Internal doors... what you should consider when choosing

Everyone’s tastes and needs are different and there are numerous interior door designs and styles out there to suit whatever requirements you may have. For instance, you could be looking for something more traditional such as panel doors for say an old farm house; a clean modern look flush door set for a new-build property or even something completely unique such as your own personal designed motif or printed graphic.

Traditional panel white doors

So what are the typical interior door materials and finishes on the market? In short, there are lots. These typically include solid timber, timber veneer, glass, laminate, painted, metal (usually stainless steel for added security), or honeycomb core – a cheaper alternative to solid door sets, however these don’t have the same feel or durability. In some cases timber veneer doors can cost slightly more than full timber doors, it’s important to bear in mind that solid timber can warp but veneer allows for a stable core with the benefit of a natural wood look and feel. Then there are options for European rebated door styles, different glazing options, numerous paint and coating colours and door furniture options to choose from, so it’s important to do your homework. Lots of the home improvement magazines and websites out there will give good guides and advice

Your door requirements may differ throughout your property. So as well as the more typical hinged internal doors, there will also be options on the market for when space is limited, for instance on small landings or hallways. Sliding doors (usually available in timber or glass) are an ideal solution as either sliding in-front of the wall or into a wall cavity. Narrow panel widths or folding doors are another option taking up half the opening space of a typical door along with sloped doors for awkward areas such as under stair cupboards. It is preferable in such cases to opt for a bespoke door supplier to ensure quality in both appearance and use.

Folding sliding doors used as an internal divide

Another typical requirement could be where light is limited within specific areas of the house. This can quickly be aided with either full glass doors which are available completely clear or with frosted design features or etched motifs, dependent on your own style. Or through glazed door inserts where light is required but complete glazing isn’t practical, for example, a bathroom door where a frosted glass panel could provide enough light but without the embarrassment factor. It’s important to take into account, however, that all glass and some glazed doors will not be available as fire doors.

On the subject of fire doors, usually for standard two storey homes, fire doors will not be required. These only tend to come into play when building or extending to the third storey so for loft conversions or apartments, but it’s important to confirm this with your building inspector to ensure compliance with building regulations.

When choosing your door ironmongery or door furniture there will be lots to choose from. I’d recommend that as well as looking at the design, also take into account the proportions of the door; how the handle feels for comfort and usability along with the situation the door is used in. Quality also should play an important factor in your decision. Cheaper lever handles, for example, often use a plastic inner rose structure to screw onto the door with a metal press on cover; unfortunately using the plastic fixing will not be as durable as a complete metal rose with screw fixing. This would ensure that the handle doesn’t work loose from the door.

But there are lots of handles to do the job  as well as lever handles, such as door knobs (fixed or twist); shell handles for cavity sliders in particular; push/pull handles with push plates for swing doors, and return to door handles where usability for disabled or elderly is required. Available in a range of materials including stainless steel, brass/gold and chrome, when choosing make sure that these will be available with matching escutcheons (lock plate covers), WC thumb turn locks, hinges and door stops.

Once you’ve chosen you doors and ironmongery, it’s time to place that order. When ordering your doors, it’s important to get your door measurements spot on. You’ll need to ensure that you or your builder/carpenter measures the width and height from the finished flooring as well as the depth/thickness of the wall whilst also accounting for additional wall coverings such as tiles. Floor heights are vital especially where frames will need to be cut into to allow for changes in floor coverings.

Veneer door set example

Take into account light switches and layout of the room when making decisions on which side your doors will hang; most doors will open inwards, however, in some small areas such as cloakrooms you’ll likely need to opt for the door to open outwards, unless opting for a space saving sliding door. With said sliding doors, take into account the space available for sliding. If you’re not comfortable measuring the door openings yourselves, your carpenter should know exactly what is required. If he doesn’t, I’d hire someone else.

Once you’ve received your order, installation should be relatively simple dependant on the door option you’ve chosen. Some suppliers, Sunfold Systems for example, supply all doors as complete pre-finished door sets complete with architraves, and pre-fixed ironmongery which means that they are bespoke to your needs with no tweaks required. Standard internal doors will usually require a bit more work as they will often need to be made to fit the opening there and then rather than being manufactured to the exact opening size. Any reputable door supplier whether bespoke made or standard door suppliers like, Wickes for example,  should supply you with paper-based instructions, video demonstrations and the option to opt for a member of their own installation team (usually at an additional cost) to install the doors for you.

Any local carpenter or competent DIYer should have no problem installing bespoke manufactured doors themselves and on average for a complete bespoke door set you’ll be looking at between 45 mins to an hour for a trained carpenter, but anything up to two hours for an average DIY boffin. I’d recommend not to take on a standard non-bespoke door installation and employ a professional. This would on average take three to four hours but not necessarily taking into account additional painting or staining.