not suitable only in cases where there is not enough space to open the door wide. Pendulum doors are similar to swing doors, but they are distinguished by one feature - they open both towards themselves and away from themselves.
Externally, this design resembles the doors at the entrance to the subway.
- Sliding. They are divided into several types:
- Sliding or hinged. A door leaf of this type “walks” on a special mechanism - a monorail on wheels. Rolls to the left or right;
- Compartment or hanging. The mechanism works on the principle of wardrobe doors and can consist of 2,3,4 or 5 panels. Such a door will easily replace internal partitions in the room that divide the space into zones. Due to the fact that all the doors are on rollers, they can be moved with one movement of the hand, and if the rollers are gel, then this process will be absolutely silent;
- Cassette. The best option for rooms where saving space is a top priority. Cassette doors do not take up space at all - when opening, the door leaf fits into a groove in the wall;
- Telescopic or cascade. These are numerous door panels in the form of partitions, moving along automatically controlled guides. The operating principle is similar to the compartment type, but the design is more complex and is equipped with a remote control. They can serve as interior doors and partitions indoors.
- Radial. These transformable indoor doors can only be installed in spacious rooms, since they move in a circle and require a lot of free space. The manufacturing process of radius doors is expensive and labor-intensive, which is why such products are classified as elite.
- Foldable. Along with cassette doors, these doors are designed for small spaces. Their unique design allows you to optimize space due to the fact that when folded the door takes up virtually no space. These include accordion doors and book doors. They consist of wide slats connected by hinges, which, when opened, fold on top of each other like accordion bellows, which is why the design received its name.
Their only drawback is that when assembled they take up part of the doorway.
- Rotary. Roto doors are a unique mechanism that allows you to open the door both to the right and to the left, from the inside and outside. They have the same drawback as an accordion door - they “eat up” the width of the doorway.
By purpose
By purpose interior doors Indoors are divided into doors for residential premises, for public and highly specialized ones.
In a residential building interior doors can be located on the border of different zones:
- Living rooms;
- Corridors;
- In the bedroom;
- Office;
- Kitchen;
- For the bathroom;
- Attic or attic.
- In some cases, during redevelopment, balcony doors become interior doors.
Doors in public, administrative and municipal premises must correspond to the status of the institution and isolate extraneous noise, the rest depends on the design of the room and the financial condition of the organization.
Specialized doors are:
- Discriminatory;
- With increased sound insulation;
- With increased thermal insulation;
- Fire protection;
- Water resistant;
- Sealed;
- Secret;
- Emergency;
- False;
- Protective (shockproof, burglary-proof, vandal-proof, bulletproof, energy-saving, sealed).
Types of materials
The purpose and location of the doors influence the choice of materials from which the product is made. So, the bedroom needs doors with good insulating characteristics so that extraneous noise does not disturb sleep, the kitchen needs doors with a washable coating, and the bathroom doors must be resistant to moisture.
Modern manufacturers use different materials that are worthy of detailed consideration.
- Tree and its derivatives:
- From the array. These are reliable, often solid structures, distinguished by aesthetic appearance and environmental safety. Such doors can be solid or hollow inside (masonite). Karelian birch, ash, larch, pine needles, pine, and oak beams are used for production. Less commonly used are maple, hickory and alder;
- Made from plywood. This leaf has almost the same properties as solid wood doors, but it is lighter in weight and lower in cost. The small thickness of plywood makes this material convenient for the manufacture of non-standard structures: “accordion”, “book” and corrugated doors;
- Made from MDF, fibreboard, chipboard and chipboard. This is a budget alternative to an array, but it also has fewer advantages. Doors made of these materials retain heat less well, without a high-quality layer they allow sound to pass through, are less wear-resistant, and do not provide such wide design possibilities;
- From the lining.
- Rack and pinion.
- Veneered.
- Laminated.
- Metal. It is used in cases where additional protection is needed indoors for valuables, important papers and documents. Considered the most reliable steel doors. If there is no need for bank-grade security, an aluminum or iron structure is sufficient. And so that such a door does not clash with the interior of the house, you can use models with PVC coating or finishing with natural wood veneer;
- Plastic. Ideal for rooms that require frequent wet cleaning, such as the kitchen, or are characterized by high humidity (bathroom). Also, plastic and fiberglass doors can provide high-quality sealing and good sound insulation, but fiberglass doors look more aesthetically pleasing and are easier to decorate;
- Glass. Clean glass, even if it is made using triplex technology (unbreakable), is almost impossible to find in the interior. Plexiglas, acrylic and plexiglass, which are essentially types of plastic, are used as glass, transparent, glossy or matte, colorless and colored. These materials are much lighter, safer, less susceptible to damage and easier to clean from contamination. They look great in the shower and bathroom, and are suitable for the kitchen;
- Combined models. These are the doors with interesting design, which is obtained by combining different materials: metal and stone finishing, wood and glass, glass and plastic.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The presence of interior doors is a necessity dictated by living conditions. However, it is important to understand that any model in itself and relative to its location in the room has its pros and cons.
