There are of course, many different styles and types of
interior doors, and finding the right match for your customer’s project is
essential in order to ensure that the end result is both functional and
aesthetically appealing! It is important to ensure that internal doors
complement the overall appearance of the rooms, and that they also fit in with
the theme, tone and style that you are trying to achieve for your customers.
If you are in the design stage of a project with your
customer and are about to begin discussing the options available to them in
terms of internal doors and entryways, it is worth taking a quick look at the different options available to you, in
order to make the best suggestions for your customer’s home.
Here is a quick run down of all of the main types and styles
of interior doors, plus the pros and cons of each.
Don’t
fall at the first hurdle!
Before you even get as far as looking at the options for new
doors for your project, it is important to find out if your project and choices
are subject to any regulations or guidelines regarding the type of property,
and its usage. If the property is a listed building or a heritage home, you
might find that you are limited in terms of the alterations that you can make
to the doors or internal walls of the property, and will have to work within
the confines of those guidelines.
If the home is intended to be used as a buy to let property,
there may be additional guidelines in place regarding the placement and
materials used for internal doors, for instance if fire-resistant doors are
necessary in order to comply with the landlord’s licence.
Veneered
doors
Veneered doors or “flush” doors are one of the lower cost
interior door options, being constructed of exterior sheets of plywood or
hardboard, with either chipboard or a honeycomb layer of cardforming the internal
bulk of the door. Reinforcing timber battens secure the exterior edges, and
sometimes, extra reinforcement is present around the lock and hinges.
Pros
- Low cost
- Easy to buy off-the-peg
- Light and easy to handle
Cons
- Limited space to cut in from the outer frame, as
thin battens make up the exterior of the frame
- Lock block on one side of the door only, so
limited options on which way you can hang the door
Moulded
doors
Moulded doors are constructed with either plastic, low cost
wood or manmade materials making up the outer surface, in a lower-cost copy of
the traditional heavy panel door styles.
Pros
- A wide range of styles and finishes available
- Considerable cost saving over traditional panel
doors
Cons
- Wear and tear in use can be hard to cover and
correct if the finish of the door is plastic or veneered
Panel
doors
Panel doors are of course the big brother of the moulded
door, and one of the traditional styles of door that offers a wide variety of
options for customisation. Panel doors consist of a solid wooden construction,
and the panels themselves can be made of wood, glass or any other material of
your choosing! They are also easy to work with, and can be altered and cut down
to suit your project.
Pros
- Panel doors look and feel like expensive, high
quality doors
- They are easy to work with, and can be cut and
planed to size
- Panel doors work well in properties where complimenting
the theme and matching the existing style is important
Cons
- Generally more expensive than most other
internal door options
- Matching the appearance of existing aged wood
within a home with a brand new door can be challenging
Sliding
doors
Sliding doors are one of the two options available to you if
you wish to install a dividing door that allows two smaller rooms to be
converted into one larger room when needed, and sliding doors are also popular
in bedrooms as the frontage to generously sized wardrobes.
Pros
- Allows for an infinite range of options to use
the available space of one or more rooms
- Do not encroach into the room when opened
- Many different styles and materials available,
to suit all types of project from a kitchen/diner fusion to a bespoke wardrobe build
Cons
- Can be expensive, and may need to be made
specifically for the project at hand
- One side of the doorway remains closed off in
order to allow the other door to be opened:normally, both sides cannot be open
simultaneously
Folding
doors
Folding doors are your second option in terms of room
dividers, and are an incredibly popular option for placing a movable dividing
wall between a lounge and dining room, or a kitchen and a dining room.
A great many styles, materials and finishes are available,
from solid panels to glazed doors to allow light into along divided room, even
when the folding doors are closed.
Pros
- Offers many options to allow room spaces to be
utilised in a variety of different way
- Many styles and finishes available
- Can be opened in sections to suit the
homeowner’s needs
- Generally easy to buy off the peg
Cons
- Requires space to allow the doors to fold open
- Limited options for customisation and resizing,
depending on door material
Whatever options you present to your customers, it is important
that you can answer all of their questions and concerns and provide a
knowledgeable insight into their various options, plus be able to identify any
limitations or problems that might arise along the way.
Working closely with your customer and doing your research
is of course, essential, in order to ensure that the end result of your
interior door selection is both fit for purpose, and achieves the finish that
your customer is looking for.
Changing doors is the simplest way to transform a home or a
room, and the latest trade doors from
Magnet
Trade provide advanced thermal efficiency, fire protection and security, as
well as sheer good looks. We provide a wide range of stylish internal doors
beautiful folding doors and specialist fire doors.