If you’re renovating interior doors, it may be time to upgrade your current ones Exterior doors , decorative doors, security doors, or anything else, it’s important to get to know the design elements and features that make each type of door unique. By doing this, you can determine which door is most appropriate for your space and needs
What are the typical door classifications and what sets them apart from others?
How to Determine the Best Door for Your Home?
The first step in selecting the right door for your home is to identify the desired features
Perhaps, you’re in need of a door that can span if not completely open to connect two areas. A door that doesn’t fit on the floor and has a hinged design may be necessary, so it should slide off the wall. You may require something that will allow air to enter the room, even when it is closed
The features of doors vary depending on their intended use. The temptation to select doors based on their appearance may be exaggerated, but understanding the key features in your application is crucial
-
Hinged Door
Common application: Interior, exterior, residential, commercial
The term hinged door refers to any structure with a hinge that is fixed onto egress from the wall. The doors that had hinges were among the first types of doors and continue to be the most commonly used ones
The majority of contemporary hinged doors are acquired as “open-top” doors Pre-hung A door that is already attached to a frame through hinges is denoted by “-“. The installation process involves simply placing the entire unit into the sloping opening
-
Solid Wood Door
Common application: Exterior doors Front doors , premium construction
Solid wood doors are those made of solid wood, with no single piece of wood typically used. Solid doors are the norm for both interior and exterior applications Exterior doors
Tip
Solid-core doors, which are solid wood doors with a wood fiberboard core and an outer veneer, should be distinguished from solid-wood doors. The core of the door is made more rigid and cost-effective with fiberboard, but doesn’t have the same resale value as solid wood
-
Hollow-Core Door
Common application: Interior doors, bedrooms, closets Pantries , hallways, budget-friendly construction
Hollow-core doors Is composed of a thin outer layer, typically made of plywood or fiberglass, and an inner core constructed from cardboard or plastic. In addition to being a more affordable option, hollow-core doors are also highly effective in interior applications where solid wood is not required
The installation time for hollow-core doors is quicker than that of other types Solid wood doors , as they are significantly lighter. The noise bleed caused by hollow-core doors is one of the main drawbacks, and is significantly more damaging than solid wood or solid- core doors
-
Sliding Door
Common application: Patios, indoor-outdoor living areas
Sliding doors Slide horizontally on a track to open and close. Sliding doors are commonly used as glass sliding doors to access an outdoor area
Sliding doors of today often have multiple tracks, allowing panels to slide on and off each other. By sliding the panels out of the way, the homeowners can connect an outdoor area to an indoor area with ease and precision
Continue to 5 of 20 below -
French Door
Common application: Interior, exterior, home offices
A pair of operable hinged doors with glass panes from top to bottom are the usual features of French doors. The majority of French doors are not considered double, but this type of installation is prevalent, leading to the use of the term as a synonym for double doors with glass panels
-
Double Door
Common application: Interior, exterior, wide openings
The majority of double doors consist of two hinged doors in a single installation. While French doors are not the only ones on this list, they can also be double doors
The advantage of having two doors instead of one is primarily due to the wider opening produced by both doors being open. This can greatly assist in the efficient movement of things in and out, particularly with exterior doors. Interior doors can be opened by double doors, which facilitate the flow of air between adjacent spaces
-
Pivot Door
Common application: The front porch, upscale residences, and contemporary exteriors
A pivot door is characterized by its vertical orientation and tendency to pivot through hardware that extends into the ceiling and floor, rather than hinges or sliders
The use of pivotal doors has made them a common feature in both luxurious and contemporary residences Much larger than the size of a typical door This is because pivots, rather than hinges themselves, provide greater strength and support for the door, allowing it to be much heavier than would be supported by hinged doors
-
Bifold Door
Common application: Closets, laundry facilities, partitions in rooms
A bifold door is a type of door that has two panels placed in the center and hinged on either side. The doors can be folded to save floor space. Typically, the doors move up and down an elevated path