From the array
Advantages:
- A material of natural origin that not only does not cause allergies and does not emit toxins, but in some cases disinfects the room (bamboo, birch, coniferous wood);
- Exceptionally high quality products for any type of wood;
- The tree retains a pleasant aroma for a long time;
- Wood products will always be considered noble, expensive and beautiful looking in the interior;
- High wear resistance and resistance to mechanical damage;
- Provide excellent thermal insulation and sound insulation;
- Wide possibilities for design: wood is subject to processing, painting, impregnation with various compounds that affect the structure and color;
- The ability to produce designer canvases with variable details that can be changed as the interior changes;
- Various finishes available;
- If there is a suitable coating and impregnation that protects the wood from fungus and mold, it can be installed in any room - from the bedroom to the kitchen.
Disadvantages wooden structures A little. Among them are the heavy weight of the door leaf, if it is not hollow, the property of wood to shrink and “expand” from rising and falling humidity levels, and a high price. Products made from valuable wood species are especially expensive.
From plywood
Advantages:
- Low dead weight;
- The method of making plywood (5-7 wood plates glued together using resins) allows you to preserve the wood pattern on the surface;
- Strength;
- Moisture resistance:
- Good insulating qualities;
- Environmental friendliness;
- The material does not shrink due to changes in humidity and temperature, which is very important when the seasons change.
Flaws:
- With constant humidity it “swells”;
- Hollow structures are not able to provide maximum comfort and protection.
From MDF
Plywood and MDF are often confused, but it is important to understand that these are two different materials, and the fundamental differences between them stem from the manufacturing method. If plywood is a multi-layer product made from wood plates and resins, then MDF is a derivative of fine shavings (sawdust) and adhesive compounds.
Compact, simple and lightweight door leaves are made from MDF. Wood fibers have good adhesion, so the product is characterized by constant size even with changes in humidity and temperature.
The surface of the doors is smooth, even and uniform, which makes it easy to process.
The main advantage of doors made of wood chips is their attractive price. Also, lightweight structures make it possible to install them on any type of wall, and installation can be done independently. The right finish, for example, veneer, helps turn cheap-looking doors into expensive-looking ones. However, the performance characteristics are in many ways inferior to wood or plastic.
Doors made of MDF are afraid of water, as they can swell and begin to crumble, they are easier to break, complex decor is not available for them, and adhesive compounds are not always environmentally friendly.
From fiberboard
Fibreboard products are close in quality to plywood and MDF. Unlike other materials made by pressing wood dust and shavings with the addition of adhesives, fiberboard is produced by pressing steamed shavings, so fiberboards are less hydrophobic. But this technology does not allow making them thick, which greatly reduces operational properties doors. They are distinguished by high density and hardness, but due to their small thickness, their range of applications is very narrow.
From chipboard and laminated chipboard
- In the production of doors, slabs of emission class E1 are used (minimum content of formaldehyde resins per 100g of weight), which is not at all harmful to the health of adults and children;
- Suitable for various types of processing. You can safely saw, plan, mill, drill, glue and paint;
- Biostable;
- Does not warp from moisture and high temperatures;
- Have high performance on a scale of thermal insulation and sound insulation.
Flaws:
- The edges of the product may crumble during processing and in places where screws are screwed in or fixing;
- Low-emission products are harmful to health, and manufacturers do not always label the product. It is not recommended to purchase such a product;
- Due to high humidity, chipboard delaminates and crumbles.
From lining
In this case, we are talking more about finishing the door, and not about making it from lining, but as an outer layer, it is she who is responsible for the service life and appearance of interior doors.
The list of advantages of lining consists of all the points that are inherent in products made from solid wood.
Characteristic features depend on the type of wood: pine lends itself well to various types processing, linden retains a beautiful appearance in conditions of constant humidity, larch is the most wear-resistant, oak allows it to be painted in the colors of precious woods. At the same time, a panel covered with clapboard has less weight than a solid one made of wood.
Lining also has its drawbacks: if not treated with special compounds, it is susceptible to rotting, high-quality products have a high cost, the surface for finishing requires preliminary preparation (grinding, priming, processing).
