Interior Doors
If you think that the only option you have for an interior door is a piece of rectangular wood with a handle on the left so the door can open to the right, you are in for a big surprise. Interior doors are available with a wealth of options. These options can appeal to a variety of aesthetic or utilitarian desires and needs.
Interior doors can be painted in any color you choose. There are many, many, many, different styles of doors to choose from. You can add things to them, such as a chalkboard paint coating, which is a great idea for children's bedrooms, or for a kitchen door. The possibilities are endless!!
Left-handed people of the world REJOICE!
You now have the option of replacing the standard door built for a mostly right-handed world, by taking advantage of the option of buying a left handed door that has the knob on the right and opens to the left. You don't have to worry about drilling a new hole and changing the hinges over to the other side when you purchase doors that are already pre-built with these changes. You will have to redo the frame of your door to equip yourself with left-handed access to inside rooms.
One type of "other" style of interior door is the pocket door. Rather than opening into a room, these doors slide into the side panel next to the door. It seems as if they disappear into the room's wall. The key advantage of this type of door is space saving. There is no need to worry about clearance within the room for the door to open or close. Pocket doors are ideal for those rooms getting significant updating since they need planning for from the studs up.
Old-fashioned swinging saloon doors present a fun option for spaces with narrow openings. Although saloon doors are not exactly a viable option for most as a door leading to an interior room where privacy is desired, they can actually serve a purpose in other rooms. The swinging action that requires no hands for opening is perfect for doorways leading into a washroom or kitchen. This type of door lets you seal off the space while allowing you to walk through with your hands filled with laundry baskets or a big pot of food.
Another good option for an open layout where you also want the option of closing off the space is French doors. Any extra-wide doorway can be given style by installing these traditional side-by-side doors. French doors are often used as an exterior door leading out to a patio, but they present a very stylish way of opening from one large interior room into another.
Exterior Doors
There are many choices you are faced with when choosing an exterior door. Security, cost, functionality, durability, and the maintenance of the door are all factors to consider. You may want your door to portray a certain feel to your visitors upon entering your home. You may want simple, yet elegant. You may want artistic and unique. You may want a door that is the centerpiece of the exterior of your home. The options are limitless.
Exterior doors can be made from wood, metal, vinyl, or glass. They may or may not have windows. They may be completely glass windows. You may have a sliding door, or a heavy wooden door. An endless number of door designs and materials are available, including several specialty options for both residential and commercial settings.
Doors made from steel (often called hollow metal doors) are the most common type of door used on exterior construction. They are one of the least expensive options and are virtually maintenance free under normal use. Today's steel doors do much more than just provide security though they perform that function quite well. Steel doors are also renowned for their insulating qualities. Typically, steel doors are constructed of a hollow heavy gauge galvanized steel shell that is filled with expanding foam or some other high-density insulation foam. Galvanizing prevents the steel from rusting. After the foam sets and hardens, the surfaces are coated so that the door is not cold to the touch.
Fiberglass doors are another popular option for exterior use. This material is extremely resistant to moisture and bad weather, largely immune to rotting and rusting. Fiberglass doors can handle the most extreme climates, from the cold and damp northern winters, to the heat and humidity of the subtropics. Unlike wood, they will not warp, crack or rot, and they do not require yearly treatment with paint, stain or varnish. Fiberglass is also resistant to the scratches and dents that can damage other materials like wood or metal. While old fiberglass units had an almost plastic-looking surface, newer models are made to resemble wood grain and texture. Fiberglass doors now replicate a huge range of wood grains, from the dark, rich tomes of mahogany to the honey warmth of pine.
Fiberglass entry doors are excellent insulators, especially if any inlaid glass panels are double or triple glazed. At a time when the price of heating and cooling your home is increasing, this will make a huge difference to the household bills over the lifetime of the door. These insulating qualities also apply to noise, as a good quality fiberglass door dampens even the loudest noises. Fiberglass doors can be bought factory finished and ready to fit, allowing you to incorporate the look and feel of any type of wood into your home. Alternatively, you can buy factory-primed doors, which you can stain or paint to match your overall exterior theme.
Wood is considered the go-to choice for high-end projects; its luxurious look and substantial weight can't be flawlessly duplicated by fiberglass or steel, although high-end fiberglass products are getting close. If you want your home to have a stunning entry statement with a handcrafted touch, wood may be the best material for you.
Wood is usually the most expensive choice of the three, and requires the most maintenance, although it's easier to repair scratches on a wood door than dents in steel or fiberglass. Wood doors should be repainted or refinished every year or two to prevent splitting and warping.
If you're concerned about the environmental impact of your door as well as its energy efficiency, you can purchase a solid wood door certified by theForrest Stewardship Council, which assures you that the wood was sustainably grown and harvested.
Wood doors are available in a virtually limitless number of colors and designs. Consumers can choose from many different veneers, with oak and mahogany among the most popular. Wood doors also offer customers the chance to choose stains or varnishes to change the look and color of the material. While doors made from wood are generally the most expensive option, they are also the least likely to become damaged, and if they are damaged, they are easy to repair. No other material can match the weight and feel of a quality wood
"Design is not making beauty, beauty emerges from selection, affinities, integration, love."
- Louis Kahn