Although bi-fold doors can be used for various applications, they are mostly restricted to narrow closet spaces or areas that don’t have a full-size swinging door
Continue to 9 of 20 below -
Accordion Door
Common application: Closets, partitions in rooms, openings throughout the house, laundry facilities, indoor-outdoor living spaces
The design of accordion doors involves the use of multiple panels that fold themselves. The advantage of accordion doors is that they can fold back and forth, unlike bi-fold doors, making them ideal for wide openings separating two living spaces, where the user may want to occasionally connect the spaces
-
Barn Door
Common application: Uncased openings encircling homes, narrow spaces in hallways, country estates and industrial areas
A barn door is a door panel that can be opened using swaying rods or other means. The design is ideal for spaces that don’t have enough floor area for a hinged door or as an aesthetic feature
The simplicity of barn doors is due to their lack of door jambs and hardware, which makes them an unintrusive option for enhancing privacy in an already open space
-
Panel Door
Common application: Interior, exterior, residential
A door made of wood panels is called a panel door. This type of construction not only reduces the cost of the door but also enhances its dimensional stability and adds decorative beauty
-
Pocket Door
Common application: In areas with restricted floor space
Pocket doors are doors that open from inside a wall cavity. They are a popular choice for spaces with limited floor space because they can completely slide out of the way. Pocket doors were once a popular home feature, but their installation and maintenance requirements are now minimal
The sliding barn door has taken over from the pocket door in certain aspects, as its opulent hardware and easy-to-install design appeal to many homeowners
Continue to 13 of 20 below -
Dutch Door
Common application: Exterior, kitchens Mudrooms
AD utch door is characterized by two distinct pieces, which are horizontally separated in the center. The main purpose of a Dutch door is to allow light and air through it, while also keeping pets and children in or out
Dutch doors are widely used in rural areas, farmhouses, and even barns
-
Storm Door
Common application: The exterior is characterized by areas with severe winters
An external door that is attached to the primary door and has a storm door on its outside provides additional security. In warmer weather, storm doors are commonly available with removable or sliding glass panels and screens to allow ventilation
Storm doors are frequently mistaken for one another Screen doors , which are simply full- or half-screen panel doors used solely for ventilation and don’t offer the same protection as storm doors
-
Flush Door
Common application: Closets, minimalistic design, low-cost interiors
An ideal flush door is characterized by its smooth and flat profile, which lacks any decorative molding or panels. Low-cost flush doors and hollow-core doors are the usual choices, but they are also a popular choice for minimalistic interiors
-
Roman Door
Common application: Interior, exterior, traditional
The 2-panel layout of Roman doors is characterized by its combination of a lower square panel and an upper panel with an arched top. Despite the fact that authentic Roman doors typically have a pivotal shape, contemporary hinges are more prevalent
Continue to 17 of 20 below -
Bypass Door
Common application: Clothes, booty, wide windows
A bypass door is a set of sliding doors that move sideways to avoid spring-loaded hinges. They’re an useful solution for covering wide openings, particularly when there’s limited wall space on either side, because the doors can easily pass through each other to open in full force
-
Colonial Door
Common application: Interior, exterior, residential
Solid wood doors with recessed panels are the hallmark of colonial architecture. These doors are the most frequently used for exterior entrances outside of the house, with the majority being found at the front entrance. Colonial doors are commonly used as both single and double doors for front entryways
-
Louver Door
Common application: Bathrooms, closets
A louver door is a type of door that has horizontal angled slats that provide visual privacy while also allowing air and light to pass through without obstruction. Loud doors are a good choice for areas that require air movement when the door is shut, such as basements Bathrooms And closets
Tip
The majority of bi-fold closet doors are equipped with louvers to facilitate air circulation and preserve freshness of clothes
-
Tudor Door
Common application: Tudor-style houses, cottages, and frontages
The primary feature of Tudor doors is the arched roof that often ends in a subtle, centered point. They are often adorned with wrought iron, embossed panels, and other decorative elements, frequently left as raw wood stained in a rich, dark shade rather than varnished or solid color Painted