Made of metal
Advantages:
- Reliable in terms of burglary resistance. Even ordinary metal doors have a third class of protection against burglary, and products reinforced with crossbars and platbands even qualify as bank protection;
- In the manufacture of steel doors, mineral wool is used as a filler. This material has unique characteristics, so doors with this filling are warm, fireproof, soundproof and non-toxic;
- Any type of finish is available, be it veneer, lining or stone;
- Maximum long service life;
- Vandal-proof, damage-resistant, impact-resistant.
Flaws:
- In many interiors, such a door looks bulky;
- The weight of the door leaf is from 100 to 250 kg;
- By type of opening they can only be hinged;
- A good steel door will cost a significant amount.
Made of plastic
Advantages:
- Functional. The range of their applications is the widest, since they perfectly tolerate both humidity and heat, and have high burglary resistance. Such doors will serve for a long time in the kitchen, bathroom, office and even on the balcony;
- The basis of the doors is a lightweight and corrosion-resistant metal-plastic or aluminum frame;
- Beautiful appearance. Plastic doors are available in all types of finishes, so there is no need to be afraid that they will look like the doors at the entrance to a supermarket. Even standard models are distinguished by an elegant and simple design, and upon individual order, the manufacturing company will produce interior decoration in the desired style;
- Easy to clean, not afraid of moisture, therefore ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms;
- Silent. Many plastic doors are equipped with a “smart” closing mechanism, which allows them to be closed smoothly, without slamming;
- Plastic doors come in any complexity and have different opening mechanisms available – from sliding to telescopic;
- An insulated layer is not required. IN PVC structures air chambers are provided, which are responsible for sound insulation and heat retention in the room;
- Sealed;
- Durable.
Flaws:
- Plastic is soft in structure and easily damaged. It may have scratches and dents from impacts;
- A protective decorative coating does not prevent the plastic from becoming cloudy over time, turning yellow and becoming unattractive;
- Settling dust and dirt eat into the material over the years, and it cannot be washed off without aggressive chemicals;
- Highly flammable and releases toxins.
Made from glass
Advantages:
- Durable. Modern technologies production makes it possible to use different types of glass: tempered, acrylic, triplex. These materials are difficult to break even intentionally, and if damaged, the protective film will prevent fragments from scattering to the sides;
- Doors of almost all opening mechanisms are made of glass;
- This is an original design solution that not only decorates the room, but also helps to visually enlarge it;
- Glass does not have to be transparent; other options are available: frosted, tinted, patterned, mirrored, colored, stained glass;
- Provide excellent sound insulation;
- They are not afraid of water, so they are suitable for all types of premises;
- Fireproof;
- Durable.
Flaws:
- Not suitable for rooms with a small area;
- High price;
- Conventional fittings are not suitable for glass doors, and specialized fittings are many times more expensive;
- Complex designs have a lot of weight;
- Installation requires the participation of professionals;
- Any dirt is visible on the glass surface, so you have to wash it very often.
How to choose?
Choosing good interior doors is a responsible undertaking. Their installation and dismantling takes time and money, so it is important to choose a high-quality, reliable and easy-to-use product the first time.
And in order to minimize possible errors, it is worth adopting advice and recommendations from professionals in the field of renovation and design:
- The first thing anyone who is wondering which interior doors are best to install in an apartment or private house needs to do is do it right evaluate the functionality of the premises, at the boundary of which a door is required. In places with high humidity, you should refrain from using wooden products; in rooms with high traffic, doors with high-quality fittings should be installed; in children's rooms, only doors made of natural materials or those that comply with GOST can be installed.
- Second important step- This correct measurements. It is necessary to take measurements at least two, and ideally three points along the width and height of the doorway. It is also important to measure the depth (thickness of the walls) to understand whether extensions are needed and what width.
- The door leaf must be purchased with a suitable frame. Replacing the box and jambs is very important, as it helps to avoid distortions and problems during future use. In this case, the frame (frame) must be wider than the thickness of the door.
- Door thickness– an important indicator that characterizes its insulating qualities.
The thicker the door, the more likely it is that it will perform its thermal and sound insulation functions perfectly.
- Opening mechanism plays an important role. The large space allows you to install doors of any type, but narrow rooms, for example, the corridors of Khrushchev-era apartment buildings, require compact solutions - cassette, compartment or folding doors. Internal steel doors, like external ones, are most effective with a swing mechanism that opens towards itself, since they are more difficult to knock out and damage in any way.
- Design features of doors– this is not only a matter of aesthetics. In some cases they are simply necessary non-standard solutions. Thus, for storerooms and utility rooms, doors with ventilation grilles are recommended so that things do not acquire a musty smell, and in old houses with a ceiling height of 3-4 meters, doors with a transom (a fixed part of the structure that is built above the door, visually making it higher) are needed ) to balance proportions.
- It is also important to pay attention to materials from which the door is made, presence and quality of filler, weight of the structure, type of finish, insulating properties (does it retain heat, does it seal, does it block noise).
- Deserves special attention accessories, especially when choosing glass doors. It must be of high quality, correctly installed and, if necessary, easily replaced, since its service life is only 5-10 years, while the door leaf itself can last more than 30.
- Study of components and technical documentation for compliance with GOST, safety and guarantees will not take much time, but will save you from many problems in the future.
- Design doors must correspond to the prevailing style in the interior.
How to choose the size?
When choosing the size of interior doors, it is important to take accurate measurements, taking into account possible changes before installing them (laying tiles, porcelain stoneware, laminate and other floor coverings that will raise the floor level by 1 or more centimeters; widening the doorway).
The standard height of the door leaf is 200 cm. This corresponds to doorways in typical buildings, taking into account the installation of the frame and trim. Measurements are taken at two points along the slopes and one at the center. If the house has high ceilings and as a result of measurements it turns out that the height of the opening is more than 250 cm, it is necessary to install a transom. If the height is more than 210 cm, you will need to install wide trims, and into an opening below 203 cm it will be problematic to “squeeze” standard doors with a frame. You will need to trim the door leaf or make a small cut in the opening.
The width of interior doors depends on the type of room. It can vary between 50-90 cm, with the narrowest doors being installed in separate bathrooms and storage rooms, and the widest ones in bedrooms and living rooms.
Classic solutions involve choosing a door leaf 7-14 cm narrower than the opening. That is, with a width of 67-73 cm, a door leaf of 60 cm is required, with a width of 87 – 80 and beyond.
By width, doors are divided into single-leaf (from 50 to 80 centimeters), one-and-a-half (80-120 cm), double-leaf or double-leaf (from 120 cm, while the doors can be the same width or different sizes).
The third necessary parameter is the thickness of the wall. If it is more than 7 centimeters, the door must be equipped with extensions. Extensions are strips that frame the doorway if the thickness of the wall is greater than the thickness of the frame.
The extensions are made from the same material as the box and canvas.
What's included?
The accompanying documents for the interior door must indicate the complete set of the product. Some of the elements necessary for assembly may not be included in the kit, and you will have to purchase them yourself.
The equipment depends on the type of door, design features and opening mechanism.
A set of standard single-leaf and double-leaf doors, solid or open, includes:
- Door frame;
- Shield (canvas)
- Platbands;
- Accessories: door hinges and handles; for double doors, bolts are a plus. There are two types of handles - knobs and rotary. Knobs are round, cone-shaped, square, concave double handles, which come in 4 types: stationary, rotary with a latch, rotary with a lock, rotary with a lock. Push handles are narrow, L-shaped handles that open by pressing down. They can also be equipped with a latch and a lock.
Additional items for swing doors:
- Extras;
- Transom;
- Thresholds.
Accessories for sliding doors, including sliding doors, radius, telescopic structures:
- Door panels (2 or more);
- Guides (with top or bottom rail);
- Sliding system (carriages): rollers, thrust mechanisms, bearings, mounting plates;
- Metal cassette (necessary to hide the canvases in the wall when the device is assembled);
- Accessories.
- In some cases - antithresholds.
The folding door kit includes:
- Door frame;
- Platbands and accessories if necessary;
- Long side guides;
- Short guide (top or bottom);
- From two lamellas (the panels that make up the accordion door or book);
- Fasteners (clips, screws, gaskets);
- Roller mechanism:
- Stoppers (stops).
- Door handles, latches, hinges.
The assembly of rotary doors (pivot doors) is carried out from the following elements:
- Door frame;
- Unique rotary-sliding mechanism: guide with groove, swivel joint with roller, upper and lower arms, upper bar with carriage, lower bar;
- Platbands;
- Accessories;
- "Smart" anti-threshold.
Color selection
There are no strict rules for choosing the color of interior doors. However, they occupy a fairly large area in the interior, and it is difficult to make them invisible, so an unsuccessfully chosen color can become an unnecessary element in the stylistic composition of the room.
To prevent this from happening, experienced designers have developed row effective recommendations selection of interior door colors:
- Palette of natural shades. For many interiors, there is nothing better than naturalness. The color of natural wood, as it is, even if it is just veneer finishing, satisfies the requirements of classic interiors, some ethnic and modern trends, eco-styles close to nature. You can support the desire of modern interiors for laconicism and functionality with the help of blank designs of different shades (beige, ivory, walnut, graphite, cappuccino), and the desire for luxury in historical style Aged canvases in shades of expensive wood (cherry, mahogany, wenge, mocha, teak) and with complex decor (gilded patina, stained glass, laser cutting) will satisfy.
- Warm colors in a warm interior. In order not to miss and not to disturb the harmony in cozy interior from warm and pleasing to the eye shades, it is worth choosing the color of the interior door on the same warm spectrum. It can be red, orange and yellow of different saturations, ocher, baked milk, mustard pear, walnut, brown, and some green colors. “Golden” fittings go well with the warm color.
- Pastel colors can also be noted here.(peach, powdery, pistachio and others). At the same color temperature as red or yellow, they have less saturation, but also fit harmoniously into the overall interior composition.
- Cool tones for cold interiors. Such shades are characteristic of Gothic, Romanesque, Scandinavian interiors and modern minimalism, loft, and techno. Blue, gray, cold white, dark colors, elements made of plexiglass, acrylic, plexiglass, chrome and mirror surfaces, and silver fittings work great here.
- Use of contrasting shades. White looks great on black, and black sets off the white. This rule can be used by choosing dark doors under a light floor ( cherry tree and light gray porcelain tiles, black teak and white laminate), and vice versa (dark walnut parquet and white doors).
- Universal color. Operating with a basic palette, it is important to correctly place color spots in the room, but due to the successful combination of these colors, the task is greatly simplified. The base includes: white, gray, light lemon, terracotta, cream, sand, beige, coffee with milk, pearl, pure wood color, lilac, light pink, mint, pale blue, swamp green.
- Doors match the color of the baseboards. A common European method is to select materials of the same color. There is also a reverse technique - the use of contrasting colors.
- Match the color of the walls. This technique works great in rooms where the wall color is the same. Doors become less flashy, and the overall appearance of the room becomes more harmonious.
Match the color of the floor covering. The floor covering occupies a significant part of the room, and choosing a color spot on the wall that is similar in tone is not so difficult. The combination of the same colors but different textures looks especially interesting.
- Under furniture. A furniture group can also become a color fulcrum; the main thing is to correctly determine the predominant shade if the furniture is not monochromatic or is assembled from different items in the same style.
- Under window frames. This is the most basic but effective method. The only condition is that the window frames must be visible through the curtains.
Otherwise, the color of the doors will have to be matched to the blinds or curtains, and changing the decor of the window will be problematic.
Well-known manufacturers and customer reviews
Many believe that Italian doors are a priori of higher quality than Chinese “consumer goods” or domestic products, not suspecting that the fittings for these doors are made in Chinese factories from Russian steel, and the wood was purchased from Russian forestry.
There is no clear leader in the list of manufacturers, but there are manufacturing countries whose products have been time-tested and are considered to be of high quality and reliable:
- Germany. For many, the name of this country is a symbol of reliability, durability and excellent quality, and the German concerns Hörmann and ComTür confirm this truism. In the product line of these manufacturing giants you can find doors for every taste, but such pleasure will not be cheap.
- Japan. This country, in addition to the impeccable properties of its products, is also characterized by sophistication, originality and laconic elegance. Japanese collections are rich in unobtrusive decor, sliding mechanisms, and products for small spaces. If your apartment requires a sliding module or the minimalist design lacks shojo-style doors, they are definitely worth looking for among Japanese manufacturers, which Russian market still a little.
- Spain. This country is a leader in many industries. Spanish interior doors are produced in different styles, from classic to modern, and 100% meet expectations, be it a steel monolith to protect valuables in the house or lightweight doors for the bedroom. Products from the Luvipol and Fineza Puerta factories are especially popular in Russia.
- Russia. Domestic-made apartment interior doors are in no way inferior to European ones. Often, with similar quality, it is also budget options, since raw materials for the manufacture of materials are not exported from other countries and are cheaper for the manufacturer. Among a large number finished products There are options in the “cheap and cheerful” category, mid-price products, and luxury premium doors. It is worth paying attention to the companies Volkhovets, Art Deco, Sofya, Matador, and the Guardian plant, which recently expanded its production.
Ideas and new designs
Modern designers offer new items in the following categories.
Style
Decorating a room in a specific style is an excellent solution to enliven the interior. You can choose a historical, ethnic or modern style as the dominant direction.
In historical style The avant-garde is interesting with its tendency towards bright contrasts. It welcomes extraordinary combinations and bold colors. Wooden, plastic, and glass doors of different colors and designs are suitable for this purpose.
It is also worth paying attention to the solid and restrainedly beautiful Victorian style, extravagant Art Nouveau, democratic eclecticism, dynamic expressionism, which gives complete freedom for creativity, comfortable and functional constructivism, most suitable for Khrushchev and small apartments, the richness of art deco, in which the door can become the highlight of the entire composition.
Ethnic styles help create a unique color in the room. This is where experiments with door design come in handy. English, Russian, French Provence and Scandinavian styles are a suitable environment for traditional swing doors made of wood with different types of finishes. Veneer, decoupage, and transoms in different shades of precious metals would be appropriate.
Asian styles suggest lightweight sliding and folding structures; in Oriental and Egyptian designs, a screen door or fairy curtains would be appropriate instead of a blank canvas.
African, Mediterranean and Moroccan favor laconic, rough designs made from natural materials.
Modern styles– freedom for creativity and experimentation.
Grunge- this is a copied classic, but with cheaper and modern materials; in contemporary art, the cult of accessibility of materials dominates, so the definition “simple and tasteful” can be considered synonymous with style.
Loft- this is the realm of industrialism, space and contrasts, for example, the combination of glass doors with brickwork or concrete.
Minimalism is dominated by cream tones, simple textures and the obligatory bright accent that expresses individuality. A bright door can become just such an accent.
Kitsch and pop art- this is contrast and symbolism - the door can be made of red plastic or with the image of an idol of past years.
Techno and hi-tech– this is the dominance of the latest materials, glass and metal structures, chrome surfaces, smooth and clear lines. Acrylic door with chrome handles - an accurate hit on target.
Form
Classic swing doors are increasingly being replaced by beautiful and non-standard designs: arched doors, semicircular transoms, folding structures, saloon doors.
Material and texture
New interior doors are practically impossible without glass. Decor, panels, and various inserts are made from it. Fully acrylic or plexiglass sheets are very popular.
Clear glass doors are great for living rooms, while frosted ones can be installed in more intimate spaces.
Decor
Experiments with door lighting, molding, unusual fittings (enamel and chrome handles, brass items, imitation bronze, gold and silver), laser cutting, airbrushing, stained glass elements are encouraged.
Modern options in the interior
It is not difficult to introduce market innovations in interior doors into your interior. At the same time, the statement that all rooms in an apartment should have the same doors is already outdated. Today you can use laconic budget doors to the pantry and stylish design solutions to the bedroom.
Premium and Luxury steel doors finished with natural veneer are perfect for a work office. It is wise to install canvases that are interesting in color and texture, but are resistant to damage, in the children's room. Creative and fashionable people will help you transform your kitchen now sliding doors made of plexiglass.
Luxurious rebated doors are also available for non-standard room sizes and doorways. For a private home, custom-made doors made of different materials and with variable opening mechanisms, from hinged to telescopic, are relevant.
And in a compact Khrushchev house it is most convenient to install cassette doors in all rooms, including a wardrobe niche in the wall.
What material is better to choose interior doors from? The answer to this question awaits you in this video.
Interior doors are an important element of any renovation. Various curtains and arches could not become a replacement. Their choice should be taken seriously. Read reviews on the Internet, if possible, see it in person. The pictures on the screen do not fully convey the color and texture. Most approach the issue of choosing interior doors on a residual basis, after the ceiling and walls are ready and if there is money left for them.
The main thing to look for when purchasing is appearance. This approach when choosing good doors is fundamentally wrong and threatens big problems in the future. The quality of materials not only determines appearance, but also durability. After all, who would want to buy interior doors in 2 years, when they lose their good appearance and begin to crumble?
Features of selection
Before purchasing, you need to know the dimensions of the doorway, 80–95 cm - standard size . If the opening is 110 cm or more, swing and sliding doors are suitable.
When setting an estimate for repairs, immediately decide on the amount for good interior doors. You won’t be able to save money here; quality items are expensive. If you expect to buy gradually, as you accumulate the necessary funds, you will be faced with a situation that required model no longer produced by the manufacturer. To remain in demand, companies updating model ranges quite often. Prices for building materials They are constantly growing, and if you find a good option, you need to take it, it definitely won’t be cheaper tomorrow.
Selection criteria
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Doorway measurements
- After measuring the height and width, check the diagonals from one corner to the other. A discrepancy greater than 1 mm indicates an error.
- Properly dried wood, smooth on the end side.
Glass check
- If the glass in the door rattles when you shake it slightly, it means it is not secured correctly. And it speaks of low quality.
- Good frosted glass is clean, without streaks or stains. Detergents and you cannot remove them in any other way. The defect is eliminated by replacing the glass with a new one.
- The higher the cost of glass, the better its characteristics and quality.
- The seal is an important part of the door that holds the glass in place. Find out from the seller what is used as a sealant.
Varieties
The price of doors is influenced by the material from which they are made. There are 3 main types:
- Veneered.
- Laminated.
The bases for doors (except for solid wood) are composite materials- Chipboard, fibreboard, MDF, OSB. They are used for cladding or base.
Interior doors made of solid wood are a sign of luxury. For production they use ash, alder, oak. Oak is considered the most durable. Such doors will decorate your interior. Doors made of softwood, the cheapest, from 5,000 rubles. Exclusive option will cost 50,000 rubles. Common models cost 15,000-30,000 rubles.
A solid door is a composite structure made of guides, panels, cross lintels. This design allows designers to radically change the appearance and give it any shape. The external decoration is very varied - mother of pearl, gilding, tinted varnish. Standard glass is replaced with stained glass with crystals and stones, which gives the doors additional luxury and exclusivity.
The quality and durability of solid wood doors is influenced by the technology of wood processing and drying. If the wood has not been completely dried and covered with a layer of varnish, seasonal changes in moisture in the environment will lead to damage. paint coating. This deficiency is subject to door frames and doors with knots.
In a cheap niche, from 5,000 rubles, the market is controlled by Belarusian manufacturers and even Chinese factories cannot provide such a price-quality ratio. Belarusian forests are rich in different breeds trees, and the cost of production and labor is cheaper than in Russia. Before buying interior doors from Belarusian manufacturers, look at the reviews; there are handicraft fakes.
When purchasing from 35,000 rubles, you can look towards Italian manufacturers. You will receive high quality and no problems with swollen varnish and broken fittings. Many years of experience and advanced technologies guarantee. The only negative is the long waiting time and the inability to buy a finished product, only to order.
Veneered
Veneered interior doors are a good option at a lower price compared to solid wood. They are very durable and not affected by moisture. There are a lot of options for exterior finishing. Price depends on veneer The more expensive the wood, the higher the price. This does not change the quality. The cheapest option is finished with artificial veneer.
The veneer covering of the canvas is divided into complete and fragmentary. In the first case, the cladding is applied entirely to the surface. After this, processing occurs on a milling machine until it is completely finished. With fragmentary veneering, individual elements are processed separately and then assembled.
Average price of a good veneer door 10000-15000 rub., depending on the manufacturer. There are quite a few Russian manufacturers in this niche, but according to customer reviews, 3 leaders stand out - “Volkhovets”, “Alexandrovskie Doors”, “Framir”.
"Volkhovets" produces interior doors costing from 12,000 rubles. According to customer reviews, the manufacturer's price is completely justified. Good quality veneer, nice appearance. In production, "Volkhovodets" uses ash, Canadian oak, and mahogany veneers.
"Alexandrovskie Doors" is a well-known brand among manufacturers, the price starts from 15,000 rubles. But is the increased cost justified? In this case - completely. The company does not produce hollow-core doors, only glued solid wood. This adds durability and you won't have to worry about accidentally puncturing the veneer. The model range is very extensive, there are such design trends as classic, rococo, empire, modern. There is not a single bad review of “Alexandrovskie Doors” on the Internet.
St. Petersburg company "Framir" competes in the low price category, from 7300 rubles. As one review says: "For the price, I'm willing to take the risk." The basis is pine honeycomb. The quality of external finishing is at a high level, high-quality veneer, waterproof varnish. When you place an order, specify everything in the smallest detail. This happens with all manufacturers in the lower price category, they save on everything.
Laminated
Laminated interior doors are the cheapest option. They have a good appearance, a service life of up to 10 years, but do not tolerate moisture well. Before installation, you need to open it with several layers of varnish and let it sit for a week. WITH outside covered with acrylic, melamine, polyvinyl chloride film, with wood texture. Well done laminated door covering, in appearance indistinguishable from veneer. Lamination is used both when finishing fabric with a solid frame and with honeycomb filler. Surface irregularities are smoothed out with a layer of MDF. In a cheaper version, MDF is replaced with melamine paper impregnated with resins.
Stages of manufacturing laminated interior doors
- Assembling a frame from coniferous wood.
- The voids of the frame are filled with MDF, fiberboard, chipboard.
- Pasting MDF blanks.
- Application of decorative laminated film.
In the area of the future lock, an additional block is inserted for fastening. In lightweight ones, the frame is cardboard, made in the form of a honeycomb. The resulting cake is glued together using a press. And after drying, the door becomes strong and durable.
Doors made using this technology cost little and have a good appearance. Medium version of laminated doors together with a box it will cost 5000 rubles. The service life is significantly inferior to solid wood doors, but their low price and appearance have made them popular. Production technology is constantly being improved.
The Chelyabinsk company "Krasnoderevshchik" produces doors from 5,500 rubles. Production is carried out on European equipment, as are fittings. The design of interior doors is laconic. New this season is frameless glazing. The assortment is divided into groups, which reduces the time when choosing. If you have doorway non-standard size, no big deal, the delivery set includes telescopic trims.
"Sofya" is a well-known manufacturer, actively advertised on television. The price starts from 11,500 rubles. The price corresponds to the quality of the product. Customer reviews are only positive. Basis - pine frame covered with MDF. Decorative coating- polypropylene film. Which provides protection against moisture, mechanical damage and meets environmental standards. The glass used is shatterproof glass, which when broken produces blunt pieces.
Remember that a door is not just one leaf, but also a frame, trim, threshold, and fittings. At construction exhibitions, companies attract buyers low prices. But then it turns out that the price includes only the door leaf, without the rest. Price complete set will cost 2 times more. And if we add installation here, then final amount will exceed the exhibition value. To avoid confusion when purchasing, multiply the cost of the door leaf by 2. The door and its components (frame, thresholds, trim) must be made of the same material.
At a good interior door there is a technical passport, which describes in detail how the door was produced, in compliance with what norms and rules. Reputable companies provide such papers at all their doors. You don't have to know what these GOSTs and rules mean. The presence of product passports reduces the risk of receiving a low-quality door. Handicraft producers do not do this, attracting buyers with a low price and hoping that greed will blind them.
I'll tell you my case. After major repairs, there was almost no money left on the door. I chose Verdu doors on the construction market. When compared with a more expensive option, I didn't see any visual difference. I decided to order directly from the manufacturer; as it turned out, he was not far away. When ordering the door, I was told about 2 types of platband. To my question: “How are they different from each other?” They answered me: “Nothing, just size.” In fact, it turned out that cheap trims need to be cut out yourself, but in expensive ones everything has already been done. Immediately after moving in, the outer film on the platband peeled off. And after 2 years of use, the diamond on the glass came off. Don't go cheap or be prepared for modifications.
Max, Eagle
It took me a long time to choose the doors for my new apartment; I looked through many options and settled on Profile Doors. When ordering, it turned out that the price on the website was 5,000 rubles, only for the canvas. And the box, handles, hinges, thresholds are purchased separately. All together cost 11,000 rubles. And I found a cheaper option. In the first place I got 16,000 rubles. As a result, I ordered the doors from the online store.
After the door was delivered, I took care of its installation. And then a shock awaited me: the prices for installing the door were 2 times higher than its cost. But there was nowhere to go I had to order. Don’t repeat my mistake and order door installation directly from the seller. I can’t say anything bad about the door, not much time has passed.
Alina, Smolensk
I ordered mine online, 5 pieces. I chose veneer, light oak, without glass. The cost of the canvas is 5000 rubles. With work and everything else, it cost 12,000 rubles for one. The installation was not carried out by very professional people, they reinstalled it 2 times. Even during installation, they managed to chip off a corner of the veneer on one of the sides. After my remark, they offered a discount of 1000 rubles. The doors were delivered in a large box with a passport. After the opening, it turned out that the manufacturer saved on the materials of the platband. Overall I was pleased with the purchase. But I’ll pay attention to the issue with the platband next time.
Andrey, Moscow
I’ll share my experience, maybe my review will help someone. I took care of this even before the renovation began. I looked a lot on the Internet and read reviews. At first I wanted to take it from the Sophia company. But I read the reviews and doubts crept in, but for such a price there shouldn’t be any. In one of the stores I was advised by a local manufacturer, Rumax. I looked at the model’s website and contacted the store. There they answered me: “But there is no such model, we order only the most popular.”
I had to look for the model I needed all over the city. One of the stores agreed to bring it to order. There are no reviews for this model on the Internet at all; it was scary to order a pig in a poke. But everything ended well, they were safely delivered and installed. I didn't notice any flaws in the assembly. Appearance - white oak with two stripes on the sides. Without glass inserts, it looks very stylish. The only thing I didn't like was thickness, slightly thin. But there’s nothing you can do about it; buying online has its downsides.
Alexey, Rostov